70 kilometre limit would frustrate motorists

I would like (again) to bring the attention of country drivers to the plans in motion to change various aspects of local travel.

Friday’s Herald-Sun included an article by the Assistant Commissioner, Road Policing Command for Victoria Police, in which he raises the notion of a zero road toll, and plans in part to achieve this by introducing a blanket 70km/h speed limit on all unsealed roads in country Victoria.

While an experienced driver may often already travel at less than 100km/h on our local roads due to their winding nature (and often poor condition), anyone who journeys to regions such as the Murray country, western or northern Victoria in particular, would know there are roads that are straight, open and with good vision, where 100km/h can be used – possibly with greater safety than jockeying at 80km/h with self-focused or distracted drivers on Melbourne freeways.

The introduction of a 70km/h limit would see increased frustration and selective defiance of such an imposition.

Rural motorists have large distances to travel, and should expect reasonable travel times. Again, I suggest that crashes are caused by a range of factors, of which speed is only one. I applaud the local Baw Baw Shire for including a number of areas for improvement in their Road Safety Strategy, which we are still able to comment upon.

Another worrying proposal included in the state plan (‘Toward Zero’) is to fit wire barriers down the centre of key roads, to prevent overtaking.

Imagine how that will be received at times such as Easter, when a slow-moving caravan sits ahead of you. Try the western section of the Yea-Mansfield road for a preview. Would it not be more productive instead to reinstate overtaking areas, and to educate drivers on their safe use?

While we all look forward to reduced road trauma, there are strategies that aren’t as restrictive as some currently proposed. I have written a more detailed response elsewhere, and encourage other country drivers to respond to the proposals being considered, before it becomes a fait accompli. Ian Maud, Cloverlea

An historically and morally unprecedented redefinition of marriage is based simply on unsupported assertions.

It epitomises the personal infallibility complex of liberal bigots thus: “We say so therefore it is".

The false assertion that a redefinition of marriage is a “right" begs this question: When and how did it become a right when it never was for past generations?

Yet the spurious expression marriage equality continues to resound not least on our ABC. When last week the ABC program 7.30 chose to effetely address the yes and no cases it blatantly omitted the campaign of threats and abuse against a Sydney Chinese woman doctor who had appeared in an ad for the no campaign.

The cowardly and disgusting attacks on this doctor also featured a subsequently aborted petition to have her medical registration withdrawn. ABC balance?

Then there are sundry statements from our ever pusillanimous political class. Apart from homosexuals and lesbians in parliament who want their way of life endorsed by legislation the mealy-mouthed statements from various MPs on both sides of the party playground reflect only one actual concern.

That is how the prospective postal vote, whichever way it goes, will affect their electoral fortunes. Unaddressed are the moral and social consequences for those who reject a redefinition of marriage should future legislation validate it. Frank Carleton, Longwarry Police said he had some medical problem. My points are: 1. He should not have been driving if under the infleunce of medication and if given by a doctor and told not to drive the person should comply with that.

2. A doctor must report the registration of motorcars in that person’s name and address and the licence should be suspended until given clearance from a doctor.

With so many different doctors practicing in Australia and the amount of newer drugs supplied it is important that this is made legal to all medicos.

I am a senior woman with a good driving reputation. I have driven throughout Australia without any problems.

I am now without a car as my insurance is not enough for a replacement vehicle.

I have been driving since I was 14-years-old and hoping to continue driving into my nineties.

I hope that the powers that be and the police can get this system working as there are too many deaths from drug affected drivers.

Ellen Colahan, Trafalgar