Queensland Transport Campaign 300 - because enough is enough
2 Jan, 2007
30 Comments 
Sigh. I really can’t think of a better word to explain my feelings about QLD transports new campaign to reduce the QLD road toll. Named Campaign 300, QLD transport with the help of QLD police have again set on a crusade to reduce the road toll to below 300.
Now if your wondering why I am not overtly enthusiastic about the new campaign, you can first start of by reading my article about reducing the road toll using a new approach. My point is simple, more speed cameras, random breath/drug tests, tougher laws on younger drivers, double points and fines do not save lives. Campaign 300 is nothing but a campaign of fear designed, once again, by a generation which fails to understand or grasp the grass root problems of the increasing road toll.
Being a Queenslander myself, I can honestly say that QLD transport and QLD police are an absolute nightmare to deal with. Not only on the road but also even in person, we have sent countless complaints to QLD transport begging them to provide some sort of evidence to show that more speed cameras will save lives, but of course, they have not replied, because there is no evidence to suggest this.
Now Car Advice is a new site, aimed mainly at the younger crowd of car enthusiasts, those who love their cars and spend a great deal of time and money taking care of their car. It is also aimed at the general population who seek information and advice about the state of the Austrailan Car Industry. So whenever I write an article like this, we get a great deal of feedback from not only the 18-30 crowd but also the moms an dads of teenagers who worry about their sons and daughters on the road.
One thing is crystal clear. Almost everyone has lost faith in Speed Cameras. I have not found one person under 30 who is passionate about cars and doesn’t believe that speed cameras are here to make money as oppose to save lives. If QLD transport thinks otherwise, then I have a brilliant idea. Every time a person receives a speeding ticket for more than 20km/hr, instead of the $250 ticket, the culprit has to book themselves into an advanced driving course (which cost around $250). Not only will this make them a better driver and help reduce the road toll, but it will also prove that QLD transport is not simply after $.
So back to campaign 300. QLD transport lists the following “new” approaches to reducing the road toll:
- More speed cameras
- Roadside drug testing
- More audible line markings on our roads to make them safer
- More rest stops
- Double demerit points for repeat speed offenders
- Vehicle impoundment and alcohol ignition interlocks for repeat drink drivers.
So lets go through these new innovative and revolutionary ideas one by one.
1. More speed cameras
Yep, Speed Cameras solve the worlds problems, Australian transport authorities seem to have this delusion that speed cameras save lives. Countless overseas studies have proven otherwise. Infact in many circumstances, it has been shown that speed cameras create unnecessary stress on drivers which leads to lower driving standards which lead to more accidents. One of our readers had a brilliant way to describe the speed camera phenomenon.
Throughout the history of mankind, the life of an individual has been a cheap commodity. It still is. We’re not being whipped into building a pyramid anymore but we are being manipulated and programmed to believe that our salvation lies under the speed limit. In reality, it lies in having an intimate knowledge of our own limits behind the wheel. Seane
QLD transport obviously disagrees, as they believe that to a be a safe driver, all you need to know is how to pass your driving test, and stay under the speed limit. Yep, so make sure you can parallel park, because failure to know how to get your parallel park the first time may result in your death. Also make sure you obey the 40km/h speed limit due to road work sign on the highway at 3am in the morning despite the fact that there is never ever any actual road work taking place.
However, despite my sarcasm, its obvious that QLD transport want the best for us - they want us to stop killing ourselves and others on the road, this is what they have to say:
We want to reduce the road toll through new licensing rules, regulations and better education for our young drivers. We’re determined to stop the carnage on our roads. But we can’t do it alone. We need the commitment of every Queensland driver. QLD transport
Well QLD transport, let me be the first to put my hand up and say, you do not have my commitment. By new licensing rules, they are of course speaking of the tough new young driver restrictions. Which are set to limit drivers to what cars they can drive and also enforce a curfew on the number of passengers young drivers can take. And by education they mean the P1/P2 system which forces all new drivers to undergo a written hazard test to progress from P1 to P2. Yep, a hazard test.
If QLD transport was serious about effective changes to licensing laws, they should start with requiring all 4WD owners to acquire a new 4WD license, meaning that 4WD drivers should not only pass their license test in THEIR vehicle but also can justify the need for a 4WD in an urban environment. Also instead of a simple “no” to high powered cars for provisional drivers, they should introduce compulsory advanced driving courses for all new young drivers. It is essential that all young drivers know the limits of their cars, and more theoretical tests are not going to do this!
