Move now on tourist car hire inquiry

THERE needs to be an urgent inquiry into hiring of vehicles to visitors and the level of their training and experience. Considering the lengthy training and probation we expect of our young people it is ludicrous and dangerous to supply vehicles to visitors unless they were similarly qualified.

I have driven behind some hire cars that travel at 40km/h, brake on every corner no matter how slight, weave all over the road and cross unbroken lines. The toll of injuries requiring hospitalisation from accidents on Bruny Island continues to rise and I believe the same goes for other popular tourist roads. Recently tourists were taken to hospital after they crashed south of Lunawanna.

Apart from the destroyed holiday the cost is immense. Four ambulances attended, two from Hobart and two from North Bruny (there is none on South Bruny). Some were flown to hospital and others taken by ambulance with the Bruny ferry making a special night-time run. Add the bill for emergency services including police and medicos and there are the volunteers who give their time freely. Companies are leasing minibuses and big campers. A few weeks back a minibus hit a tree on the Alonnah-Lunawanna road and seven were ferried to hospital. This road can be challenging for locals. Some of the hire companies add a huge premium on vehicles coming to Bruny obviously aware of the dangers. We had one tourist death on Bruny last year. What are we waiting for, a busload over a cliff? I know the emergency services are dreading that day.