01-07-2017, 06:38 AM
I would be delighted if someone invented a device that could accurately detect tailgating and cause the offender to be issued with a truly monstrous fine for a first offence and a loss of licence for the second. Same for texting while driving.
I'm interested in the disparity, reported by US members, between regulators' perception of speed as the number one cause of accidents and what appears to be a general disregard for enforcement of breaches—witness Capo's report of drivers routinely travelling 10-20 mph above the speed limit on his morning commute.
In Queensland, Australia where, as I've said, we are way more enthusiastic in our enforcement of speeding offences, you'd cop a $AU568 fine and 6 demerit points for going that quickly. On a major route, chances are you would be pinged. Police would not ignore it. If, in Queensland, you were caught a second time within 12 months doing 20 mph above the speed limit, a system of double demerit points means you'd enrich the State's coffers by another $AU568 and cop not 6 demerit points but 12. That would bring your total demerit points to at least 18 and it would be bye-bye licence for a time.
If you were caught doing a mere 25 mph above the speed limit, you'd lose 8 points, cop a fine of AU$1,1,37 and have your licence automatically suspended for 6 months. Twice in 12 months at that speed and it would be another AU$1,1,37 in the coffers, a further 16 points on your scorecard and another 6 months off the road.
The assertion that speeding enforcement is just about revenue raising is made often in Australia as well as in the US. My view is that it is just that: an assertion without a lot of evidence to support it. Indeed, the approach adopted in Australia makes a mockery of the idea. Why would you shoot a potentially golden goose by giving it two strikes, collecting a lousy AU$1,136 and then taking it out? Surely you'd impose hideous fines, enforce them ruthlessly and see how many people were prepared to make the choice to give generously to the State. I've a nagging suspicion we'd find the number of people prepared to pay the premium was higher than expected.
By the way, in Queensland, the double demerit points system applies to the use of mobile phones by drivers.
I'm interested in the disparity, reported by US members, between regulators' perception of speed as the number one cause of accidents and what appears to be a general disregard for enforcement of breaches—witness Capo's report of drivers routinely travelling 10-20 mph above the speed limit on his morning commute.
In Queensland, Australia where, as I've said, we are way more enthusiastic in our enforcement of speeding offences, you'd cop a $AU568 fine and 6 demerit points for going that quickly. On a major route, chances are you would be pinged. Police would not ignore it. If, in Queensland, you were caught a second time within 12 months doing 20 mph above the speed limit, a system of double demerit points means you'd enrich the State's coffers by another $AU568 and cop not 6 demerit points but 12. That would bring your total demerit points to at least 18 and it would be bye-bye licence for a time.
If you were caught doing a mere 25 mph above the speed limit, you'd lose 8 points, cop a fine of AU$1,1,37 and have your licence automatically suspended for 6 months. Twice in 12 months at that speed and it would be another AU$1,1,37 in the coffers, a further 16 points on your scorecard and another 6 months off the road.
The assertion that speeding enforcement is just about revenue raising is made often in Australia as well as in the US. My view is that it is just that: an assertion without a lot of evidence to support it. Indeed, the approach adopted in Australia makes a mockery of the idea. Why would you shoot a potentially golden goose by giving it two strikes, collecting a lousy AU$1,136 and then taking it out? Surely you'd impose hideous fines, enforce them ruthlessly and see how many people were prepared to make the choice to give generously to the State. I've a nagging suspicion we'd find the number of people prepared to pay the premium was higher than expected.
By the way, in Queensland, the double demerit points system applies to the use of mobile phones by drivers.