So lets move on from the speed cameras now, I can write another 10,000 words why Speed Cameras are an ineffective method of reducing the road toll, but I’ve made my point for now.
2. Roadside drug testing
Fear. Roadside drug testing? Dear god, what has society come to! Okay, its obvious that there are those among us who are under the influence of drugs whilst behind the wheel, but unlike random breath tests, chances of catching them is relatively slim. Police currently have the power to ask any driver they see as unfit to drive to undergo a drug test, so these new roadside drug testing centres are going to make this easier and become a nightmare on QLD roads.
How do they work? Well its similar to an RBT, you get pulled over, a sample of cells is taken from you mouth and this is tested for legal and illegal drugs that can be harmful to driving. Roadside drug testing went through a series of trials in NSW in 2004, and some of the interesting points that came out of the trial are:
- The court system could be tied up by drivers disputing the effects of a particular drug. So the tax payers have to pay for every driver who wishes to dispute their drug conviction. Simply put, the presence of drugs does not necessarily equate to impaired driving.
- Can you imagine having to wait on the side of the road when you are in a hurry for your drug test results? This will lead to speeding to make up for lost time!
- It is proven fact that some drugs even lead to increased reaction time, hence better driving! The US airforce has been giving its pilots “speed” since ww2!
Dr Adam Winstock, conjoint senior lecturer for the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre said
drugs aren’t like alcohol, they vary in strength and quality. And, in some cases, it could be argued small doses of speed actually enhance driving, whereas large doses could severely impair it.
Now I am not saying, dont do the drug testing because its too hard, but I am saying that its going to be a nightmare to sort out all the little problems, and who is to say which drug can impair driving for which person? Drugs have all sorts of different reactions for different people. It is not a blanket ‘you took cough medicine so you shouldn’t be driving‘ scenario!
3. More audible line markings on our roads to make them safer
I guess I can’t really fault this approach. But I do beg QLD transport to undergo an internal investigation into making sure when road work signs are on the road, that actual road work is taking place.
4. More rest stops
How often do you take a rest stop? Transport authorities say that you should pull over and rest for 10 mins ever 2 hours. What a joke!? Hardly anyone does that on long distant trips. I can see the 5hr mark being more accurate. However more rest stops are always welcome.
5. Double demerit points for repeat speed offenders
Why not just take their license away? Thats the point of this new law isn’t it? Double demerit points for repeat speed offenders is not going todo anything. Why is it so hard for QLD transport to realize that any campaign set to reduce speeding offenders doesn’t work if its fueled by fear! If you’ve ever been pulled over for a speeding ticket, dealt with the police officer, received your yellow infringement notice, you are generally really angry. You are not angry at your self for speeding, but you are angry for being caught.
Every speeding incident is different, I would be lying if i said I have not exceeded the speed limit deliberately countless times, its when your internal sense of logic says that its safe to speed. Usually your logic is wrong as it does not take into effect the thousands of possibilities that can quickly change a “safe to speed” scenario into an accident, but that has never stopped me from going 100 in an 80 zone at 3am in the morning on my way home.
Double demerit points won’t change that either. Why is it that we pin speeding as the single biggest culprit for causing accidents? Why can’t QLD transport be tougher on bad drivers, why can’t they fine drivers who are unable to merge onto the highway, or travel 60 in an 80 zone, these drivers are just as dangerous as speeding drivers. Infact I am almost willing to say that slow drivers are an antecedent reason for speeding drivers. There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck behind a slow driver, it will make you speed up to pass them.
6. Vehicle impoundment and alcohol ignition interlocks for repeat drink drivers.
This sounds like a great idea, in theory, but why are repeat drink drivers even on the road in the first place? We need significantly harder penalties on drink driving, but all within reason - all these blanket approaches are not going to work. Putting a alcohol ignition interlock on a vehicle will be very hard to police, and it will limit that driver to only driving vehicles with an interlock.
I have always wondered why the police don’t want to provide the most basic and easy deterrent to stop drink driving. What is that you ask? Free Breathalyzers in central night spot locations. I have personally asked police officers for a breath test prior to getting in my vehicle, and they have refused, sighting that i should not be drinking at all if i plan to drive (absolute rubbish) and also that if they breathalyze me and i come clear, and I get pulled over by another cop who finds me over the limit, they will be in a legal nightmare.
