USE A PHONE AND YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK
IT is possible people think I’m being aggro when I use the pedestrian crossing on the Gold Coast Highway where it intersects with Kratzmann Avenue, Miami.
Heading east to west, I’ll slow down as I cross the northbound lanes, staring hard at the traffic that’s stopped at the red light. Someone said I have a stare that would turn a bull shark around. There is a reason for this. I have no death wish.
One of those drivers nearly killed me once, ignoring the red light in front of her and the fact I and others had a green walk signal as she flew through in the left lane, head down staring at her lap.
It was early so traffic was light, which probably saved a life other than mine because it meant that at that exact moment, no driver was coming through on her right to be T-boned.
She sailed on regardless, oblivious to the red light that tried to stop her and the tragedy she could have caused, somehow keeping her small sedan within the lane as she motored on happily looking at the wonders on her phone screen instead of what was going on in the reality around her. I wonder whether that particular driver went on to ram some other poor motorist up the rear that day, or has done so since.
Thirty-three people died on Queensland roads last year because of crashes involving distracted drivers.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey unveiled new laws this week that will hit motorists busted on their mobile phones with a $1000 fine, with the possibility of losing their licence if they are caught again within a year. Note that, only a “possibility’’.
This will more than double the existing $400 penalty, which has been a mere limp lettuce slap on the wrist.
The Palaszczuk Government is now basking in the warm glow of being the toughest in the country in dealing with drivers distracted by phones. They can use the applause.
But tough guys? I don’t think so.
The limp lettuce has been toughened to the status of two-and-a-half limp lettuces.
If they were serious, Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mr Bailey and the others would be putting these drivers off the road straight away on the first offence. The phones have the potential to be killers and drivers have to understand that.
But the Government is not doing that, which can only mean this is just another nice little revenue earner that will fail to achieve a great deal of change.
Is this personal? You bet. That young driver could have killed me, as could that legion of drivers who roll up behind me and every other poor innocent at the traffic lights each day, eyes staring down at their laps.
I’m pretty certain they are not admiring themselves, so they have to be looking at their phones and therefore not worrying about everyone else on the road.
Seriously, fines are not going to rein in this killer habit. Look how long it took to achieve behavioural change with drink driving. The roads were drenched in blood for decades.
This problem could grow to be significantly worse because just about everyone has a mobile phone and you can bet hardly anyone turns it off and locks it in the boot, which is probably the only effective way to be 100 per cent sure it will not play some part in a crash. Media reports this week said surveys suggest up to 70
per cent of Queenslanders admit to using their phone while driving. Apparently 48 per cent say they text at traffic lights and 22 per cent reckon they do while driving.
Phone and car manufacturers can probably immobilise the devices once a motor is started.
But it is easier surely just to go for the throat from the word go. First offence, you’re off the road. Second offence, you’re off for a much, much longer time.