Footy folly

Lethal road rules

IN recent weeks/months there has been much commentary in the media on some aspects of the Tasmanian road rules and how these are interpreted by drivers. I consider that I am very familiar with the road rules, particularly in that I have been driving for close to 40 years, and in the past ten years I have taught my two daughters to drive and understand the road rules.

However, I am totally perplexed with the road rules described on page 22 of the Tasmanian road rules manual, and what appears to be the contradictory signage on our highways. I therefore would like clarification from the RACT and the Department of State Growth on the interpretation of the Tasmanian road rules, and why the signage on our highways is not consistent with the road rules.

I specifically refer to the Tasmanian road rule that states “when moving from the left lane of a highway into the moving lane of traffic travelling in the same direction, and the dotted line continues to the end of the lane, the left lane must give way when entering the lane on the right”.

Yet on our main highways signage in passing lanes often state, “Lane ends in 300 metres”, “Merge Right”, then at the end of the passing lane the sign might state, “Form one lane”.

And, on our metropolitan highways, there is little signage, because drivers are expected to apply the road rules.

The signage on the highways should state “Give Way” at the end of the passing lane, as this is the road rule. I have experienced and witnessed many near misses because of how drivers interpret this rule.

For instance, slow cars or tractors travelling in the left lane at about 60km/h to 70km/h pull out without giving way into traffic travelling at up to 110km/h. The Brooker Highway is another example, with drivers travelling in the left lane often being forced to slam on their brakes because of drivers pulling into the line of traffic from side streets that have a slip lane on to the highway. The drivers entering the highway mistakenly believe they have right of way.

I raised my concerns about the contradiction between the road rules and road signs at last years Road Safety Task Force workshops, and it was acknowledged that the signage was a national problem. When will this lethal problem be fixed? IT is time for Tasmanian’s to really look at their navels and in so doing ask who pays? Many Tasmanians must be sick of the constant fat cats in sport calling for an AFL team based in Tassie and now an AFLW team. My answer? Yes, you can have them but you must be self funding with equal salaries for both.

Premier Bacon said when setting up AFL for Tasmania in Launceston so that the North West Coast was in reach that 22,500 buttocks on seats were required to make it viable. The recent Geelong games at their home ground boasted around 30,000, so to all hangers on — be it politi- cians, footy presidents, chief executives and the like — it is time you all actually purchased a ticket for every game via the turnstiles.

Before the AFL set about destroying our country footy it was a community event and meeting occasion. A few of the so-calleds who know what is best for Aussie rules could learn lots from soccer who grow from strength to strength, as do basketball, netball, baseball, cycling and rugby. These sports struggle on raising funds every which way, with volunteers washing sport clothes and staffing stalls and once upon a time every country pub supported all local sports. Hence arrived the blood-alcohol move to .05 from .08 and pubs became endangered species and multiple bottleshops opened up. Added to this was large businesses moved to 10- and 12-hour shifts that lend nothing to community participation been there done that.

I recall as a child in a crowd at a country game where the very flamboyant and fabulous Johnny Leedham played, there were thousands. He was a clear cut VFL status then who stayed in Tasmania.

Have I been to a footy or cricket game at Bellerive? The answer is no. I like footy and cricket and many other sports, that I can switch on and off at home and see more of the a game than those attending.

If any team is to be invited, let it be Hawthorn who had the go to be pathfinders as broader Tasmania can attend if they wish in Launceston.