In otherwords, its just too hard, in that instance, the police actually followed me to my car, watched me get in my car, drive 5M down the road and then pulled me over. I was clear ofcourse, but it would have been nice to have known that prior to getting in my car. There needs to be free breathalyzers provided by QLD transport around all major nightspot venues to allow potential drink drivers to know whether or not they are actually over the limit!
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So that is campaign 300, and whilst I wish QLD transport the bets of luck in reducing the road toll, I am one QLD driver who is not committed to simply sitting here and swallowing QLD transport’s fear campaign and utter lies. Speed cameras dont save lives. Fear campaigns never work. There needs to be a new approach to reducing the road toll!
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January 2nd, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I can’t say that I know this years holiday road toll statistics, but I’m relatively certain that they’ve gotten worse in the last 12 months than they have been previously, and this is with tougher law enforcement.
Humanity has an innate need to break rules, and this goes to show; the tougher the laws and legislation, the more rebellious the driver (especially younger drivers trying to show off to their mates). Why not open up the speed limits like they do on european highways? Sure, the initial surge of hooning will result in some fatalities, but once people realise that nobody cares anymore, they might get bored and find other ways to amuse themselves? Plus, we get rid of some of these idiots in the process…
You’re right about the speed camera’s and the fear caused by their presence. You can see the result of this when Driver A suddenly spots a camera and slams on the brakes causing Driver B, behind Driver A, to do the same. Camera’s, whether permanent or handheld do more harm than good and I hear they’re inaccurate!
It’s a shame really
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January 2nd, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I think we’ll have a really hard time trying to convince the QLD government or any state/territory government for that matter that they should remove the speed limits.
Although as I mentioned, it would be nice to have some government sponsored (as in free) tracks for people to get speeding out of their system 24hrs/day
would mean a lot of people would show up to the track early in the morning and have a race of with their friends in a controlled environment.
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January 3rd, 2007 at 7:14 pm
sigh … can’t you guys just wank off instead of speeding? i don’t understand why you need to go over the speed limit. yes, it feels awesome when you speed alborz, but apart from feeling awesome and impressing fellow hoons, why do it?
ok, so i don’t drive, but when i do i don’t think i’ll ever need to go faster than the limit. i guess i need testosterone to understand :/
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January 3rd, 2007 at 7:53 pm
There are better ways to prevent accidents. But as accidents dont make money, the insurance is now speed cameras. The premium is too high.
It is revenue raising and I for one beleive in certain areas like red light cameras, they cause rear end collisions, and this has been borne out by figures.
What isnt mentioned is that speed cameras are not infallable, and that speedometers are also inaccurate, so until proper testing of both is implemented, that is LEGAL testing, not by traffic camera police or some state funded university then any certificate of accuracy can be succesfully chalenged. I know. I won my case when being hauled into court for the henious crime of supposedly speeding the charge > your future in Queesnland if you dont fight them> 67 KPH on a 60 zone. No certidicates of accuracy is legal as its not issued in accordance with the Natioanl Measurement ACT. It wil lcost you to fight it though. Youre dealing with the Government taxation department dont forget…
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January 4th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Yes for most of us its just not worth the time and effort to fight a speeding ticket even if one is sure that it is not accurate, but its good to see those who decide to stand up and stop simply accepting what QLD transport hands down!
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January 4th, 2007 at 10:10 am
I’m just confused on these new driving rules. I’m turning 16 in february so will these laws apply for me? Who WILL be affected by these laws? Everyone going for a learners, or licence in 2007 and beyond? And the 100 hours of required supervised learning?! Is that with a driving instructor or simpy a parent/guardian with a licence? If these 100 hours are with a parent/guardian how will the police now if yu have done them or not? Why not simply lie about it then and prentend you have done the required hours? I assure you though that these new laws are just not feasible. No-one I have spoken to - both young and old - have a clue about what these restrictions will include. Though as usual, if anything is wrong - just blame the teenagers in society.
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January 6th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Every time a person receives a speeding ticket for more than 20km/hr, instead of the $250 ticket, the culprit has to book themselves into an advanced driving course (which cost around $250).
This is probably one of the better ideas you have ever had Alborz.
