TRAGEDY - Castlemaine

[JB]

  turbotom said:

  aniken said:

So, learners can only drive in dry conditions, and only in certain types of cars? Isn't the point of learning to actually learn? To drive in a range of conditions that they will one day, inevitably, encounter when they have their full licence? Isn't it better that they learn to drive properly in such conditions while an experienced driver is in the car with them, rather than wait until some years down the track when they are all on their own and have no clue what to do?

What we really need is more training in a proper driving school situation, with closed roads, skid pads etc.. where they can't really hurt themselves or, more importantly, anyone else.

Sorry aniken, but I don't agree with you there.

The problem highlighted in this case is that there were innocent victims who should NOT have been put at risk. The parent is as much at fault here, as the inexperienced driver.

Who knows, maybe the parent was asleep in the passenger seat at the time?

I don't think we will ever know the true situation. Lapse of concentration most likely. Hopefully, the L plater didn't lapse into a day dream (or was it night time?) and pictured the video game she was playing all day with her friends?????

Like I said. It's a tragedy. And could very well have been prevented if the responsible driver (parent) had had enough sense to prevent the young driver from driving in adverse conditions, in an extremely powerful car, with so many passengers.

Not a responsible action at all.

Tom I agree with you except for the cars pwr component. The same situation could have occured in a magna or camryin a hwy environment. They all can do the posted limit . It's when they are around town I believe that the danger lies with these types of cars, with rapid acceleration and pwr on tap.

Definately it was the Adults call of who drove and in those conditions I personally believe that it would test a competent drivers abilities let alone a Learners.

[Falchoon]

  vik351 said:

Country roads should all be freeways,2or 3 lanes one way ,huge median strip,then your lanes the other way.

It all comes down to the all mighty dollar AGAIN

While I agree with the sentiments of your post I'm not sure about this particualr bit. We already have roads like this (Hume Hwy is one example) that are dead boring (sorry about bad taste pun) and possibly cause more accidents from people falling asleep because of boredom. I quite often travel to Sydney and back from Canberra and the highlight of the trip for me is the Federal Highway back into Canberra just as you come off the freeway and before Lake George. I feel awake and revitalised driving through there doing no more than the 110km/h speed limit due to the twists and turns and different slightly rough road service.

I think driver education is the major issue that governments are missing (or more likely turning a blind eye to because it doesn't raise revenue for them). I think that ALL drivers should have to pass a driving test in a manual car. If they are too unco to do this then they are unsafe and a hazard to themselves and other road users. All learners should be taught to drive by a properly accredited driving school instructor, not their mum or dad, brother, cousin or mate.

[XRBloke]

This would have to be the worse car accident ive read about in the last few years, terrible shame. At the end of the day many things could have contributed to what happened, but its done and gone now, trying to find a cause isnt going to bring the family back, its just a case of backluck I think, as I doubt dangerious driving/speed would have been a cause.

Lets just hope it doesnt occur again....

[CHIPS]

A good place to start is by getting rid of (or banning) passengers. - except the qualified instructing driver of course. I don't think that would be hard to do.

All too often you see a learner driver out on the weekends with a car full of people - too many distractions in my oppinion. When learning to drive you MUST be giving 100% attention to the road conditions/driving, 100% of the time.

Mark

[sachemo]

That's absolutley terrible. Thoughts are with family and friends of all concerned. It's a shocking thing to think this sort of thing happens. The trouble is that it is happening on our roads.

I can remember when I was on my learners. Its pretty scary and you are looking around for every little thing. I wouldn't drive with my parents at all. Other family members I was fine. They made me too nervous.

It makes you realise what can happen out there. I grew up in a country town where nearly all the kids had farm cars. When they actually got their licence they thought they were unstoppable. The boys are the worst offenders. They drive like an idiot and only seem to know one speed. They seem to make competitions out of things as well. One I can remember is who can get home from M%*&@ the fastest, there were some ridiculous times mentioned!

The majority of them have had accidents or lost points on the licence for stupidity, generally speeding. They think they are good drivers and can handle the road. Most of them don't comprehend that the farm is different to the highway!

Two guys out of my year 12 class have had 3 accidents each, they have been caused mainly from over confidence and being too cocky on the road. Luckily no one has been hurt in these incidents. I think out of my senior class (of only 17) there would be only 2 or 3 people that have not lost any points.

Thought I had better not mention the town as it would be pretty easy to where I was talking about. Some of the lads could be on this site. I shouldn't worry about that though as they all need a good waking up and realise that they could hurt themselves or others.

Can't think of words to say at this time.

Zoe (Sachemo's friend)

[tab]

What really hurts is this..

