REDUCING THE CARNAGE

More safety barriers, rumble strips and better management of speed on our roads are positive steps to reduce the road toll. But a key element needs to be reducing the incidence of accidents caused by overtaking, especially the horrific head-on collisions that kill many.

In addition to more overtaking lanes and median barriers, we could eliminate some of the need to overtake by having the same speed limit for all vehicles (cars, trucks and towing vehicles) on any particular road. Not only get rid of differential speed limits, but also ensure all towing vehicles are matched to their loads,

with appropriate engine power and braking capacity.

We also need to be better at educating drivers, many of whom overtake compulsively and habitually, usually for little gain, but at heightened risk. Many such drivers have poor overtaking techniques, often tailing the vehicle in front too closely and then needing to do a dodgy “swerve and peek” manoeuvre to see if there’s room ahead to pass. It’s safer to hang back to get a better view of the road ahead, then accelerate in your own lane before passing, thereby minimising time in the “suicide lane”.

Although most drivers understand that overtaking is prohibited where double yellow lines exist, they shouldn’t assume that it is safe to overtake when the lines are absent. The combined velocity of your car and the one approaching from the other direction will be something like 200km/h, so there’s precious little margin for error. Marty Bonnett (Hanmer Springs)