The problem with a fine, is that the punishment is relative to your fiscal situation. $250 is a lot more to say a factory worker then it is to a lawyer. However for a working man or woman, time has a fairly equivilent value. Requiring somebody to sacrifice some of their time to better their driving skills - now that could be worthwhile.
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January 19th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Amanda - Its interesting that you single out speeding as being the problem. It is IMO but one part of the problem and the governments have been very successful in brainwashing the average member of society into believing that it is ‘the’ problem.
Why? Because they make a lot of money out of it!
I don’t advocate hooning at all and sadly it is this minority who the media and governments focus on to the detriment of all drivers. If you took all the ‘hoon’ related deaths out of the road toll I suspect that it wouldn’t change greatly. The vast majority of people who die on the road are your average driver. Unfortunately, the ‘average’ Australian driver is nowhere near possessing even average driving abilities.
The single biggest problem area is experience or lack there of. It is not enough to believe you have a right to drive without taking some basic interest in how to operate the machine you drive. If you drive a forklift you have to be trained. To fly a plane likewise. We were educated at school to use a computer… Why are we not trained to control a car beyond reverse parking and stopping at the big red sign?
We shouldnt have to share the road with drivers who do not know how to control their vehicle in an emergency situation, or who have so little interest that they would rather chat on the phone or do their hair, instead of concentrating on the task at hand.
Our respective governments have a duty to ensure that every driver is properly trained and while they are making money out of speed cameras it should be at their expense.
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January 30th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
I think the Government should make it compulsory for every driver to take a Dangerous Driving Course. Why you ask? When we obtain our drivers liscences, we are taught to drive safely. But what about teaching the inexperienced drivers about dangerous situations on our roads? No one I know teach the drivers on how to handle a car when a dangerous situation on our roads may present itself. AAMI have a drivers course that touch base on this but it is not compulsory. As for speeding, is it really speed or just QLD Transport feel the need to change the speed limit on us every 800mtrs down the road, because it gets very frustrating. Having to check ones speedo all the time is what causes accidents and if I am not wrong, also results in a lot of unnecessary speeding tickets. In one particular circumstance speed has actually saved my life and that of my family but also being able to know a cars limitations and how to handle that vehicle in a dangerous situation, that is what prevents accidents. Let me point out that a car is not dangerous, it is the person inside the car driving it that is dangerous. So maybe the Government can put its money to better use by re-educating a lot of drivers.
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January 30th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
I absolutely agree Serrena
I think much like everything else in life, Education is the key, but much like everything else in life, short term solutions are cheaper and easier to implement.
The government only wants to appear to be doing something as oppose to actually do something useful.
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March 7th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Hi Just a few comments about what I see as road safty problems. First of all I drive a 8 ton truck 33 ft long Iam 60 and have had a license since I was 18. As I sit up high you get to see a lot,people watching dvd in the front,sending text messages,reading books,mags,office memos,what about the sales rep travelling at 100km diary on the steering wheel talking on the phone and writing or the people eating their breakfast out of a bowl with a spoon in heavy 100km traffic,or one of the best imagine early morning heavy peak hour traffic,small car 3 small kids sign on back window CAUTION BABY ON BOARD mother reading typed notes.Another major problem is that people BELIEVE that the INDICATOR gives them the right to change lanes or merge its only an INDICATOR through traffic has the right of way. CUTTING IN ON TRUCKS whether large or small they need stopping distance,and its against the law TO CUT IN.There are many more but what about PUSH BIKES the Government and Councils are spending millions of dollars on bike ways, bike lanes but riders still insist on using the the roads and 2,3&4 abreast on roads that have trouble with cars passing.Why aren’t theses people licensed and the bikes registered.When a push bike rider gets hit who gets blamed the car or truck, about time the police & transport dept stopped push bike riders from using main & busy roads.
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March 8th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
rick james
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March 9th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
in yours
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March 9th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
quinkin denya
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March 15th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
i have a 1925 chev that i am working on and i am putting a skyline GTR engine with twin turbos in and i am doing up the axles, bearings and every thing else on the car i get my learners 2 days before the new laws does this affect my drivind of my HOTROD.
my car is awesome some help would be appreciated.
Thanks Gordon Roots (ROOTER)
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May 4th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I would just like to say that ‘Rooter’ you car sounds like a goddam piece of shit so maybe you shouldn’t be advertising something that i would wipe my arse on.
