“…punitive fines for speeding are a complete nonsense.”

Steel, how could we possibly have a non-punitive system without it just being open slather? A regime of punishment, along with effective policing and education, is surely mandatory.

Surely a non-punitive system would mean no speed limits….and no policing of fools who push the envelope.

"Steel, how could we possibly have a non-punitive system without it just being open slather? A regime of punishment, along with effective policing and education, is surely mandatory."

Ludwig,

The way I understood it was like this:

“…(the current system of) punitive fines for speeding are a complete nonsense.”

"Surely a non-punitive system would mean no speed limits….and no policing of fools who push the envelope."

If I may be at liberty to play devil's advocate...you could have speed limits with a reward system instead of a punitive system or you could have speed limits as guides in a non-punitive system.

Having said that you can also have a punitive system with no speed limits and policing of fools who push the envelope. If speed limits were abolished overnight dangerous driving charges would still be available.

A highly pertinent "fact" that's often not understood by most drivers, is that speed kills.

By "speed", I'm not necessarily talking about "high" speed. For example, the difference between driving at 40kph in a school zone, and 60kph, is the difference between the LIFE AND DEATH of a child, under certain circumstances. It takes MUCH longer to slow down and stop at 60kph than at 40kph.

If a motorist is driving at 70kph instead of 60kph on a road, the difference between stopping distance is VERY marked indeed.

Many drivers don't understand these things, or don't care. They are VERY important facts.

If everyone kept within speed limits and adjusted their driving to prevailing conditions, MANY, MANY more lives will be saved. By "prevailing conditions" I'm not just referring to the weather or road conditions: For example, let's say someone in front of you is driving at 40kph in an 80kph speed zone; the irresponsible driver gets annoyed, impatient, honks the horn, tailgates and tries to get through at the earliest opportunity......that's dangerous and really, really DUMB driving. A good driver keeps a reasonable distance, doesn't get angry and passes when a safe opportunity presents itself....now "that's" driving safely within the prevailing conditions.

I left one very important thing off my list of what should be done to improve road safety in NT, and around the country:

9. Encourage and facilitate community policing. The general public needs to feel empowered to do something about dangerous drivers. The police need to facilitate the complaints process and launch an education program on how best to gather evidence and make complaints. If this was done, the overall policing regime could be very greatly improved.

For the relatively small number of extra police that it would take to facilitate an efficient complaints system, there would a very large number of extra active eyes out there on our roads that could do something very tangible about reducing road safety hazards. The overall policing regime could thus be improved ten-fold or perhaps a hundred-fold. The deterrence factor would be huge, if potential law-breakers realised that any member of the community could very easily make a complaint and that the complaint would be acted upon.

Currently, ordinary members of the community are effectively discouraged from making complaints unless an accident has happened or a very serious dangerous incident has occurred. Thus, the normal dangerous practices of tailgating, dangerous overtaking, blatant speeding, etc effectively go unpoliced or policed to a tiny extent compared to the potential policing efficiency.

And I’ll add a tenth point:

Make sure that the speed limit is always obvious. Currently, the number of speed limit signs is vastly inadequate. It is very easy to lose track of the speed zone you are in. You can’t remember what the last sign was that you saw or you miss a sign, or very often you turn into a road and you just don’t encounter a sign for some distance, and you just have to guess the speed limit.

phillips, I've been through school zones with nary a child in sight and I would have been punished unnecessarily if i were speeding.

When I was a child I used to cross major roads at major intersections by myself as did HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS of other children. What is happening is the replacement of parenting with stupid rules and punishments, by nanny-types who want government to coddle everyone.

Eventually we will be living in a country in which adults are second class citizens...we are already on our way there in many respects which is an extremely repugnant situation

Hey all,

To philips, I don't know how long you have resided here in the NT, but most of what you wrote has prompted this reply.

Define an NT driver?
The NT has grown massively since I arrived in 1980, and the influx of "southerners" have all brought their bad habits with them. So yes we can blame the "terrorists/grey nomad" for the majority of incidents that have resulted in the massive toll.

I do however agree that the level of highway patrols is virtually non existant, I'll also add to that, the state of advisory signage is way past dangerous.

As a rural dweller, I really don't care as to how the "city slickers" monitor their drivers, but they should STAY within the Metro areas. Out on the highway is a different world all together, where experience with the many hazards and a REAL KNOWLEDGE OF ROAD RULES are number one.

We need to get the dangers like Roof Mounted Spotlights, mirror less towing, mal adjusted headlights, light less trailers, overloaded roof racks, dirty signage etc, etc, fixed NOW!

All we hear from the powers that be, is SPEED & DRINK.

NT