I am somewhat concerned that after I sent an e-mail letter to the RACQ a few weeks ago regarding the increase in the incidence of vehicles colliding head-on with vehicles travelling in the opposite direction, and vehicles crossing the road to collide with other vehicles or trees etc, suggesting that the reason could possibly be related to tyre blow-out or mechanical failure, the letter receiving no response or even acknowledgement of receipt of same?

I based my concerns upon my driving experiences (60+ years) and personal observations of known accidents across the whole of our country.

I suggested that investigation of every known vehicular accident that had, or should have been investigated by the Police Vehicle Accident Squad and the causal findings made available so that the motoring public could become more aware of their own tyre and mechanical safety status, and consequently (and hopefully?)take remedial action to avoid contributing to the rapidly increasing incidence of road deaths and trauma.

When an accident occurs, the media usually reports that "the Police
Vehicle Accident Squad is currently investigating!" ....we never hear any other information that may explain the cause of the accident. Obviously names etc may not be released etc, etc, however the mechanical fault causing the accident, should be released, thus allowing any mechanical/tyre defects to be rectified possibly saving many other lives and vehicles.

I am disappointed that the RACQ Road Ahead magazine appears only to be interested in letters that praise them, and choose to fill their magazine with multiple pages of exotic holiday destinations, instead of promoting further safety issues that could possibly reduce the amount of carnage on our roads

I believe a big majority of those types of accidents are deliberate.
A very small target becomes an all to often happening situation. Two people that i am aware of hit the same tree both with delivery trucks 2 weeks apart.

I wouldn't expect too much from that club Crackcup, they must have a new management in place, & are changing their "business model" as quickly as they can. Their advertising & magazine are all going towards home & general interest/travel areas, rather than their motorist focus.

I had a minor problem with the end off a throttle cable a while in town some time back. All they offered to do was tow me to a repair shop. No thought of a roadside patch up.

As I can't walk far, I had to get a taxi to & from the local bicycle shop, get a handbrake cable end, fit it & I was on my way. This was the type of assistance the club was built on.

Today they only want to sell you a battery, some fuel, or arrange a tow truck. I suggested they have got too far from their roots, but was greeted with silence, just as you have been.

Even their motoring section in the mag is all about expensive up market cars the testers want to play with, rather than the stuff the majority of members own or even aspire to. they have gone a bit yuppie for me these days.

Hasbeen: That is a classic example of the ever-caring "Biggest Club"

Any moron with a simple inkling of motor vehicle mechanics would have arranged to get a bicycle/motor bike cable end, to get you mobile again.

It seems that we are now at the mercy of "TAFE" quality tradesmen, but the buck stops with the RACQ who franchise these people, and they are obviously turning over enough business to be able to sit back (like Politicians) and treat their members with contempt!

I have noticed that like local Councils, their Membership charges are increasing rapidly. In most cases there is no return for the Member unless, of course he or she has a breakdown. The resolution of a simple breakdown can be mind-boggling, dependent upon the actual mechanic attending the event, and again dependent upon the area one is in when suffering a failure.

I have had occasion only 3 times in the last 30 years to avail myself of the "Clubs" services, and found on two of those occasions the service was much poorer than I had anticipated. So much is left to the interpretation of the franchise or agent, as to what the correct entitlements are!

After incorporation and bigger remuneration packages for the senior managers, the RACQ has been trying hard to lose its members, now regarded as customers. Those senior management packages and bonuses have to be paid out of savings at the sharp end you know.

It managed to create a business opportunity for others. Now car makers, servicing centres and probably grocery chains as well are moving into car breakdown assistance.

Maybe that was going to happen anyway, but the RACQ should be feeling quite exposed.