Re the Sophie crash

[Captiva Fan]

lol ACA/TT would never run a 'Elderly hoons putting our kids lives in danger' story, all their best viewers are that very demographic..

I disagree. Tabloid TV works by attempting to bring out emotion in viewers; same as shock-jocks on the radio. If they have a story that a lot of their viewers don't like, those viewers tune-in so they can work out what they should be offended over.

Truth be known, I'd be surprised if they haven't already run this story a few times, but not enough of us here watch it to have noticed. I must admit, it doesn't seem to be on their frequent-cycle "playlist" according to the ads, though.

[samdumbert]

This isnt country kitchen buffet

[Jim]

They would run it, but it would only be when someone proposes to bring in a law restricting older drivers (or affecting older drivers) in some way, and it would be from the angle of "Look what these people want to do to you."

[tremolo]

Sunshine and lollipops

*Please don't abuse members, no matter how much they warrant it.

Mod Team *

[Steve Whitney]

driver ed is something that (whilst it's a sound idea) will simply cost too much for the government pty ltd to want to commit money to. it's a lot easier & cheaper spending the minimum on initial training (your L's) and the rest on restricting everyone down to the lowest common denominator.

It would suck for older people to loose their licence for good though, quite often they are the volenteers that do things for the community (my grandma for example works with meals on wheels) and taking that away from them will in some cases kill them.

however, if her driving around doing meals on wheels presents a certain degree of unsafe risk to herself & the community, then being behind the wheel can also kill her. so it's a catch 22 unfortunately.

[hcca]

driver ed is something that (whilst it's a sound idea) will simply cost too much for the government pty ltd to want to commit money to. it's a lot easier & cheaper spending the minimum on initial training (your L's) and the rest on restricting everyone down to the lowest common denominator.

However, the money that isn't spent on driver training or real road safety (ie. not "OMG SPEEDING KILLS!!!" propaganda) is then used up in other areas like hospitals and looking after crash injuries. It's like how the government happily collects huge taxes for cigarettes, and then whinges about how much looking after smoking cancer/emphacema etc. victims is costing, when they could spend a lot less money by just banning fags in the first place.

[summoner]

Far out. What a load of bollocks in this thread. Anyone heard of age discrimination? Simple fact is there are good and bad drivers in every age group. Being 70 or more doesn't make you a danger.

Sure, but it is fine to target all the young drivers isn't it. it is a FACT that abilities detiorate as you get older so stop babbling that we are being discriminatory.

[ZenithRS]

Same with a 21 year old who is actually a GOOD driver. Yet, if they are on their p-plates they have to display them. I don't think a similar system will solve anything, but the idea is not in any way, shape or form discrimination.

P plates have nothing to do with age.

Doesn't matter how good a 21 year thinks he can drive, he doesn't have the experience...end of story.

[ZenithRS]

Sure, but it is fine to target all the young drivers isn't it. it is a FACT that abilities detiorate as you get older so stop babbling that we are being discriminatory.

Young drivers aren't discriminated against. Inexperienced drivers are required to display a P-plate, no matter what age they are. The simple fact that most people gain their license at the age of 17 is irrelevant. You're getting yourself confused.

[Steve Whitney]

its true that displaying P plates is not directly related to age, but the simple fact remains that your skills & reactions begin to deteriorate as you get older. some oldies are fine whilst others are not.
hence why testing is a good idea, to weed out those who no longer have the abilities to drive to those that can.

[Captiva Fan]

It is a FACT that abilities detiorate as you get older so stop babbling that we are being discriminatory.

To play Devil's Avocado ... I was thinking about this while driving to my parent's place, and having a look at the drivers that were nearly causing all the accidents &/or just basically driving poorly. It's a fact that a larger proportion of people of certain racial backgrounds are considerably worse than others, regardless of the reasons for it, so where would you stand on singling them out for extra testing? Or would it be best to force everyone to get retested regularly, despite the cost, and avoid singling certain groups out? Where does simple common sense stop & an -ism start?

[Steve Whitney]

It's a fact that a larger proportion of people of certain racial backgrounds are considerably worse than others, regardless of the reasons for it, so where would you stand on singling them out for extra testing?

fact?!

do you have any sort of proof (or reasoning) forgee?

[carazy]

I agree with Forg, kill the asians, test the old people*






*Piss off.. I'm joking. About the old people :-)

[Jim]

Young drivers aren't discriminated against. Inexperienced drivers are required to display a P-plate, no matter what age they are. The simple fact that most people gain their license at the age of 17 is irrelevant. You're getting yourself confused.

You're joking, right? I agree on the inexperienced point to a degree, but it is a fact that young people are horribly discriminated against. P plates are a pull-me-over sign, and anyone over 25 usually gets told to move on. Certain cars that are stereotypically driven by young people are pulled over "randomly" a lot more than generic old people's cars. Young people cannot get cheap insurance no matter their experience or history.

As a young driver I took up motorsport and it changed my driving habits and abilities dramatically. Many experiences since have me convinced that my motorsport experience has saved my arse many times since, and not because I drive dangerously or take unnnecessary risks (I simply do a LOT of driving).

[ZenithRS]

its true that displaying P plates is not directly related to age, but the simple fact remains that your skills & reactions begin to deteriorate as you get older. some oldies are fine whilst others are not.
hence why testing is a good idea, to weed out those who no longer have the abilities to drive to those that can.

Testing, yeah, no sweat.... happens already doesn't it? I just find the "G" plate suggestion daft in the extreme.

You're joking, right?

I'm saying that youngsters aren't being discriminated against by being required to display a P plate because it's got nothing to do with age.