Speed Fine System
 

Hey guys, just a quick thought...

I'm just wondering why the government doesn't introduce a percentage speeding fine system, instead of the fixed system currently employed.

For example, instead of having set fines for 4-9kmh over the posted speed limit, they employ a method for 10-20% over, 20-30% over etc.

I think this would be a lot fairer, as on country roads, 130 in a 110 zone is a lot less serious than 80 in a 60 zone.

It would also encourage smarter driving, as situational awareness would be a higher factor in deciding to speed or not.

I know we'll never be able to get rid of the speeding fine system, [url=http://www.motorists.org/press/montana-no-speed-limit-safety-paradox]even though there is evidence to banish it[/url], but if we make our current system more logical, such as the idea i just proposed, or [url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/OWTU/TC-OWTU-944.pdf]variable speed limits[/url], it might be a bit more bearable when we get our speeding ticket in the mail.

Thoughts?

Fair and logical are two words that do not exist in the State Government's vocabulary. They have been replaced with with the word revenue, and the term bend-over.

Most Perth drivers can barely deal with changing speed limits for road works, so a variable system wouldn't work.

A percentage system would be fairer to the motorist, not to the bank balance of the state government. Therefore won't happen.

Unfortunately we live in a time where they can make massive money out of this hoax that speed kills. All that we will see is the cost of penalty units on fines increase to 'help' the road toll until a real politician steps in and tries to fix the real problem on our roads - attitude.

sadly that would require the government to stop with the speed kills mantra that is running strong within the walls of parliament house and i really can not see that becoming a reality anytime soon

in principle your idea has merit but you would have a hard time selling it to the blind masses that believe the smoke and mirror show on the news channels and the politician spin doctors

[QUOTE=freak;641300]sadly that would require the government to stop with the speed kills mantra that is running strong within the walls of parliament house and i really can not see that becoming a reality anytime soon[/QUOTE]

The idea i'm proposing still encourages this premise, but in a more logical way. It would encourage people to slow down in busier, residential areas, while still being able to safely overtake on a country road without the constant trepidation of getting a speed fine.

logic and government are two words that are completely incongruent

[QUOTE=bird;641295]Hey guys, just a quick thought...

I'm just wondering why the government doesn't introduce a percentage speeding fine system, instead of the fixed system currently employed.

For example, instead of having set fines for 4-9kmh over the posted speed limit, they employ a method for 10-20% over, 20-30% over etc.

[B][U]I think this would be a lot fairer, as on country roads, 130 in a 110 zone is a lot less serious than 80 in a 60 zone.[/U][/B]

It would also encourage smarter driving, as situational awareness would be a higher factor in deciding to speed or not.

I know we'll never be able to get rid of the speeding fine system, [URL="http://www.motorists.org/press/montana-no-speed-limit-safety-paradox"]even though there is evidence to banish it[/URL], but if we make our current system more logical, such as the idea i just proposed, or [URL="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/OWTU/TC-OWTU-944.pdf"]variable speed limits[/URL], it might be a bit more bearable when we get our speeding ticket in the mail.

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

To say doing 130km/h in the country is less serious is erroneous - the likelihood of being a fatal crash is much higher. No roadside barriers, far greater speed = increased impacts and less time to react, generally further away from medical assistance and so fourth.

Its not an argument I would use to sway the case.....

road kill...roos, emus, wedgetail eagles...much more dangerous in the bush

[QUOTE=huggy_b;641318]To say doing 130km/h in the country is less serious is erroneous - the likelihood of being a fatal crash is much higher. No roadside barriers, far greater speed = increased impacts and less time to react, generally further away from medical assistance and so fourth.

Its not an argument I would use to sway the case.....[/QUOTE]

Point taken. Maybe using the freeway with a lower chance of accident would be a better example (minimal pedestrians and animals).

The theory is that speeding anywhere is dangerous. You won't ever see a stance that suggests speed in some environments is less so.