yet another horrible accident involving a car and caravan out near rainbow beach car went off road hit a tree killing driver and wife remaining but later on she also passed,
its been a tragic week up here in northern qld so many accidents just also saw a guy had lost control of his motorbike and was only in his early twenties killed, we lost a guy in beerwah not long ago couple of weeks ago now from a motorbike accident its all very scary people need to slow down lifes not that hectic surely.
milo said
08:29 PM Oct 3, 2010
there was a horrible one on friday night 4 dead ? hit a truck or something..
take it easy on the roads out there , its wet, slippery and people still drive like ******** ***** **** you dont want to know what i said there.at least in my mind with some drivers out there....
VHW said
11:14 PM Oct 3, 2010
I'ts very sad and there doesn't seem to be any answer, well there are, but some people just don't take heed.
It is the most dangerous thing we can do in life, get behind the wheel of a car or other form of motorised transport, we take our lives (and the lives of others) every time we drive.
Lives are ruined, not just from the deaths but from the injuries as well and it affects all those involved from emergency services, to families and friends.
Zoomtopz said
07:27 AM Oct 4, 2010
While everybody plays politics , it is going to stay the same .
People in this country get taught how to get a licence .
They don't get taught how to drive - I was safer in Vietnam
than on Australian roads . Yes I was taught what to do , t pass
my licence tests , yes tests , 5 of them & I passed each one 1st time .
After the 2nd , I did advanced & safer driving courses .
Richo
Pejay said
09:18 AM Oct 4, 2010
Yep Zoomtopz, Peter says the same as you - safer (at times) in Vietnam, but you know I remember when I first went for my driving test, way back when, and got really pinged off when I failed it, now I understand why it was the best thing at the time - it was the last test of the day on New Year's Eve!!! Say it all? Think so, I did get it some three weeks later, but back then it was a lot less traffic and people obeyed the rules. There are times now, I really don't like driving particularly around major cities.
June
valnrob said
12:08 PM Oct 4, 2010
Defensive driving courses should be mandatory, especially for "P" platers. Maybe needed for everyone, but not sure how that would be run. Hearing of all road accidents and fatalities is getting worse not better with the so called better design of motor vehicles etc. The cars today are plastic, and they are tuned to go faster, a deadly combination.
Wombat 280 said
12:10 PM Oct 4, 2010
In my area as in possibly yours the younger drives think "P" stands for Professional. Some older drivers also need to give it up and start to use their free travel warrants. Doesn't matter how long you have driven for your experience level counts for bugger all if you can't handle the situation you or others have put you in at the time the dynamics of the situation facing a driver are constantly changing and there are many out there , both young and old who can't grasp the situation at hand and panic. Maybe if you haven't completed an advanced driving course by age 30 then your off the road until you do .
I have noticed that a lot of accidents are happening along straight section of dual highway, maybe a roads with bends and hills is making us all lazy in our attitudes to driving , it's all become a point and shoot exercise Put it in to "D" for Dunce and lets go
It's time we started to get a lot tougher on those who break the rules and if you get caught driving while disqualified then into the cells for six months not the addition of 3 months to the same disqualification you just broke.
Beth54 said
12:58 PM Oct 4, 2010
I have a theory about the young ones who think they're invinsible on the roads.
I developed this theory after watching my 12 year old grandson playing a computer game...the games where they're in the drivers seat, and can crash time and time again and no consequences.
It's funny (so they think) when they crash into a wall or run someone over. There are a HUGE amount of these types of games and a vast majority of kids play them.
By the time they're 16 and get their learners, they've had years of 'experience'.
Luckily my grandson is restricted as to how much time he spends on them. And, I might be biased, but I think he's a very sensible boy.
milo said
01:09 PM Oct 4, 2010
i also think maybe, (dont hate me for this) but I think after say 80 you shoulndt be on the road , let alone driving freakin huge truck sized motorhomes.
but also I see p platers going thru school zones in school times.. just asking for trouble.. also people are a******s in carparks, absolutly idiots, i dont know how many rear enders ive seen or heard..
