Your freedom ends where mine begins
Licencing and driver testing a joke.
Coroner calls for greater powers to stop unfit drivers
Read this article this morning on my way to work, amazing how much digging round through The Age website it took before I stumbled across it. I'm sure if it was a 20 something male driving a Holden it would have made front page.
But yeah, once again evidence that our licencing and driver testing is a joke.
I would like to say that the biggest shock for me, was that currently medical practitioners are not required to report when someone who shouldn't be driving due to medical reasons ignores the advice and keeps driving.
But my fiancee works as a nurse and tells me about how some of her elderly patients continue to drive even though in their condition its down right dangerous.
For example, one story was about an older guy who can barely feel his legs, he uses a garbage bag on his seat as he gets in so its "easier to slide in" and he drives a 4WD... OH, and tows a caravan on occasion too.
Beyond that, this old bloke in the article got behind the wheel of a vehicle full aware of the fact he is clearly too blind to drive as demonstrated when he mowed down cyclist number one, and then all he got for killing someone is a fine and lost his licence for 3 months??? What a joke.
/Rant
Banned
Three years mate. That's a much bigger inconvenience. Poor old guy.
Cyclists don't deserve to be safe on the roads. They don't pay registration or insurance, are exceptionally slow and take up far too much space, getting in the way of cars & trucks. Then they have the audacity to complain when something doesn't go their way. Pffft!
Your freedom ends where mine begins
Indeed it was... my bad. I was reading it on my phone... that's my excuse anyway.Originally Posted by CSP
Still, 3months, 3 years, 10 years.. whatever... the old geezed should have copped a stint in a cell for manslaughter.
He already almost killed one cyclist and then killed another, entirely his fault, he knew he couldn't see when he got behind the wheel.
Banned
Cyclist knowingly chose to ride where there is a much higher risk to them. Not entirely the old guy's fault. Cyclists don't want to be hit, injured or killed, then stick to cycle paths and if there's none where you want to ride, don't ride there! SIMPLE!
Your freedom ends where mine begins
So if this old guy rear ended another car because he didn't see it, it would have been the other drivers fault for being on the road where there is a risk of being rear ended...?
Interesting way of looking at it...
Banned
Nope, not at all. I'm in no way condoning driving when you shouldn't be. I'm simply pointing out that it was only a cyclist, who shouldn't be on the road anyway, so it's not a huge loss in this case.
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
Jester
It's just another one of CSP's grenades. Ignore it - he's just baiting for a bite.
Back to the original theme of the post. My father in law lived with us for the last eight years of his life. He always said he would hand his license in when he turned 80. Well, 80 came and went, but the license stayed. His car, a 1999 Pulsar (typical car for his age, I suppose - bloody awful thing to drive) had dings and scratches on most panels. The lettering on the left hand side tyres was completely abraded away by him parking against the kerb and rubbing the sidewalls agains the concrete so that the raised mouldings on both tyres were completely worn away. His reflexes were shot. He had a coronary history and a multitude of other illnesses. His daily prescription drug pill intake totalled over 30. Because of his age, he required regular medical checkups to determine his fitness to continue driving. Finally, when he reached 83, his GP notified the RTA that he needed to be assessed and he failed. He actually blamed me for "dobbing him in", but the roads were a safer place once his license was pulled.
The elderly insist on driving because they don't realise just how bad they have become and want to retain their indepenedence and freedom. Bugger society, though.
Your freedom ends where mine begins
Haha, yeah I'm well aware of that. I'm just curious how deep the stupid goes...
Your freedom ends where mine begins
Well, maybe your opinion is they shouldn't be, I personally share this opinion, but the fact of the matter is legally they can be on the roads.
In this case, the person who really shouldn't have been on the roads, its the blind old guy in the big arse 4WD.
Infidel Bear
Mini Putt 2 Champion!
What a load of shit.
I ride, I pay 3 lots of insurance, 3 lots of registration. If cars are driving into me in designated bike lanes which all of Melbourne has, how is it my or any other cyclists fault? I rarely see cyclists getting in the way of cars, usually it is for a few seconds while they move around illegally parked cars. Sure on occassion you get group rides, they are annoying, but it is not worth killing people over.
You will find also that almost all cyclists pay rego for a car they own, if they choose to not use the car and use a bike, then who cares...
Will say this though, all cyclists should have a rego plate matching their cars number plate for ID purposes.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
- Theodor Seuss Geisel
crappy ol' VN driver
what a crock of shit. i've been hit by a car when cycling because some ignorant driver didn't bother to look properly when pulling out of a side street from a give way sign. by rights i should have gone under that car that day and i'm lucky to be still walking around.
the old guy should have lost his license permanently at the very least.
ignorant drivers such as yourself who obviously think you own the road shouldn't be allowed to drive.
Body by Holden, Soul by Brock
the Legend will live forever
VN exec T5: 15.1sec @92.2mph 1/4 mile, 9.7sec @ 74.6mph 1/8mile, 2.3sec 60ft, 0-60mph 6.827sec 22/11/07 Gtech competition
If I pay rego for one vehicle does that mean I can get away without paying rego on a second? Can I get a weekend toy and drive it on the roads unregistered because I have another registered vehicle? I think not!
