Do Governments really care about the welfare of their citizens or is Road Safety a big hoax that allows politicians to be seen to be doing something and thus justifying, in part, their existence?

The Gwydir Highway, west of the New England Highway has a number of unmarked crests, dips and blind corners which have the interrupted single centre line over and through them, inviting the unwary to assume that it is safe to pass.

First trap in this section of the Gwydir is a roundabout in Glen Innes which can't be negotiated without breaking the law, then a few hundred metres further along is a hill and unprotected crest, another few hundred metres and there is another unprotected crest where the road crosses the Great Northern Railway, next comes a minor crest that can conceal a small car and we're not even out of town.

On the road from Glen Innes to Emmaville, there are some sixteen danger spots in the first twenty kilometres at least five of which are unmarked crests and the rest blind curves all with the inviting interrupted centre line.

There are a few more blind curves which are seasonal if the local farmer is growing, say, lucern then all is well but if he puts in a crop of corn or sunflowers then the curves become blind.

Even on the New England Highway, one of NSW's main arteries there are numerous trap curves and blind dips.

The late Peter Walsh, a man described as the last real socialist to be in parliament, once opined that if governments really were concerned about road safety, they'd stop repairing them.

Roads full of pot-holes would force everyone to slow down and the road toll would plummet.

The whole 'toward zero' campaign is a crock. They all know its an impossible target and is just something government says to convince the gullible that it really cares. They don't care but they do want to look like they care

I put a response in the wrong thread and can't repeat it, so I'll change it slightly by saying that anyone who needs lines on a road to tell him or her that you shouldn't overtake on crest are not "unaware", they are bloody morons who should not be driving. Also, it is irritating when people, the media and opposition politicians blame the government and the state of the roads for every prang and fatality that occurs. If the roads were that bad, everyone who ever drove on them would be dead or mained, not just a very few idiots and any innocent vitims. 99.9% of road trauma is due to driver error/stupidity.

ttbn,

True, and unfortunately a minority exist who need lines; next time you are driving over an unguarded crest I sincerely hope that you don't meet one of them head-on.

Another perfect example of Government lack of concern is the road from Tenterfield to Lismore (NSW), there are curves so sharp on it that a semi-trailer can't get around them without the centre of the trailer coming over the double lines which is clearly a breach of the road rules.
Large trucks were banned from this road at one time but the Government removed the ban.
Anyone driving on this road should be wary of approaching semis and never enter a curve that they are in or about to enter.

Is Mise,

From our experience of driving in NSW, we found that
NSW does have a problem with road safety.

It's up to the State Government to take responsibility
before more damage is done.

Comparatively, Victoria is much safer. It appears that
the NSW Government is trying to save money at the expense
of road safety.

Is Mise,

When there are lines e.g. double lines, the morons still cross them, so I don't think there is anything that will stop a few idiots killing themselves. We just have to hope that innocent people doing the right thing can avoid them. As the people who kill others on the roads very often get away without a scratch, they should die in jail so that they don't kill anyone else.

Come on Foxy, the only thing that makes Victorian roads any safer is because the traffic is always stationary behind some damn fool stopped tram.

Labor is working hard to make Melbourne traffic slower than Sydney's.

Shadow Minister,

They'd have to work very hard to do that.
Victoria's roads are wider and less conjested.

Dear Hassie,

Do you realize that in Victoria we have roads
in the countryside, the bush, the mountains,
and all the way down the coast.

Haven't you heard of The Great Ocean Road?
No trams there, only whales and dolphins in
the distance. Whale watching is a favourite
attraction at certain times of the year.

Ever watch "The Great Outdoors"on TV?

This morn I was in Inverell and an ambulance was approaching at speed with all lights flashing, it started to slow down and then I realized that among the very bright flashes of RED and BLUE there was a tiny amber light tellin me that it wanted to turn, so I gave way.

As it passed in front of me I read EMERGENCY AMBULANCE on the side; funny, I thought that all ambulances were emergency vehicles.

Is Mise,

Not all of them use their sirens unless it really
is a matter of life and death.

Foxy,

That's not the point, only that he slowed really drew my attention, his turn indicator light was almost lost in the red and blue flashes.

As the turn light shews his immediate intention then it should stand out, not be subdued by other lights.

Is Mise,

Is you hear a siren - don't you pull over?

What about push bike riders and road safety...here's a subject!
I think they would rate as the crowd with the highest death wish!

Dan

Foxy,

If I hear a siren behind me and I see the vehicle that is using the siren I pull over but as this ambulance was in front of me there was no reason to pull over.

Roundabouts.

"114 Giving way when entering or driving in a roundabout
(1) A driver entering a roundabout must give way to—
(a) any vehicle in the roundabout, and
(b) a tram that is entering or approaching the roundabout.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units."
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/regulation/2014/758/part9

As many roundabouts in NSW have shrubs, trees and other obstructions to observation on the centre island, how can one obey this law if one can't see a vehicle that has entered on the far side?

Then there is the mantra "SPEED KILLS" which Governments in all States chant, but don't believe; if they did they would put a stop to speeding.

Peculiar though, how, just before a local, state or Federal election the incumbent member seems to find a few spare $ and suddenly new curbing, guttering and pavement appears. 6 months later, utilities always manage to rip up the new pavement, various contractors leaving gaps, poorly adhering bitumen or out of whack paving blocks which self destruct with the first wet weather event. If Telstra, Water Authority, Gas or Power folks could coordinate their projects, perhaps the work done might last a bit longer...or am I denying the poor struggling worker a perpetual job opportunity?

Driving schools that focus on competency instead of making money could reduce the road toll considerably !

99% of roundabouts nave negative camber, now if the camber was positive they would be safer but negative camber allows water to drain away without the expense of drainage pipes.

The roundabout on the junction of the New England and Gwydir Highways has negative camber that caused a cattle truck to overturn when the cattle moved with the tilt from the camber.

The same roundabout is in the process of being visually obstructed, the council has installed a sculpture(?) made from split and discarded sewer mains or somesuch, there are undoubtedly trees and shrubs to complete the picture to the detriment of unfortunate motorists.

Is Mise, do you actually mean camber? Or do you mean cant?

Aidan,

The use can be confusing, but I meant camber as applied to roads not as applied to vehicle wheels.
http://engineeringdiscoveries.com/2019/06/22/types-of-road-camber-advantages-disadvantages-and-methods-of-providing-camber/