SLOW THE F***** DOWN.....
learn my saying
I dont care how long it takes to get there... as long as we F***** get there!!!
Gerty Dancer said
01:19 PM Oct 4, 2010
Sounds like you meant that Milo!
Also I think caravanners aught to do a mandatory towing/driving course, you see some scary things on the roads. Our course is booked for next week-end with Tow-ed. Cant say I'm looking forward to it, it will probably show up all the things I aught to know after 45 years of driving!!
Ma said
01:48 PM Oct 4, 2010
Also don't forget to look in our own back yards. Maybe some of us think we are doing OK when in actual fact we aren't. You are never too old to learn, but also hopefully realise when it's time to "give it up". Don't think I have got there yet but I'm sure my kids will tell me when I do.
coyotte said
03:12 PM Oct 4, 2010
Coming from a semi-regional area with typical country roads and Freeways and driving into Sydney every so often, I seem to think a lot of the problems lay with inexperienced City drivers of all ages, on these roads
Freeway and Country roads require a skill of their own -- far removed from the lane jumping and weaving in & out one see's in the Metro areas --- along with what has been pointed out prior ----
"It's about the Journey NOT the Destination"
But who listens to us old far*s ????
Coyotte
Pejay said
03:19 PM Oct 4, 2010
You know Milo, about 12 months before my father passed away (not from an accident) he told me of an incident on the Bruce Highway around the Ettamogah Pub near Maroochydore Q, where he (80+ yrs) was driving a well serviced, 14 year old Subaru Liberty, and because some young blonde piece in a red car passed him, HE decided to see just how far she was going - he boldly told me that he got to 125Km/hr, AND don't tell your mother!!! Now here was a man who was my mothers carer - and didn't I rip a f**t up him, and told him a few things that I most probably should not have said to my father; I told him that if I found out he did it again, I would report him to the police!!! I had never in my 50+ years spoken to my father like that, and never did again, but by heck I was mad with him that day!
Beth54 said
03:47 PM Oct 4, 2010
Pejay wrote:
You know Milo, about 12 months before my father passed away (not from an accident) he told me of an incident on the Bruce Highway around the Ettamogah Pub near Maroochydore Q, where he (80+ yrs) was driving a well serviced, 14 year old Subaru Liberty, and because some young blonde piece in a red car passed him, HE decided to see just how far she was going - he boldly told me that he got to 125Km/hr, AND don't tell your mother!!! Now here was a man who was my mothers carer - and didn't I rip a f**t up him, and told him a few things that I most probably should not have said to my father; I told him that if I found out he did it again, I would report him to the police!!! I had never in my 50+ years spoken to my father like that, and never did again, but by heck I was mad with him that day!
Peejay, you reminded me of my mother's driving life.
She only knew flat out and stop! Amazingly, she never had an accident, but we reckon she left a trail of destruction behind her!
We can laugh about it now, but she DID worry us. Her grandchildren were afraid to get in the car with her.
She didn't get her license until she was in her fifties, although she's learnt on the family property when she was young. At one stage, when we were young Dad tried to teach her, but as he had no pationce, she gave up.
petengail said
07:13 PM Oct 4, 2010
Was that yesterday? We were coming out of Inskip and when about 10 k out of Gympie an ambulance and fire and rescue passed us with screaming sirens.... gail commented "hope its not an accident but it looks like it"....
-- Edited by petengail on Monday 4th of October 2010 07:21:00 PM
blaze said
08:05 PM Oct 4, 2010
I think one of the problems today is lack of road noise, in older cars you new how fast you were going by the road noise even when the windows were shut. I drive a series one discovery tdi 300 diesel and 95% of the time I drive with the window partly down, its comforting to me to hear whats happenening. My other peeve is drivers doing 70 odd kmh on the highway (that in its self I dont have a problem with) then speed up on straight sections or over taking lanes. I think its not extra training or bloody tests we need but a bit of painances
cheers
blaze
milo said
10:27 PM Oct 4, 2010
Ma wrote:
but also hopefully realise when it's time to "give it up". Don't think I have got there yet but I'm sure my kids will tell me when I do.
