Aussie road safety

[Cosmic Cycle]

https://escapecollective.com/things-...tralian-roads/

https://www.theage.com.au/national/v...19-p5edje.html

[j44ke]

I assume you live in Australia. What part and what’s been your experience? I think the increase in bad driving during the covid era was a common in experience in Europe and the US. Even while driving I’ve seen bat-shit crazy behavior that exceeds previous standards for bat-shit craziness. I was adding political and economic animus into the covid-era stew of reasons to explain the uptick in offensive driving.

[BBB]

In Australia, or at least where I live, there are two issues (imo). The first is impatience. Whether this is a post-Covid thing, or simply a reflection of population growth and hence pressure on the roads, is hard to say. The second is the prevalence of large 4wd utes and SUVs. The two issues came together the other day when I drive my son to the station to catch the train to school. Two cyclists were out for a ride. The interaction is two lanes, but very quickly narrows to one. A couple of people got through and I was driving behind the cyclists. I waited until it was safe to pass and eventually passed. The delay I caused in considering other people's safety obviously irritated two drivers as a large grey 4wd ute flew past me, cut in front of me and went through a red light and then passed a truck (and there's a short distance between traffic lights and a round about - the ute driver needed a ticket). As I pulled up a SUV pulled to a sudden halt next to me. Male driver. Window slightly down and smoking. The cyclists catch up and when the light goes green they tale off and end up in front of the SUV. I didn't see what happened, but there was a whole lot of yelling and from my spot in the station car park when I let my son out I could see one of the cyclists confronting the driver of the SUV from the driver's side door.

I get peak hour traffic is busy, but a little time and patience to ensure two guys riding are safe and sound should not cause angst.

[thollandpe]

II get peak hour traffic is busy, but a little time and patience to ensure two guys riding are safe and sound should not cause angst.

Impatience and entitlement symbolized by an enormous, ego-assuaging (and honestly impractical) vehicle. Similar recipe here in the US.

Study Finds 96% Of Americans Willing To Kill Anyone Who Makes Them Wait More Than 10 Seconds For Anything | The Onion

[thollandpe]

On a more serious note, I thought this piece by Jamelle Bouie summed up the situation really well. He cites data, and critiques design. As a counterpoint to the predictable responses to any article about a driver hitting (and killing) a pedestrian or cyclist, blaming irresponsible pedestrians and cyclists.

“But even if there are behavioral flaws to find as everyone moves around outdoors — drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike — the consequences of scofflaw behavior from drivers are simply much greater, and much worse, than the consequences of scofflaw behavior from other people on the street.”

The Main Problem With Pedestrian Deaths Isn’t the Pedestrians | New York Times (unlocked gift article)

“The problem, ultimately, is about cars and trucks. And the focus, ultimately, should be on cars and trucks.”

[TonyP]

The focus should start with Drivers Ed. Here in Illinois teens need to take it to get their licenses: cover traffic flow and vehicle standing of bicycles in traffic, in detail, aimed at both drivers and cyclists. We have Traffic School as a way of skirting a ticket in lieu of a court trial, time should be spent on bicycles in traffic there also, more than just a mention. What the law is and what is expected of both bicycles and auto and trucks.

Kids are given bicycles and told to wear their helments and be careful, that's it. When they get their license that's what they're gonna know about cycling in traffic. I've seen cops on bicycle patrol riding their bikes against traffic, probably didn't even know the law and how bicycles fit in and how to enforce it.
I had a cop, who claimed to be a cyclist, tell me I had to ride in the gutter, or on the sidewalk, to not slow the traffic. I've had cars brush as they close pass, but also freak out at intersections when I've Yielded them their right of way but they froze because they didn't know what I was doing next, which points to the non-uniformity of cyclists in traffic.

All the laws in the world come to naught without education and training starting at a young age and continued through all aspects of driving and cycling in traffic, aimed at both drivers and cyclists.

There's more to driving than owning the road and more to cycling than wearing a helment and being careful. We all need to know the laws and abide by them.

[j44ke]

I doubt the anger present in most situations has its genesis in ignorance about traffic regulations.

I blame the comprehensive social psychosis created by power used persistently as a concussion grenade loaded with hammers against anyone who doesn't have it. Every day. Television, radio, Internet, marketing, politics, movies. Everything is war. Everything is last chance. Everything is in jeopardy. To fail is to lose everything near and dear. Or else.

Cars/trucks are the one place people feel anonymous but safe, protected but powerful and that allows the fuse on their psychically damaged power keg to light itself.

Locally I've seen drivers try to run high-crop and 8-tire tractors off the road because they were driving too slowly. That's not a misunderstanding of traffic regulations. That's a moment of pure insanity.