While I don't generally think that really "radical driving" should be undertaken in built up areas, the real problem highlighted here is that nanny-statism, political correctness and incessant bombardment by wowsers + cops + media means that Australians are being hammered into some kind of catatonic compliance on everything, from driving to taxation. This is the most over-regulated country in the world, with, at last count, about 1 bureaucrat for each 5 citizens, compared with the US with a ratio of about 1:25. And far too many Australians opt for it, vote for it, and pay for it.
No doubt the cops would be delighted if they achieve 100% compliance, zero road deaths, zero crime, and this is their aim, even stated sometimes. It might take 50 years but the newer generations will think this is and always has been the way and is normal.
But since the 70's, I've seen Oz change a lot, far more than many of the younger people on this forum might appreciate. A lot of that change is to do with the above-mentioned nanny-statism, political correctness and excessive, over-weening OH&S rubbish, all justified by "user-pays", "if it only saves one life" and revenue raising in the guise of "safety initiatives".
It has got to the stage that the very act of getting into a car and driving it is almost a crime, or potentially so. Hence drivers sit glued to the wheel, too often in the outside lane, as discussed earlier, white knuckled, often in appalling postures, driving badly in every other respect, but with their eyes riveted to the roadsides for police with laser guns, officious little twits in yellow jackets with their Multanovas and notebooks, overhead speed detection devices and cameras, to the exclusion of all else, terrified that they will contravene some often petty, mindless and ill-thought out regulation, such that they in fact become hazards themselves.
Safety is what you know, not what some fool bureaucrat with zero life experience would have you believe.
Last edited by Doug_MPS6; 29-03-2010 at 10:22 AM.
CP_e Standback & PNP; CP_e 3" SS Downpipe; Corksport FMIC with Top-mount K&N filter & OEM Ram CAI; Turbosmart BOV; Dashhawk; Prosport Boost Guage; JBR solid shift bushes; DBA 4000 Wiper-Slot front rotors; Hawk Ferro-Carbon HPS Street front brake pads (@ 69,000km); Sumitomo HTRZIII's in 225/45 x 18