But getting back to the original topic, license testing is most definitely a joke. 80% of road users are crap drivers and this is why we get hit with draconian anti-speeding enforcement. Even heavy vehicle testing it a joke. 12 hours of lessons and I can get behind the wheel of a 20 ton+ heavy rigid.
Infidel Bear
Mini Putt 2 Champion!
Your right you can't, why? Because that is the law. Cyclists are not required to pay rego.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
- Theodor Seuss Geisel
Banned
And that's where the crock of shit is!
I actually agree with a user pays system. But it's would be next to impossible to implement. I.e. I pay rego for two cars and a motorbike, none of which are used by anyone else. It's impossible for me to use all three at the same time so why should I have to pay three lots?
Everybody knows it is legal. But CSP is correct, cyclists don't pay registration or insurance. You stating you pay registration and insurance for 3 cars doesn't change the fact cyclists don't pay either. Whether cyclists should be on the road or not is personal opinion. Personally I think recreational cyclists should stick to bike paths and stay off the bloody roads!
Infidel Bear
Mini Putt 2 Champion!
Most recreational cyclists do stay on the bike paths. Myself, I stick to bike lanes except where people 1. Illegally park or 2. Where there is roadwork. On roads where there is no bike lane, I ride no further out than the distance i am allowed.
Some of you should take a ride sometime, you might surprise yourselves and enjoy it
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
- Theodor Seuss Geisel
I do ride but I stay off the roads. Go around the other side of the bay mate, especially between Mordialloc and Carrum. Dedicated bike lane all the way and they still hog a whole lane on Nepean Highway. Or maybe you should come up to where I live where some of the roads are barely wide enough for two cars yet you get all the closet homos in spandex hogging lanes.
Banned
Nah... I don't want to be injured or killed.Some of you should take a ride sometime, you might surprise yourselves and enjoy it
Infidel Bear
Mini Putt 2 Champion!
lol.........Minux you ow me $3,000
After all this talk about riding, I dusted off my old crappy full rigid, steel mountain bike and headed for a ride around Mt Stromlo on Saturday.
Today went to a highly recommended bike shop and got talking about what I should get. It was between the Giant Trance and the Giant Reign. Both have a similar price but the extra shock travel on the Reign is what sold me (I'm down to about 100kg now so still not the lightest guy around!) - plus it felt more solid (I don't know why). I've ordered a 2008 model with upgraded derailers, computer (incl HR monitor) and will be heading in to get fitted up in about 2 weeks. It'll be in next week but I'm at Mt Hotham skiing.
Anyhow, I'm going to be seriously working on my fitness between now and October. Going to enter the 24hrNot solo. Definitely 2 of us, maybe 3.
Can't wait to take this baby out! Only weighs 13.5kg! lol
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
- Theodor Seuss Geisel
Banned
Yeah that's what I ride on mountain and cross country trails... I won't ever cycle on the road.
Banned
What a bout twit cyclists who ride at 20kmh through town in heavy traffic?
You might as well jog up the middle of the road.
imo riding on the road is crazy unless there are dedicated bike lanes. But hey its not me putting my life at risk so ride away
Ecotec just kicked in yo
I cycle every now and then...I wouldn't exactly say I "enjoy" it though - every time i get on the bike comparing it to driving always makes me feel like I've gone back to dialup internet.
I must say though - I do think there need to be more bike paths. The trouble with cyclists is that they're at risk on the road, however they are a danger to others on the footpath. I wouldn't really call myself a "recreational" cyclist - I only cycle when I have to go somewhere thats too far to walk, yet not far enough to be worth driving. I know the government and the eco hippies want more people to take up cycling, but without the infrastructure being put in place, they're going to find it very hard to encourage people to do it. Much like how they want people to use public transport, but on the other hand they don't want to spend money upgrading public transport infrastructure.
Make the stupid stop!
I ride my bike on the roads. It's not my fault I don't pay registration for my bike, I would if I had to. So the argument that you shouldn't be riding a bike on the road because it isn't registered is daft. If we could, we would lol.
OP's point is geriatric old people who should not be driving. Get them off the roads so they don't hit me, be that in my car, on my push bike or the motor bike.
Obviously Unsensible
dont think this has been said yet but its actually illegal to ride on a footpath once your over a certain age.. (quote from vicroads and nsw rta, may vary state by state)
(means if your over 12 your on the road unless your the supervising rider. honestly id rather break the law and feel safe then get hit by a lunatic driver)Riding on a footpath - vicroads
Children under under the age of 12 and adults supervising them can legally ride on the footpath but must give way to pedestrians.
if they did make bikes have regos then its like saying.. why ride for fitness and fun when you can be lazy and drive and get "fatter". and like overseas (england?) if its eco friendly (hybrid cars i believe) they arent charged as its ment to be better for the environment. i ride a fair bit (more off the main roads) but still its scary, massive trucks and cars at speed and then your there on the road... or "breaking the law" on the footpath by trying to be safe.Footpaths - nsw rta
Children under 12 years of age can ride on a footpath. An adult, who is riding in a supervisory capacity of a cyclist less than 12 years old, may also ride with the young cyclist on the footpath.
You are allowed to cycle on the footpath where indicated by signage
retesting people properly in some way would make the roads safer. not just a simple "read this line" or simple like a computer test but an actual test. in your car.. with real life situations.
but not just the older people, everyone. so the older people dont feel "victimised". and it could help to get more moronic drivers off the road.
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