Forum member 'Gecko',- highlights his frustrations (in the TOLL thread) with NT's various 'road safety experts'.
I quote from the weblink provided below.
"Automobile Association of the NT chief executive Linda Deans said she could not think of any additional road safety measures that could be put in place to make the road safer.
"There are lights to stop and slow traffic, the Duke Street intersection has been fixed, the speed limit was dropped from 70km/h to 60km/h -- I really don't know what else the department can do".
She has this bit spot on; "It comes down to people driving responsibly -- it's not the road that's the problem, its the drivers''
Link below regards one of NT's 2008 road toll statistics, (NT News 24/6/08) and the quote above was taken from this;-
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/06/24/4470_ntnews.html
NT, and indeed Australia, is I suggest *not* serious about the so called 'road toll'. We will improve over time, but at what cost academia, MP's, IF we continue along with 'the speed-limit is god' mantra? More *can* be done, indeed so.
Treat drivers as immature monkeys by ever more simplistic 'restrictions', then kindly expect in return over time and exposure, for driver complacency, and other negative driver behaviour aspects to come to the fore, for all to witness each day, everyday as toll outcome.
Return speed derestriction (//) to NT's key highways at least, in order to return "absolute and total driver onus", for a persons perceived 'state and societietal imparted expectations'. These expectations directly relate, primarily, to 'behaviour and responsibility' on the road. Speed limits on open roads meeting engineering criteria cannot and never will adequately impart this. Boredom, poor attitude, general disinterest, nervous tension then sets in.
The 'state or territory' must ensure the vehicle is supplied with improved 'standard safety gear', certainly to a level of that issued in the EU market, and as now advocated by the "UN Road Traffic Convention" update now underway, vest, warning triangle and an AS compliant first aid kit, et al. Equipment that shows the state IS serious about covering all potential outcomes in our driving careers.
Return to PRIMA FACIE speed mangement - to save lives on the open-road and remote intercity freeway category. Speed restrictions must only be kept for particular lengths of road requiring same.
License categories; L, P1 & P2, the 12 month probationary holders, and heavy vehicle categories *can* remain speed-limited under a (//) prima facie environment both by Australian Road Rule 25, and by "license conditions".