Street racing Death

[geea]

It's an unfortunate reality that aslong as we have teenage males driving cars incidents like this will happen. Speaking from my own experience I probably only survived through a great deal of luck. More than likely most of us who are old enough to know better, probably had a few close calls or knew someone who did. Those less fortunate may have even lost someone close to them, a friend or possibly a relative.

I won't ridicule those that do this as that would be hypocritical and I dont believe in doing that. We can try to educate to the dangers of speed and inexperience and hope that the message gets through to most. Besides this we need to hope that our kids can get through the learning process in one piece.

I remember my father used to tell me to slow down and that I drove like a mad man. After a trip to England when I was 21 I read some letters he sent to a friend, explaining how great it was to drive across Canada in a '56 V8 Ford at over 100mph. After pointing this out when I got home he explained that it was much safer back then.

Alot of us have done it or been with someone who has and alot of kids will be the same.

I'm not saying its a good thing. I'm just saying its a fact of life that will be hard to stop.

Geea. :(

[NT TURBO]

As plonky says driver training needs to be improved.....alot, these arent cars they are dangerous pieces of moving machinery.

[GOLDIE]

A good friend of mine here on the gold coast was sitting in his cab at a taxi rank when two cars who were racing when one lost control and smashed into the right hand side of his taxi putting my friend in a coma for 5 weeks and he may never drive a car again and also may never be able to work again either.

The worst part about this is the idiot that hit him was not hurt and was involved in enother road race three days later invovling a bmw that was rolled over and smashed into a house this guy after 12 months not only is still driving but has yet to go to court.

My mate has yet to see any compension and may not for same years yet.

Ian

[aniken]

Interesting responses to this topic, compared to the other one that I started last week...

At the risk of repeating that episode, here is another similar story published today.

  Quote

Police target souped up cars

March 22, 2004

A CRACKDOWN on hotted-up cars in Sydney's Botany Bay area last night saw police issue 73 fines and confiscate one vehicle.

The operation by St George and Hurstville police targeted motorists driving modified cars along the foreshores of the bay.

"Operation Brighton focussed on illegal car modifications, road law infringements, random breath tests as well as inappropriate driver behaviour," police said.

Police conducted 92 random breath tests and issued 53 traffic infringement notices, 15 parking fines, three radar infringement notices, two police defect notices and 11 cautions.

They also confiscated one car for doing burnouts in Brighton's Bay Street.

AAP

Remember, these are the same people that engage in street racing etc..., with the tragic consequences VG has pointed out. Think about that before re-directing this thread in another direction.

[100%]

The old question, how do you put an old head on young shoulders?

I agree, driver training is pathetic. Just about any moron can get a licence and keep it for 100yrs without having to be re-tested EVER? And cars can be roadworthied at new and never have to be checked again EVER (in VIC). Giving a situation where a 100yr old man with no eyesight, hearing or mind left can be driving around in a 50yr old car with no brakes, tread, seatbelts.................you get the picture. Any wonder there is road rage!

My wife was made a quadraplegic 6 years ago by a d#ckhead in a car, he kept his licence, and she still had a valid licence until last year two examples of how poor the system is, a man that does this sort of damage is still driving and a woman who can't move still has a licence that says she is allowed to?

Make the licence harder to get and harder to keep, and penalties for this sort of behaviour much worse!

[Miyagi]

Compulsory advanced driver training courses...

Stricter rules with regards to roadworthiness (as 100% pointed out)...

Tighter P Plater car regulations (none of this 'for work use' BS hehe sorry you guys :D )...

Compulsory driver licence reviews every 5 to 10 years...

Only a few idea's I can think of off the top of my head that I'd be happy to see in place.

I avoided purchasing a nice car until I was 23 (which is still young) so that even being a numskull (which I was on the odd occassion) in The White Panther (Manual 89 S-Pack EA Wagon) meant I never really got out of control.

Now with the XR6T I'm happy to be the designated driver so that I simply get to drive

Miyagi

[ktford]

  100% said:

My wife was made a quadraplegic 6 years ago by a d#ckhead in a car,

Well I don't know about you but I flat out seeing my screen for the tears, I'm very sorry for your family Mark.

I am suprised that these guys made it to that interesction as it's about the flattest straightest widest road in that area.