HOT ROD MY ARSE
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July 8th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I’m just curious at your definition of a ’slow driver’.
You say that they ‘make you speed up to pass them’. Well if you’re speeding up to the speed limit to over take someone then where is the problem? I understand - trying to merge into heavy traffic cruising alone at 80 km is a pain in the arse when you’re stuck behind a Mazda 121 with little ol’ grandma plodding along at 60 km trying to work out where the straight road goes.
However, countless times, I have had someone tailgating me - right on my tail so my rear view is consumed entirely by their vehicle - for no other reason but that I’m doing the speed limit.
And sometimes I’m doing the speed limit in the right lane - the fast lane. Why am I in the right lane? Because some truck, old lady, people mover or caravan is holding up he left lane.
Yet for some reason, when I take a responsible, legal over-taking manouvure, I’m honked and high beamed by the person who was about 10 car lengths back when I changed lanes, and quickly catches up to sit on my tail.
I give a call out to these drivers: Why on earth should I be stuck behind grandma doing 20 km under because I might impeded your desire to do 20 km over?
Not only do these drivers make it hard for me to over-take in the first place, but they make it more dangerous. It is not simply the slow drivers to blame. It is not simply the speed of the slow drive that makes it hard to change lanes - but the disparity betweeen lane speends. Grandma at 80 and Robbo at 120 is a difference of 40 km/h.
I drive a 1992 Holden Apollo. A whole 88 kW of power. Not exactly sporty. Trying to go from 80 to 120 in whatever small opportunity I have to change lanes is not an easy task, even after backing off from grandma, pissing off the people in the slow lane, watching people in more powerful cars zoom into the fast lane, and then giving myself a run up in the left lane so I can pull into the right lane before I run up granny’s arse. It’s not a pleasant driving experience. It’s frustrating at least.
At the end of the day - speeding drivers contribute just as much to traffic chaos as slow drivers. Rational self interest leads to everyone, on average, going slower, due to inability to efficiently merge, and an increase in minor accidents such as rear enders.
Speed limits are set for the lowest common denominator.
Highway Entry signs say: “No tractors, animals, pedestrians or cyclists.” not “No tractors, animals, pedestrians, cyclists or cars under 120 kW.”
Roads are their for everyone to use, and although I don’t think speed cameras save many lives, I believe their prescence reduces the persistence of perpetual speeders in traffic, and punishes them for the decreased efficiency of our roads which increases travel times for the majority of people, increasing fuel costs and carbon emissions overall.
We all pay our registration (hopefully), and as such should have equal usage of roads - they’re not solely there for the use of those with high-powered vehicles.
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October 29th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Drug Testing Drivers
At the end of the day drug testing drivers is a deterrent approach that should be embraced by society.
I don’t know if I would like to be responsible for “guessing” whether the illegal drugs I am taking will enhance or reduce my driving ability.
Yes - you would just be guessing since they vary in effect, strength and dosage taken by users.
Why take the risk? A simple “none of the illegal drugs in your system whilst driving” is the only truly safe approach.
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November 3rd, 2007 at 1:40 am
Michael Tyers:
I had to comment on what you’ve written.
You are trying to make a point by saying that you should not have to speed to overtake someone in the slow lane.
First of all - as someone else said - through trafic has right of way. Further I’ve afraid of sharing the road with you - if you feel you want to overtake a slower car, there are a few simple things that should cross your mind before you hit the indicator and pull out.
First - you have to check for other people going faster than you - that means that you DO everything you can to not interrupt their driving speed. Therefore you either wait until there is sufficient room for you to overtake without bothering the guy coming up from behind - speeding or not speeding or you don’t overtake!
Second - once you start overtaking that car, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE overtake it reasonbly fast (yes you can speed here to get past and the go down to the limit again) - I have COUNTLESS examples of IDIOTS that spend the better part of my afternoon overtaking a car that goes 108 kph and they do 110 kph…. that is dangerous and stupid.
85KW of power should be sufficient to overtake any car reasonable fast with the current speed limits… p.s. if it’s a manual try 4th or even 3rd gear…
And please - afterwards keep left (if you do, you will be one in a hundred)
Regards from a VERY frustrated European driver…
And just to comment on this 300 campaign - it’s worthless…rubbish and waste of our money.
