"PC" <get@no-spam> wrote in message
news:3efe88ca.88624785@no-spam
> >
> >Do you consider bike couriers riding *against* traffic flow, weaving
around
> >cars, an effort to be visible, or an effort to be dead?
>
> No, that's called earning a living.. They are contractors paid by the
> delivery, and if they don't make enough deliveries in a day, they
> can't meet their expenses.. It's an inherent problem with how the
> industry works, but that doesn't stop their customers from using them,
> because it's still the cheapest and fastest way to get their glorified
> packages around town..
So it makes their behaviour ok? Fine, don't complain about the many drivers
behind their wheel in a work capacity behaving in the same manner.
> >I've never hit anyone. I drive in a manner that allows me stop in time,
> >regardless of limit. Part of that involves looking around you and reading
> >the traffic for potential bingles.
>
> It doesn't matter so much that you never have, what matters is the
> risk that you some day will, and the statistics for how many do..
> They're rather depressing actually..
Risk is low, I do a pretty good job looking out for myself.
More depressing are stats for heart disease and cancer. Put road fatalities
into that sort of context, and the number of deaths is really not that
significant.
> I think we've just unlocked the key problem here.. The majority
> behaving a certain way doesn't make it right, it just makes it
> collectively stupid..
No, you're still living under the assumption that what they're doing is
dangerous. The statistics don't support that view.
> >efforst to try and get people to slow to below a speed they feel
comfortable
> >with does more harm than good.
>
> What harm? Is it harmful that it seriously affects your wealth?
Setting speed limits inappropriately reduces compliance rates, and increases
speed differentials. Speed differentials lead to higher accident rates.
Proven. Search usenet (been discussed ad nauseum) or google... plenty of
evidence to show speed enforcement has little tangible effect on road
safety.
> Sure, I know watching the speedo ain't smart, but that shouldn't
> matter.. People should just learn to comfortably drive a little
> slower than they do today, and ignore those behind who insist on
> driving up near or above the limit..
Whys should they when there is no good reason to? There is no proof that
speed enforcement has done anything for the road toll.
> Anyway, making 3-10km/h over a points only or points and small fine
> penalty would help make it safer to keep speed limits low or lower
> them further without causing road users to stare at their speedos..
Rubbish. For those that spend a lot of time on the road for work, 12 points
can go very quickly.... especially when the tolerances are set as low as
they are now (and unlawfully so).
KK