Speed Cameras

Authorities always cite safety – not revenue – as their motivation for speed cameras.

Well, I was recently in Orlando, Florida, where authorities really do seem to have safety as their prime concern. At various points on the highways, there are fixed speed cameras with digital display boards attached.

Instead of snapping your picture and shooting off a fine to offenders, speeders are flashed a warning like “Caution – you are going 15 miles over the limit”.

Does it work? Well every cabbie who drove me immediately applied the brakes when they got a speed warning.

I salute Florida officials for taking an enlightened approach to speed – one which treats drivers with respect and courtesy – and attempts to change behavior in a way that’s neither vindictive nor costly and time-consuming to administer.

Clearly, as a tourist area, the Florida region doesn’t want visitors to go away with negative feelings – nor to get an unpleasant “surprise” when the fine arrives a month after their vacation.

Sure the scheme doesn’t generate revenue, but it must be saving lives – and doing so without turning innocent (albeit over-enthusiastic) drivers like criminals. Perhaps Australian authorities can learn a lesson here

Allen from Brookfield in QLD

Octane Ratings

Much is made of fuel pricing, with regular complaints about petrol being mixed with harmful substances and then sold as petrol for use in motor vehicles. If the octane rating were to be checked regularly, as are weights and measures, this would help all motorists. Perhaps MotorMouth could do an article on octane ratings

Ken from Ellen Grove

Oil Prices and Fuel Prices

I'd like to know how the oil companies arrive at their prices. If the price of oil per barrel goes up overnight, the price of petrol goes up at the pump immediately.

Usually, no fuel has been delivered, so the service station is selling fuel purchased at a lower price, at the newer, dearer price. Then, as has happened, a few days later the barrel price goes back to where it was.

Does the fuel price come down the next day? NO WAY. Also, why do fuel prices increase just in time for the weekend, or holiday?

Why does the price increase by as much as 15 cents per litre at one hit, but only come down in dribs and drabs. Is this Government greed or oil company greed?

Ron from Elenora

Oil in Automatic Transmission

Hi. When a car gets serviced many people forget to change the oil in the automatic transmission. This should be done at least once a year. If the oil in the automatic looks yucky brown I would strongly recommend a full flush.

A separate oil cooler for the transmission is a great help to keep the oil cooler, especially when towing often. Remove air filter and give it a light tap on the ground to remove lose dirt...

If need to change it and the fuel filter should be changed 2 times a year to guarantee a clean supply of fuel to the carburettor or injectors for better economy. Blocked or dirty injectors or jets only waste fuel

Casey from Nerang

Fuel Prices

Why does petrol go up and down all the time (I know it's got to do with the barrel price etc.)? A lot of products have fluctuations in price etc.

Can't they at least get a weekly or monthly average price so no matter what day or week it’s around the same cost (and CHEAPER)?

Franc from Hilton

Pedestrian Rights!

When purchasing fuel with my children it's usually difficult escaping the service station without purchasing something from the store. On several occasions we have nearly been hit by vehicles travelling at high speed. This also occurred when we have ridden to service stations to inflate bicycle tyres.

I cannot understand why people feel the need to drive fast where pedestrians and children walk. I was actually abused by a driver telling me he had the right to drive fast and to keep my children out of the way! I don't think many people are aware that under any circumstances the pedestrian is in the right.

That means a pedestrian can even walk in front of your car and if injured YOU THE DRIVER are liable and could be sued. Another area this occurs often is shopping centre car parks.

My husband was recently almost knocked over in a shopping centre car park and when he verbally abused the driver, they got out of the car and assaulted him! He has filed a police report for assault. For goodness sake, slow down in high pedestrian areas.

What is more important? Getting to your destination 5 minutes earlier or seriously injuring an innocent pedestrian?

Jennifer from West Ryde

Sequence of Traffic Lights

Travelling certain routes to and from work, I notice that the traffic light sequence of lights that are closely spaced is not such that you can make it through in one go.

It would be far better if the lights were synchronized such that a large portion of traffic can make it through without having to stop and start all the time, unless of course they are in league with the petrol companies?

This is particularly true now that the speed limit in a lot of (inner city) places has been reduced to 50km/hr. At that speed you mostly cannot make it through more than 1 or 2 sets of lights.

Walter from Golden Grove

Alternative Routes for Holidays

Whenever you go away in the country for your holidays, instead of taking the most common roads to your destination obtain a road map for that area and check for any other alternative route that could shorten your time of travel which could also save you fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle.

Chris from Oaklands Park

Using Indicators

I am surprised when I see people driving who must think that we have and use car indicators just because it is a law. They part way move into another lane then put their indicators on.

Indicators are to indicate your intentions before change lanes, turn a corner, take off etc. It would be so much more helpful to other drivers, and safer, if these people would put on their indicators to show their intentions BEFORE they change lanes etc.

Sheryl from Modbury Heights

The Importance of Defensive Driving

Ability to operate the controls of a motor vehicle does not make a person a competent driver. Driving encompasses much more, including such items as...

• Ability to react very rapidly to unexpected changes in situations;
• Ability to accurately judge distances between moving (particularly oncoming) vehicles;
• 360 degree awareness of other vehicles, obstructions, pedestrians;
• Awareness of stopping distances (not the academic memorising of numbers, but the actual stopping distances their vehicle requires at various speeds);
• Knowing in advance changes in their vehicle’s roadholding etc in changing road conditions;
• How to sit in the car, how to arrange rear-view mirrors etc

I am not familiar with current requirements tested in driving tests, but I suspect many of these factors are not properly addressed. Every motorist who has not yet taken a “Defensive Driving Course” ought to do so, every few years, to brush up their skills.

Driving is a highly complex group of skills and tasks that demand the driver’s focused attention, and deserves much more than cursory consideration.

Holding a driving license may be regarded as a “right” but the ability to drive safely and well is a critical element in ensuring ongoing mobility in our far-flung community.

Name withheld

Keep to 90km and Save

It is a proven fact that if you are driving on long distances, keep to 90 k.p.h instead of the signed 100-110 and you will save $6 and more on a tank of petrol, might not sound much but it does mount up over time.

This test was done on 2 four cylinder cars, so if you have 6 cylinders or more you will naturally save more.

Corrie