I've been trying to tell my father 87 next month to finish up with driving, the family are behind me but wont say anything.. leaving it up to me, He wrote off 2 rental cars in tassie about 6 years ago, dinged his new one up so many times i think he could just about keep all our panel beaters happy for 12 months, plus he's driving the 24 foot motor home on his own, and pranged that many times, last trip he hit a cars side mirror and wouldt stop unless i yelled at him.
I've taked with RTA ,police, our GP, we go to the same one.. no one wants to know anything.. they dont care... I will never go in a car with him again... and now he's planning to go to the UK and france and germany in march, and driving over there...??
Im at a loss, family want me to go, but i said no way if he's driving.. but he wont... he's so freakin stubborn...
I'm sorry, some may hate me for saying this but I think after 80 you should be made to hand in your liscense... say he kills some one some where, How would he feel? how would I feel..?? I've done every thing i can,.. i said ill do all the driving, but he wont do it that way....
sorry for my rant... been thru a lot latley i guess.
Beth54 said
02:10 PM Oct 5, 2010
Milo, my cousin had the same problem with her Dad.
She ended up insisting on going to his next doctors appointment with him and told the doctor exactly what she thought of his driving. Although Uncle objected, the doctor went with her opinion and that was that.
I wonder why the doctor isn't listening to you...not a very good doctor, I'd say.
One thing I've noticed with the elderly is they think they're driving well because they're driving slow. (This was my father, definately not my mother.)
Although I do agree about a use by date on licenses, I'd hate to have to give up mine.
Pejay said
04:37 PM Oct 5, 2010
Here, here with all of the above!
From my piece about my father, you all know my thoughts - but here's another loony (!) for you. As you come out of the big shopping centre here on Bribie Island Q, there is a big roundabout - no worries, except the old buggers that want to turn right to go to Banksia Beach actually have to go left onto the roundabout, then continue around to go right for Banksia - sort of go onto the roundabout at 6 o'clock, round and off at 3 o'clock, some come out of the shopping centre and turn immediately right (going the wrong way!) and shoot off against oncoming traffic!!! This is true, I have actually seen a car heading that way with a big bus coming towards him!!!
So YES, YES, YES!!!! No licences for the OBE's (over bloomin' eighties!!)
-- Edited by Pejay on Tuesday 5th of October 2010 04:38:31 PM
Gerty Dancer said
04:48 PM Oct 5, 2010
Geez Milo, I can see why you are upset. Your family need to support you, you've certainly tried everything you can on your own. Hopefully his driving test, which I remember you said was coming up soon will end it. Mind you, he'll be very upset to lose his independance. Then you are gonna have to drive him everywhere, and no doubt he'll be telling you how to drive all the time!!! Good luck!
Beth54 said
06:25 PM Oct 5, 2010
haha Been there done that too Gerty.
We were lucky we didn't have to convince Dad to give it up. He knew he couldn't see well enough.
But when he did, we had to drive him places. I was the only one without a liv-in family and no hubby to cramp my life, so lucky me I got the job!
But he never criticized my driving. Wouldn't want to have either for that matter!!
I know that roundabout at Bribie Peejay, and there's one down here in Logan too...Paradise Road. Not only do you get the OBE's who have no idea what they're doing, but also the w....s (excuse the thought) who see no need to slow just because they've come to a roundabout!
Cruising Granny said
06:35 PM Oct 5, 2010
We all think we're 10 foot tall and bullet proof with a steering wheel in our hands.
Our foot's on the pedal, our hands on the wheel, the brain in neutral.
I think I'm a good, alert, defensive driver, but I learn something new every day, from the other drivers.
An elderly man at our singing group in his 80's can hardly walk unaided, uses a frame most of the time, slides into the driver's seat and off he goes in his little car.
Mentally he's still quite alert, but physically I'm surprised he can even work the pedals - brake or accelerator.
