"At the moment a person who has driven a Mini Minor for years can buy any size 4x4 and immediately drive it on our roads... Do you really think they have the skills necessary?"

At the moment a person who has driven a Mini Minor for years can buy any size rear wheel drive and immediately drive it on our roads... Do you really think they have the skills necessary?

Rear end slide anyone?

There are probably more 4x4 small cars on the road than large ones.

Foxy,

You mention the Statesman, I saw a Statesman lunge through a gate when it was put into gear, the driver didn't have his foot on the brake.
Later automatic cars require one to put the foot brake on before a gear can be selected.
I own and drive a Statesman, wonderful car but not safe by modern standards.

ttbn
"what we think is not necessarily going to happen just because we do think that way."
Absolutely marvellous darling. We don't want any more white supremacist xenophobia do we , sweetie?

Foxy,

"But when I did drive I found that as OP2 pointed out - I
could not see (or be seen) behind these monstrosities
on the road."

Ever hear of this advice to novice drivers when behind a bigger vehicle?

"If you can't see his mirrors he can't see you".

Obviously, by your own admission, you have been driving in an unsafe manner.

That's when riding a motor bike behind a semi . Don't get semis in Woolworths car park.

Dear Is Mise,

Thanks for that.

Our Holden Statesman is a beautiful car. We bought
it second hand from a farmer who used it only for "special
occasions". - my husband loves driving it.
As I did prior to my fall. Of course I would
prefer a ferrari or a classic merc - but the
Statesman has served us well. I miss the Le Mans
Pontiac I had in Los Angeles.

As far as driving unsafely?- wrong. My record speaks
for itself. Never had an accident or a ticket.
I've driven on the freeways in Los Angeles - where
we lived and worked for ten years. I've driven in San Francisco,
as well as Europe. I am a very careful
driver but since returning to Melbourne I was always
extra careful around 4WDs because to date
they've proven to be a road hazard.

How do you
feel, (I presume you're a 4WD driver) behind a bus?
Does that make you an unsafe driver or more careful?
Buses need to be on our roads. 4WDs don't. They are
a menace in city traffic. They've not been designed
for the city. That's all I'm saying. And we should all
be concerned about safety issues on the road.

cont'd ...

Dear Is Mise,

I forgot to add that having driven overseas, especially
in North America, I found on
my return that compared to North American drivers
the ones on our roads in this country are more of a
hazard. So I can fully understand your concerns about
road safety.