I got another speeding ticket just today… I was RACING down a 110kph zone with 129kph - It was nearly midnight and I ONLY had 4 lanes to my self… yes very very dangerous…I can see why I was pulled over… I’m chocked
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December 1st, 2007 at 6:57 am
Can i just say one snippet.
POLICED STATE. This is what we all live in today. Knee Jerk rules by politicians because they dont understand current rules. Speed Cameras, Drug Testing, Extra Police Powers to search vehicles, detain people, enforce extra rules during special periods, and so on.
I live in QLD, i moved here in January of 2007. I drive a 1975 998cc Leyland Mini. In the first 5 months of being in Queensland, i would say i was pulled over by the Police at least once every week. On numerous occassions i have had to go through the inconvenience of them removing all my belongings from my car only to leave them on the road for me to pack away. I have been breath tested roadside maybe 30 times since arriving here. But i dont drink so this always turns up a negative. Am i now to suffer the rath of longer roadside stoppages because i turn a negative drinking result.
QLDrs seem to prefer drunks over drug users. I had to attend court over a small cannabis matter. I got caught with an empty bowl with crumbs in it and they still charged me, even though i had no drugs, was not high on drugs, but this is besides the point. I should never have been charged.
What is the point is, i went to court. No pot, empty bowl and pipe $600 fine, with conviction. No fair but i copped it. Now, this disgusts me. Two kids, so drunk they couldnt remember, smashed 6 cars, $500 fine, plus damages. Another drunk guy walking through Southbank, (popular with families) flashing his privates at the public, 15 complaints made. He only gets a $300 fine and no conviction.
What is this world coming to when, i get busted with an empty bowl and that is seen as a worse crime than a man flashing his privates in a family area.
I drive for work everyday, i am a very experienced driver, i have never caused an accident, and only been in two during 20 years on the road, and pose no threat to anyone in society.
This is the general thought of QLD government that PRO ACTIVE policing is better policing. But there comes a point where policing becomes harrassment, intimidation, and i think QLD Police and the QLD Government are beginning to border on this crime.
In a two party system of Lib/Lab we dont get a choice to defend what is rightfully ours, we have a minority making rules for the many, and without cause or regret, for what they leave their, our children.
Now Judy Spence and Anna Bligh want to bring in new powers for police to charge parents of teenagers caught with alchohol. Our government want to parent our children and make money off us for it at the same time. All this because of fighting between youths during schoolies week. One week of the year the rest of the country migrates to QLD for celebrations. And QLD’rs are supposed to suffer these powers during the other 51 weeks.
I say charge these kids with assault and bring down harsher sentences.
I say look at the laws of the common, and the varying degress of adjustments to that common law, and you have more than enough to charge these people for their offences, and harshly dependant on the degree of the offence. But instead they choose to lessen the sentences, and then cite that the current laws arent effective enough.
Again, for what cause, to leave a children with a society that is locked down. Everyone should read George Orwells 1984, and Aldus Huxleys Brave New World.
Welcome to Queensland.
Since when was policing meant to be ENFORCEMENT. They are not police officers today, they are law enforcement officers. Doing their job of raising revenue for the government.
They care less about the protection of others, and more about the charging, court cases, and fines.
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December 5th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Enough is Enough.
Ive had enough of these new laws, it seems every month they introduce something else to control us.
Im waiting to see the repercussions of this 300 campaign. In VIC and NSW the fine for getting busted with drugs is around $300 and 3 demerit points, which i think is completely fair, this puts it on par with alchohol. if your high then dont drive simple.
But in QLD, its a whole new ball game. Rather than it being a road side saliva test where you suck on something like a dummy, there is a full scrape of the tongue done. To top that off, if you get caught, you face a fine and immediate loss of licence. No questions.
If this is the case, then even if you are not high and over the limit on a mind altering substance, and there are traces of it on the tongue scrape, and that substance is not alchohol, then you lose your licence.
if you drive for a job, and have a family to support, then you lose your job, and then starts the rollercoaster of losing your family, even if they are aware and/or comfortable with your choice of drug and its use.
With it hard enough to find decent paying work, and trasnport throughout SE QLD going to shit, plus the police inability to cover current RBT quotas (after admitting to blowing in the bag themselves to meet those quotas), what is the cost going to be, both on police officers time, civilians rights to non intrusive testing, and the willingness of our governments to collect money. Dont forget, not only do you lose your licence YOU PAY $$$$$$$.
