[EgoFG]

Pop - I appreciate your wisdom in this matter.
And I agree with your words.

I believe that we should drive safely, and indeed I even believe we should drive legally.

However:
Incorrect understanding of stats mean incorrect policing.
Incorrect policing means more deaths.

I do Not promote speeding in any way, I do believe it is the amplifier in accidents. However it is rarely (if ever) the primary cause.

The primary cause should be policed.

I believe the police law enforcement should focus on areas that will force the driver to be a better driver.

There are two main problems that if overcome would address many of our road accident causes
General driver inattention.
Drivers being inconsiderate.

1) Inattention:
A well publicised problem is mobile phone usage - this is an enforceable law - well worthwhile as a target of law enforcement campaigns.
A better known problem also fits into this category - Drink Driving - QED.
But there are many other problems that also cause inattention. Children, Animals, Smoking, Intense conversation or thought, eating or drinking, emotional stress, stupidity, music, radio ...

Hmmm ... we can make some laws, and enforce them as we identify them, but this is a complex area, I hope the Second point turns out better, or we will have to have more speed cameras, and possibly rubber tyres around our cars to fix the problem

2) Inconsiderate:
We already have many rarely enforced rules, that if followed would force drivers to be aware of and have consideration for other drivers.

Keep left unless overtaking. This promotes free flowing traffic, decreases stress. This rule should be enforced, and the application of the law should start at 70kmph rather than 90 (above 80). If only there could be a law against driving 10k under the speed limit on a single lane road, and then 10k over when the overtaking lane begins !

Proper use of indicators. Indicators are, by there very existance, an indication that consideration is important, we should be aware of other drivers and tell them what we are intending to do (notice I did not say "what we are doing"). If this were policed properly there would likely be a revenue not unlike that of the speeding revenue. How often have you been at a roundabout, and waited for a car to come past, only to find he exitted earlier without an indication - a driver blissfully unaware that others are also using the road. Not using indicators, not only causes accidents, but also contributes to congestion, and stress.

Not Tailgating. An easily enforcable law, and an extremely inconsiderate action. A better overtaking move can be peformed, more quickly and with less stress from a little further back. If you are not planning to overtake drop further back still, someone may then be able to overtake you safely, then the car in front of you. Do not assume that people have no right to overtake you - you may have missed seeing a speed limit increase.

If travelling at the same speed as another car, drive in such a manner as to allow faster traffic to pass, sufficiently ahead or behind, whether in the same lane or another. Do not assume that people have no right to overtake you - You may have an innacurate speedometer. If we are in the other drivers blind spot, he may be less aware of our prescence, we should drive in a manner that other cars have no doublts about where we are, and what our intentions are. Would need a new law here, but it would be enforcable, and give good revenue - at least until we become better drivers.

Inappropriate use of Lights. If visibility is limited turn your headlights on ! Parking lights are for parking when visibility is limited. Driving in trafic with more than your lowbeam headlights on is distracting to other drivers, be considerate. If the law were changed to make using fog lights in traffic illegal there would be less accidents - think about it: less glare, less stress, better visibility - I do not know about you, but I want oncoming cars to see me, AND the road clearly !

Indecisive driving. There are some laws to enforce decisive driving. But to put it simply - drive in a predictable manner, do not leave other drivers guessing what you might be up to.


I could probably Keep going for days, but to put it simply

BEFORE we make new road rules,
BEFORE we restrict driving to the point that it is an ineffective means of transport

LET'S enforce the laws that that will make us better drivers !