Then there are the young - mobile, 200 horsepower ipods, thumping so loud I check my own truck for the cause of the noise. They can't hear their own car, nor any other traffic around them, totally oblivious to what's going on.
This has to be a total distraction to actually operating the motor vehicle, and negotiating traffic.
My dad was a truck driver who drove flat out everywhere in his little car. When he aged he drove so slow he was a bloody nuisance, and more dangerous than he was when he was speeding.
Then there are Qld drivers. I'm convinced it's compulsory to overtake on double, solid white lines, especially where the visibility is restricted such as bends and hills.
It's also required to run red lights and stop on green. They don't stop when the lights are red, but they don't go when the lights are green.
The roads are built in such a way there's is absolutely no margin for error on the non-existed shoulders of the black top, so crashes are expected. The Bruce Highway kills people.
How do we get the message out there that the machine we call a motor vehicle is a killing machine in the wrong hands?
Kids hooning in a vehicle far too powerful for them to control. The speed limit is only for drivers who can read and care, as are the road rules.
Take care, drive as carefully as you know how, and allow for the other bastard's stupidity.
JRH said
06:43 PM Oct 5, 2010
I'm the only sane bugger on the road.
Smokeydk said
08:12 PM Oct 5, 2010
That must make 2 of us then John.......LOL
milo said
10:59 PM Oct 5, 2010
well, my dads driving test is next tuesday, passed his physical.. just point to your nose, move your hands.. etc
thing is our RTA is stupid..
you get 3 chances to pass after that you can go to a private company and
then pay them to test you as many times as you need till you pass ... how freaking stupid is that..?? im so peeved, now he wants to drive in the UK , france ,etc where's going..
but i have a feeling uk are age restricted at 70 etc , but not sure..
Cruising Granny said
12:05 AM Oct 6, 2010
This is a big issue.
Write to the state Department of Transport, talk to the local Tspt office, your local members, and anyone you can think of about this.
It's clearly bothering you to a huge degree, and justifiably so.
Maybe your doctor could help you with this as well.
Your actions could help change a few laws in relation to this. It's bigger than just your dad.
It affects everyone who shares the road with the elderly drivers right around this country.
Contact me privately if you need some help.
milo said
12:50 PM Oct 6, 2010
Thanks CG, I've already been to his doc as we go to the same one,
been to the police, been to rta, no one wants to know about it..
but its going to be me and my family picking up the peices if anything goes wrong..
JRH said
03:53 PM Oct 6, 2010
Smokeydk wrote:
That must make 2 of us then John.......LOL
G'day Smokey, YEP! me and thee pal....LOL
Beth54 said
04:26 PM Oct 6, 2010
JRH wrote:
Smokeydk wrote:
That must make 2 of us then John.......LOL
G'day Smokey, YEP! me and thee pal....LOL
Hey...me too! ..LOL
JRH said
04:48 PM Oct 6, 2010
Beth54 wrote:
JRH wrote:
Smokeydk wrote:
That must make 2 of us then John.......LOL
G'day Smokey, YEP! me and thee pal....LOL
Hey...me too! ..LOL
Geez with all these sane people on the road it just may pay to be a little mad.....LOL
car went off road hit a tree killing driver and wife remaining but later on she also passed,
its been a tragic week up here in northern qld so many accidents just also saw a guy
had lost control of his motorbike and was only in his early twenties killed, we lost a guy in beerwah not long ago couple of weeks ago now from a motorbike accident its all very scary people need to slow down lifes not that hectic surely.
I developed this theory after watching my 12 year old grandson playing a computer game...the games where they're in the drivers seat, and can crash time and time again and no consequences.
It's funny (so they think) when they crash into a wall or run someone over. There are a HUGE amount of these types of games and a vast majority of kids play them.
By the time they're 16 and get their learners, they've had years of 'experience'.
Luckily my grandson is restricted as to how much time he spends on them. And, I might be biased, but I think he's a very sensible boy.