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December 10th, 2007 at 11:34 am
As my name suggests,my father was a cop, a corrupt one at that by his own admittance when I asked him at the age of 7 why he had to sell his moto and his V8 ford wagon(she was beautiful.) It was to pay a fine, instead of going to jail for fraud, yes they look after each other, the boys club, trust me you don’t want to be a female in that profession. My mother was also convinced he was going to have her killed, but she’s not really into reality. As you can understand i have absolutely no reason to trust the Queensland police department, and as I have proof that they’re morally lacking, reminds me of that crap ‘he who cast the first stone…’ Hypercrits, where’s their drug testing? How do you think it will go when i say “I’ll do it if you do!” I’m certainly not innocent, but i ain’t no daddy girl.
Though i have to admit, as much as i don’t want to, due to owning a kitted Holden with engine work…
(my Husbands’ bribe to get me to get my license, Daddy dearest told me I’d never pass my license, I guess it seemed that way when i parked in the middle of a cross intersection because i didn’t appreciate his constant criticisms, it sux being taught to drive by a cop! I actually believed him so i just drove with out one. well he said i would get my license, not be able to drive a car!)
…I have been cruising a lot so not to draw attention to myself. I am not a bad driver, I actually got 100% on my learners and license tests, it just seems particular cars are targeted and I don’t have enough time in my life to waste on being interrogated by some asshole in blue. Guess it all goes back to daddy issues LOL!
Hope you all have a safe Christmas!
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December 10th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Ha ha, i meant he said i wouldn’t get a license, not be able to drive a car! They really need an edit function!
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January 1st, 2008 at 11:42 pm
[…] which has spent considerable amounts of money (campaign 300) increasing speed cameras, police presence and RBTs, saw its death toll hit 360 - 60 more than the […]
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February 1st, 2008 at 6:44 pm
With all these new laws, and a pro active view of policing, is it any wonder why our gen Y’s have no respect for authority.
We have recent news publications of youths bashing qld police officers on Australia Day.
What we need is a rethink on the approach we take to alot of things in Australian and in particular Queensland society. Do we want our children to blame us for a crap world that we leave. And im not talking pollution, or oil, or any of the crap they spew at you every day. Im talking the small things that get taken from you every now and then.
Think about what has become illegal since before John Howard. Every thing from fireworks, guns, drugs, driving, travel, and family life.
Do we really want to go on like this.
DO WE?
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February 27th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
there is such a thing as acceptable losses. you cant save everyone. lets just stop trying.
there are 1000 people a week moving to qld, if the road toll stays around 350 which it has for years, the percantage of road fatalitys is decreasing anyway.
which 10,000,000 people on the roads, 320 deaths is not worth worrying about.
lets all move along.
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March 14th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I have driven in most states of Australia and I have to say that the queensland drivers are very aggressive, and sit so close at high speeds its really not funny. They also drive at least 10kms over the limit all the time. I feel the reason for this is there is very little law enforcement. In south australia and vic I would see a speed camera or police gun at least 3 to 4 times a day as I travel alot for work. Here I think I have seen 2 in the 3 months I have been here. Yes speed cameras to reduce the speed of drivers on the roads and in turn reduce the accidents.
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May 12th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Rune,
It is illegal (ie, against the law, punishable by a fine) to speed, no matter what.
READ WHAT I SAID.
I REFUSE to be stuck doing anything less than the speed limit, because someone else wants to speed.
If I overtake someone doing even 10 km over, I could cop a $150 fine. 20 km over, a $250 fine.
Clearly, your english comprehension is VERY POOR, or you are a complete dickhead.
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June 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
You’ve definitely been unlucky with that last example of yours; its clearly a case of entrapment by the cops. A driver who is mindful enough to approach the cops to ask to be breathalysed is obviously confident enough in his ability to clear it without being tailed by them and later pulled over so they can catch you for a fine! And they wonder why people are so sick of them!
On another note, the new P Plater laws are being introduced here in Vic in just under a month. License tests have been completely booked out for months. I wonder how many unfit learners have crammed just to try to pass their license test before the July laws come in?
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July 21st, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Wouldn’t public transport be better solution to this problem. You wouldn’t need as many police on the roads, and hopefully the roads would be safer. Then we wouldn’t have to spend as much money on speed cameras and RBT’s.
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