Issues of road toll

Stop bleating about the road toll, please.

We need to look at our road toll in much the same vein as the sacrifice necessary in time of war. Because if we aren’t prepared to contribute what’s necessary to reduce the toll then we should stop squawking about the deaths and the hurt created.

Instead, as respect for those who have given, and are to give their lives for us to go fast, I suggest we create a commemorative day (maybe combine it with Anzac Day) to honour those road dead. Lets accept that in order to go fast that people have to be sacrificed.

But if we really want change then we must sacrifice something a whole lot less important — time. But there is a strong reluctance on all our parts to make that necessary commitment to reduce our toll. In most cases we’re talking minuscule amounts of time — mere minutes for Te Awamutu or Cambridge to

Hamilton. I suggest we need to acknowledge the road speed limits are too fast, have the guts to bring those limits down to where our bodies and our vehicles can reasonably sustain and protect us. And not just us — those with us, as well as anyone else who might get in our road.

There is a great deal of brouhaha about vehicle safety.

Yes, newer vehicles are much safer, but these still are only built to safely sustain us at a crash speed of under 70km/h. If you don’t believe me go on-line and check.

There will be those of you who go, engineer the roads better to make them safer. I’d say most roading engineers would agree and would be happy to do so, but it comes back to cost, and time.

If you’re happy to treble, or probably quadruple or more, taxes and rates, then that goal can likely be achievable within the next 20 years.

In the meantime, let’s just lower the speeds — just a little.

Look at the person beside you. Are you ready to sacrifice them for your right for speed?

Untold thousands in the last year probably weren’t. I ask you to give the gift of life, allow us to slow down, just a bit!

Live, and let live . . .

Stephen Loomans