Aniken I'd say that your thread is only related to this one because it's car related. This episode is explaining the tragic aftermath of how things can get horribly out of control before your very own eyes & not how youths congreate to their own downfall.

Most of us have indulged in this type of beahviour at some stage & never gotten a rash from a seat belt, to God we say thank you.

As a nearly 35yo member of a massive family between Brisbane & Sydney I've been to more funerals than I care to remember without any of them being lost to any road fatalities including the loss of my only brother who was 23yo. Cynically however I'm very much of the belief that you will go when it's your time, but it's tragic how families have to deal with what's left.

As has been mentioned young adolescent males will indulge in forms of self destructive behaviour, I only hope that their families can cope when they're required.

Scotty

[Velvet Glove]

I've said it before and I say it again. Licences should be hard to get and hard to hang onto. Hard to hang onto if you drive like a clown I mean. Too many people view the ability to drive as a right. I see it more of a privilege. I see some remarkably stupid driving from many people, but more shockingly see a lot of it from P platers, ones very new to our roads. I booked aguy the other day for 107 in an 80 zone who was going so much faster than everybody else (who could see the marked Police car). When I pulled him over he said he had just done the 'P Off' course in Canberra. I asked him if they happened to mention anything about speeding on the course....he said yes. I suggested that he might actually like to pay attention when he is being taught things. Had his licence for about 10 secs and look what happened.

A few years ago there was a terrible accident (all fatal ones are) in Canberra where a young fella killed himself and I think 3 of his mates by driving like a maniac down Hindmarsh Drive towards Woden. This kid had failed his licence test 4 times (I think) and had finally gotten it either that morning or the day before.

Mach 5 down Hindmarsh Drive and killed himself and his mates when maybe he shouldnt have had his licence in the first place

[F6 RAPID]

What about implementing a power-to-weight ratio restriction for younger drivers??

A 17 yo can realistically grab a new xr6 turbo, bomb the arse off it and end up with around 350 rwkw. Regardless of how the car handles, let me just say they are an absolute handful if not driven accordingly, multiply this by about 100 in the wet. A much harder car to drive than a wrx because of the rear wheel drive and way, way too powerful for a young person. At present, they can go and buy a SR20 turbo engined 180SX for next to nothing and again turn it into a mobile disaster not being able to control the light switch power.

Make the cutoff 25 years and let them have Excels with wrx bonnet scoops until then...............or some equivalent. At least when they crash them, it will be at far less speed. :lol:

I think this would be an ideal solution. Little ricers everywhere..........

[XR6ISM]

  Turbo6 said:

What about implementing a power-to-weight ratio restriction for younger drivers??

A 17 yo can realistically grab a new xr6 turbo, bomb the arse off it and end up with around 350 rwkw. Regardless of how the car handles, let me just say they are an absolute handful if not driven accordingly, multiply this by about 100 in the wet. A much harder car to drive than a wrx because of the rear wheel drive and way, way too powerful for a young person. At present, they can go and buy a SR20 turbo engined 180SX for next to nothing and again turn it into a mobile disaster not being able to control the light switch power.

Make the cutoff 25 years and let them have Excels with wrx bonnet scoops until then...............or some equivalent. At least when they crash them, it will be at far less speed. :lol:

I think this would be an ideal solution. Little ricers everywhere..........

that would hardly be fair to the rest of us.........im a 23 year old male driving a XR6 Turbo, and I see no reason why I shouldnt be allowed to do so (or why I should be restricted to an excel !). Like everybody else here, it would be a lie if I said ive never given it a hit off the lights, I have, but there is a time and a place for things like that.......obviously peak hour traffic on the way home from work is NOT one of them. It all comes to comon sense, and knowing where the limit is.

I think the problem here is not enough driver training and licenses being WAY to easy to obtain. Advanced driving courses should be a MUST and applicants should be taken to a skid pad to prove that they have some basic driving skills. Not just a simple drive around the block. What does that prove !!!

Furthermore, I recall reading a coment about cars being defected in brighton, one member associated done up cars with hoons. The question to ask here is how many of you "older" people lowered your T and put wheels on it. How many have got APS kits. Does this also make you hoons ??

Its so easy to generalise. Instead of doing so, the actual Hoons should be given some LARGE fines when they are cought. A slap on the wrist, 3 points and 200 bucks is hardly a deterant for these people.

Anyway, enough yacking from me

- Dean