Also I think caravanners aught to do a mandatory towing/driving course, you see some scary things on the roads. Our course is booked for next week-end with Tow-ed. Cant say I'm looking forward to it, it will probably show up all the things I aught to know after 45 years of driving!!
Also don't forget to look in our own back yards. Maybe some of us think we are doing OK when in actual fact we aren't. You are never too old to learn, but also hopefully realise when it's time to "give it up". Don't think I have got there yet but I'm sure my kids will tell me when I do.
Freeway and Country roads require a skill of their own -- far removed from the lane jumping and weaving in & out one see's in the Metro areas --- along with what has been pointed out prior ----
"It's about the Journey NOT the Destination"
But who listens to us old far*s ????
Coyotte
She only knew flat out and stop! Amazingly, she never had an accident, but we reckon she left a trail of destruction behind her!
We can laugh about it now, but she DID worry us. Her grandchildren were afraid to get in the car with her.
She didn't get her license until she was in her fifties, although she's learnt on the family property when she was young. At one stage, when we were young Dad tried to teach her, but as he had no pationce, she gave up.
-- Edited by petengail on Monday 4th of October 2010 07:21:00 PM
I've been trying to tell my father 87 next month to finish up with driving,
the family are behind me but wont say anything.. leaving it up to me,
He wrote off 2 rental cars in tassie about 6 years ago, dinged his new one up so many times i think he could just about keep all our panel beaters happy for 12 months,
plus he's driving the 24 foot motor home on his own, and pranged that many times, last trip he hit a cars side mirror and wouldt stop unless i yelled at him.
I've taked with RTA ,police, our GP, we go to the same one.. no one wants to know anything.. they dont care...
I will never go in a car with him again... and now he's planning to go to the UK and france and germany in march, and driving over there...??
Im at a loss, family want me to go, but i said no way if he's driving.. but he wont...
he's so freakin stubborn...
I'm sorry, some may hate me for saying this but I think after 80 you should be made to hand in your liscense... say he kills some one some where, How would he feel? how would I feel..?? I've done every thing i can,.. i said ill do all the driving, but he wont do it that way....
sorry for my rant... been thru a lot latley i guess.
She ended up insisting on going to his next doctors appointment with him and told the doctor exactly what she thought of his driving. Although Uncle objected, the doctor went with her opinion and that was that.
I wonder why the doctor isn't listening to you...not a very good doctor, I'd say.
One thing I've noticed with the elderly is they think they're driving well because they're driving slow. (This was my father, definately not my mother.)
Although I do agree about a use by date on licenses, I'd hate to have to give up mine.
From my piece about my father, you all know my thoughts - but here's another loony (!) for you. As you come out of the big shopping centre here on Bribie Island Q, there is a big roundabout - no worries, except the old buggers that want to turn right to go to Banksia Beach actually have to go left onto the roundabout, then continue around to go right for Banksia - sort of go onto the roundabout at 6 o'clock, round and off at 3 o'clock, some come out of the shopping centre and turn immediately right (going the wrong way!) and shoot off against oncoming traffic!!! This is true, I have actually seen a car heading that way with a big bus coming towards him!!!
So YES, YES, YES!!!! No licences for the OBE's (over bloomin' eighties!!)
-- Edited by Pejay on Tuesday 5th of October 2010 04:38:31 PM
Hopefully his driving test, which I remember you said was coming up soon will end it. Mind you, he'll be very upset to lose his independance. Then you are gonna have to drive him everywhere, and no doubt he'll be telling you how to drive all the time!!! Good luck!
We were lucky we didn't have to convince Dad to give it up. He knew he couldn't see well enough.
But when he did, we had to drive him places. I was the only one without a liv-in family and no hubby to cramp my life, so lucky me I got the job!
But he never criticized my driving. Wouldn't want to have either for that matter!!
I know that roundabout at Bribie Peejay, and there's one down here in Logan too...Paradise Road. Not only do you get the OBE's who have no idea what they're doing, but also the w....s (excuse the thought) who see no need to slow just because they've come to a roundabout!