  Quote

It is understood another sister, whose age in unknown, is the only surviving member of the family. She was not in the car.

And I can say that I too learnt to drive on a farm and to be honest I am surprised that I am still alive. On the other hand I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, as even though we went absolutely stupid from time to time, it was either on private property or on remote country roads that would only see a car once or twice a day. At least we learnt pretty fast the boundaries of both our personal abilities and those of our cars.

If I am ever silly enough to have rug rats of my own, this is where I will be teaching them to drive, on the parent’s property from age 12 onwards.

Trent.

[Guest]

  Falchoon said:

  vik351 said:

Country roads should all be freeways,2or 3 lanes one way ,huge median strip,then your lanes the other way.

It all comes down to the all mighty dollar AGAIN

While I agree with the sentiments of your post I'm not sure about this particualr bit. We already have roads like this (Hume Hwy is one example) that are dead boring (sorry about bad taste pun) and possibly cause more accidents from people falling asleep because of boredom. I quite often travel to Sydney and back from Canberra and the highlight of the trip for me is the Federal Highway back into Canberra just as you come off the freeway and before Lake George. I feel awake and revitalised driving through there doing no more than the 110km/h speed limit due to the twists and turns and different slightly rough road service.

I think driver education is the major issue that governments are missing (or more likely turning a blind eye to because it doesn't raise revenue for them). I think that ALL drivers should have to pass a driving test in a manual car. If they are too unco to do this then they are unsafe and a hazard to themselves and other road users. All learners should be taught to drive by a properly accredited driving school instructor, not their mum or dad, brother, cousin or mate.

that's why I said european drivers laugh at 100 kph on good freeways,it should be like in the NT,drive to safe conditions at the appropriate speed,I bet you wouldnt fall asleep then,180-200 odd if it was safe to do so,these cars can do it no probs,and in saftey.

vik

[turbotom]

  vik351 said:

that's why I said  european drivers laugh at 100 kph on good freeways,it should be like in the NT,drive to safe conditions at the appropriate speed,I bet you wouldnt fall asleep then,180-200 odd if it was safe to do so,these cars can do it no probs,and in saftey.

vik

You're NOT serious , are you ViK?

That's all we need. Young kids in their modified Silvia rice burners, doing 230 kph overtaking on blind corners, cause They would certainly feel their cars are capable, and of course, their driving skills would be awesome, man.....

Get real, Vik. This is but a pipe dream for a lot of us..... A genuine Autobahn linking the nation's capital cities.

I'd have to admit it though, the highlight of my 3 1/2 week work stint in Germany was the opportunity to drive on the autobahn with NO speed limit.

Got the 4 cylinder Opel up to 170 kph after about 5 km of winding up.

I was overtaken constantly by Porsches, Beemers and Mercs doing well in excess of 250 kph.

But that autobahn is one hell of a piece of blacktop.... Five W I D E lanes and absolutely flat and smooth, and everyone IS courteous and moves to the slower lanes if they see a faster car approaching.

There was always a free lane for the low flying jets that went by.

How can we ever hope to achieve that simple level of courtesy in Australia?

[JB]

Tom I believe we call that a perfect situation!

I have also driven on European Motorways, and to say it's a refreshing change is an understatement! 120MPH in a Audi TT Refreshing!!!! :lol:

[Guest]

  turbotom said:

  vik351 said:

that's why I said  european drivers laugh at 100 kph on good freeways,it should be like in the NT,drive to safe conditions at the appropriate speed,I bet you wouldnt fall asleep then,180-200 odd if it was safe to do so,these cars can do it no probs,and in saftey.

vik

You're NOT serious , are you ViK?

That's all we need. Young kids in their modified Silvia rice burners, doing 230 kph overtaking on blind corners, cause They would certainly feel their cars are capable, and of course, their driving skills would be awesome, man.....

Get real, Vik. This is but a pipe dream for a lot of us..... A genuine Autobahn linking the nation's capital cities.

I'd have to admit it though, the highlight of my 3 1/2 week work stint in Germany was the opportunity to drive on the autobahn with NO speed limit.

Got the 4 cylinder Opel up to 170 kph after about 5 km of winding up.

I was overtaken constantly by Porsches, Beemers and Mercs doing well in excess of 250 kph.

But that autobahn is one hell of a piece of blacktop.... Five W I D E lanes and absolutely flat and smooth, and everyone IS courteous and moves to the slower lanes if they see a faster car approaching.

There was always a free lane for the low flying jets that went by.

How can we ever hope to achieve that simple level of courtesy in Australia?

How many blind corners on the autobahn are there,that's what im talking about high speed on good roads .Not the goat track to victor harbour.

Our roads are sh!t in australia.

vik