The officer didn’t reach for his radar gun; he thrust his fist out and gave me a long thumbs up

occurred a few minutes later. Having seen, or perhaps heard, my approach from behind, the driver of a small farm truck hurriedly pulled over to watch me cruise by, his joy at seeing a bright green Lamborghini so boisterous that he actually leapt from his cabin and chased after me, his arms windmilling like a madman.

Can you imagine either of these things happening in Australia? I can’t. In fact, a video that recently circulated the Wheels office showed the stark contrast we face Down Under. In the clip, camouflage-clad highway patrol officers carry out a sting on unsuspecting drivers from a sniper-style bunker hidden in the mountains. didn’t damage the Lambo. In Australia I’d have been labelled a “wanker” before I’d the time to apologise.

All this meant that as I landed in Melbourne and spent the drive home scanning for police lurking in clock towers, I began to ponder what needs to be done to turn the tide. Wheels is well advanced in its attempts to foster a wider-ranging road-safety debate with our recent investigation into the road toll and an imminent look into mobile phone use in cars, but the real power lies with you – our readers. Collectively, and with the help of grass root political movements or by writing to your local member to oppose anti-motoring policies, your voice can foster change. Wheels has some ideas here too. Stay tuned.