How Would This Go Down? (teenagers and driving) *may distress*

[Trillian]

I get what you are trying to say Bath, but a lot of that 'recklessess' is a developmental issue and completely beyond their control in many cases. It is something they genuinely have to grow out of it. And then there are the special people who think they are Peter Brock and that they are the best driver in the world I know quite a few people who drove like a bat out of hell and were reckless as teens, but then they grew up, grew out of that type of behaviour and are now the most careful drivers you'd ever meet kwim? Oh and the special people usually stay special LOL. Maybe the key is to raise the age before they can get their license in the first place? They have to stay at school for longer now, so it is only a small amount that leave early for apprenticeships that would actually need a license. So most teens are well over 18 before they leave home so they don't really need a license before that point.

[Shanti]

Take them to a morgue and show them a messed up body of a 17yr old who died being stupid in a car?

[Astrid]

Another thought. I was someone who got their licence later (early 20's) and it was hard. I no longer had the ****iness of a teenager, which really I needed to be able to hop into a car and not cry. To me I still suffer from getting mine later, I am missing that extra bit of confidence that I need now in driving everyday, if anything it probably makes me a bit dangerous on the road, as I don't have the guts to overtake when it is safe to do so etc. So to an extant, I believe it is a good thing to use that confidence to help teenagers learn to drive. As for when they should get their licence, I am not so sure.

[Bathsheba]

Am yep, i get that point too Astrid... as you know I don't have my full license yet due to similar cautiousness. However when you are limited to doing 80km (as you are in NSW when you are on your L's) you're also a bit of a road hazard when everyone else is doing 105 on these country roads. it also basically means i can't drive onto a freeway or overtake. Silly law. Should be the same as Victoria; Learners should be able to drive at the sign-posted speed so they can fit in with everyone else.

[Astrid]

Oh, that stupid 80 rule. Had that in Tassie when I got my P's. Totally dangerous. I certainly believe one of the most dangerous habits on the road is everyone doing their own speed, as opposed to the speed limit (if it is safe to do so of course). Someone doing 80 or 90 in a 100 zone when there is no need to (good weather, good road, good car etc), just frustrates other drivers. I find P platers are the worst for being impatient on the roads down here and they take big risks to get around other cars.

[ladybird11]

Hey Bath, having been a traffic educator in SA - I've got a few studies (and feedback) that state shock tactics don't always work. Teenagers / young adults (actually most drivers I think as no one wakes up in the morning thinking "hmm, I might have a car crash today" IYKWIM?), have the thoughts that they won't crash (regardless if they cause it or another road user does).

A lot of people do bag P platers - but I find I have trouble with fully licensed drivers more so - unfortunately for the P platers (and in SA, its only the 'P1s' that even have to display a P plate) they are easily identified. And having done country policing, locals recognise the sound / look of the local hoons and can sometimes assume who the driver was at any particular time. I find the older drivers bag the younger ones, taxi drivers blame the bus drivers, cyclists blame the pedestrians etc lol.

That being said, would it be worthwhile to speak to local Police, voice your concerns and see if, with the assistance of the other emergency services, to put on a mock crash in your local district? It may take awhile to orchastrate - but we've held many in SA with much success. Just an idea anyways.

[mummajj]

i agree with Trillian, i think its a matter of these hoons growing out of it. ..or raising the age to hold a license. there are always going to be fatalities on the roads due to everyone having a different way of driving. these young people that do the crazy hoon driving might think its completely normal to drive like this. until they have a few near misses or even minor accidents. unfortunately some never get to learn from their mistakes..
The company i work for has compulsory safe driving courses that we must do every 2 yrs. its a total reality check. especially when they show you the real life accident scenes etc.

[Miss.September]

I've been thinking about this a bit since I posted.

Last night DH was training with our local fire brigade and they nearly got taken out by a hoon. He was doing burn outs past them, and almost side swiped a fellow member, leaving him very upset and shaken. They got the rego, and Dh called the police. But because they couldn't "see" who was driving, because it was dark, the police told them they couldn't do anything about it. They went to the house where the car was registered, where the person denied the car was being driven, even though the bonnet was still hot. The police returned to the group training to report back.

Tougher laws are needed. No tolerance is needed. I feel the same way about people who flash their high beams to warn others of a speed camera. I often wonder if a speeding driver is flashed, they slow down, and then go on to cause an accident where someone is seriously injured or killed. Is it worth flashing them to avoid a ticket? Because you're actually flashing to work against saving lives. If they keep getting booked for speeding, then they will either learn their lesson, or lose their licence. Either way, the roads will be safer.

[Teeki]

I've been thinking about this a bit since I posted.

Last night DH was training with our local fire brigade and they nearly got taken out by a hoon. He was doing burn outs past them, and almost side swiped a fellow member, leaving him very upset and shaken. They got the rego, and Dh called the police. But because they couldn't "see" who was driving, because it was dark, the police told them they couldn't do anything about it. They went to the house where the car was registered, where the person denied the car was being driven, even though the bonnet was still hot. The police returned to the group training to report back.

Tougher laws are needed. No tolerance is needed. I feel the same way about people who flash their high beams to warn others of a speed camera. I often wonder if a speeding driver is flashed, they slow down, and then go on to cause an accident where someone is seriously injured or killed. Is it worth flashing them to avoid a ticket? Because you're actually flashing to work against saving lives. If they keep getting booked for speeding, then they will either learn their lesson, or lose their licence. Either way, the roads will be safer.

Bit off topic, but I've wondered about that too. And the fact that they advertise where the fixed cameras will be - so people either slow down or avoid that area, and then go on to speed elsewhere knowing they won't get caught.

My Dad spent over about 15 years in the Fire Brigade, and they used to do a lot of demonstrations like Leesa mentioned. I was involved in one at school, where I got all bloodied up and had to pretend I had a broken leg from a car accident. I was really sad that the other kids in my year level paid zero attention to the fact that this was supposed to be a horrific accident (where we had one person "dead") and were more interested in how they made my leg look broken