By
EWAN KENNEDY
5 November 2007
There was a great fuss in our local media on the Gold Coast this
morning. I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but I suspect that
either the police must have employed an excellent public relations
manager, or it was slow news day.
Because a disguised Toyota LandCruiser had just
automatically booked hundreds of motorists for speeding on one of the
busy through roads. Thus raising tens of thousands of dollars.
The staff at the local newspapers and radio stations
went into overdrive in denouncing the crazy speed maniacs on our roads
and congratulated the police force on its fine work.
Because we all ‘know’ that exceeding the speed limit
is the number one crime that a driver can commit in Australia. A ‘fact’
that has been proven wrong by genuine research time after time. In
reality, only about one crash in 20 is caused by a driver exceeding the
speed limit.
Yet brilliant brainwashing by governments over recent
years has convinced many – probably most – people that they exceed
the speed limit they are dangerous maniacs and should be instantly
punished for their anti-social activity.
To the amusing extent that we have recently seen a
couple of politicians who have been booked for going over the speed
limit losing their jobs. Now there's poetic justice for you!
There are only a tiny number of genuinely crazy drivers
on our roads, perhaps one in a thousand, maybe even less. The chances of
them all being in the same place at the same time is infinitesimal.
May it suggest that if hundreds of motorists get pinged
in the one place in only a few hours, that it is not the drivers who are
wrong, but the speed limit? Remember that old saying, that a law that is
ignored by a lot of people is a bad law? And therefore should be revised
or repealed.
Instead of the police gloating that they have earned
tens of thousands of dollars in speeding fines, wouldn’t they be
better off suggesting that an inquiry be raised as to why so many people
were exceeding the limit? And have the speed limit increased if
necessary?
By the way, keep an eye open for these revenue-raising
LandCruisers on Queensland roads, (we understand other States may be
getting them as well). Most are Troop Carriers, though there’s the odd
ute as well.
There are few more innocent looking sights beside
country roads than a white Toyota wagon or ute parked on the grass,
often in a driveway or beside a gate in a fence. They usually have no
distinguishing sign-writing on them, certainly none on the back, but are
easy to spot by their large, dummy air-intake snorkels that, on closer
investigation, have a pair of small windows for the radar and camera.
Having passed one of these Toyotas you will then see a
small sign placed in a partially hidden spot in the grass to let you
know that you have just been photographed as a dangerous maniac. Expect
a notice in the mail six to eight weeks later, long after you have
forgotten being in that location.
Wouldn’t it make a lot more sense for police vehicles
to have luminous paint, huge signs and flashing lights if their real
purpose is to make you drive slowly?
ewan@marque.com.au
