Crushing Hoon Cars Will Reduce Dangerous Drivers on Our Roads
The wheels of government often move very slowly indeed. They only seem to act quickly in the wake of a major media expose or campaign, or in the event of a serious disaster. Take the Victorian bushfires as an example - the Brumby Government moved with extreme haste in dishing out funds and recovery relief for the victims.
So why is it taking governments so long to do something about hoon drivers on our roads? Simple answer - not enough people have died. Until more die - they may not do anything. Its like the way they treat many of the black spots on our roads. Until somebody dies at a dangerous intersection, it usually doesn't get fixed.
There needs to be more pressure put on governments around Australia to make them act. Usually, that pressure comes from a media campaign. And as much as i criticise the media, they are the ones who should kick off the campaign to crush hoon cars.
You hear a lot from Victoria Police about how crushing hoon cars isn't the answer. They roll out a tired line about how people caught hoon driving and whose cars are impounded usually don't re offend. According to Police Commissioner Simon Overland "I intuitively understand why people want to crush cars, but again I go back to the evidence that 99 per cent of people that lose their cars in the first instance don't reoffend." Assistant Commissioner Ken Lay says the same thing.
Now i have the greatest respect for Overland and Ken Lay. In fact i credit Ken Lay as being one of the main reasons for keeping road safety on the agenda. He is truly one of Victoria's best assets.
But on the issue of crushing cars Overland and Lay are missing the point. There have even been suggestions about psychological screening of people before they get their licence. That's wishful thinking at best.
No, the point is that its not about hoon drivers re offending. While its terrific that 99% of them don't - its about not allowing them to do it in the first place. Over the last 2 and a half years, more than 10,000 hoon cars have been impounded in Victoria alone. Think about that figure. That's more than 10 cars impounded every day.
But without doubt, that figure would pale into comparison with the hoon cars which aren't caught. We recognise that police cant be everywhere. Hoons know that too - they are willing to take the chance of getting caught. Drive on Dandenong Road on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, or indeed on one of the new drag strips, the Burwood Highway and you will see dozens of hoon drivers trying their luck.
But even if they do get caught, whats the penalty? Sure they could lose their licence for a few months or pay what the government considers a hefty fine. Not so hefty considering the value of the car itself. And then for the biggest slap on the wrist. Their car impounded for 48 hours.
48 hours? And that does what exactly? They get the car back in two days. Not that they can drive it again for a few months - well not legally anyway. You can increase the length of impounding to 28 days. But so what? They have lost their licence! But in the end, there it is, back in their hands.
Yes, 1% is not a large amount, but it still equates to at least 100 drivers in that 10,000 who will reoffend. They will hoon again.
And while that headline figure of 99% of hoon drivers not reoffending sounds good, 10,000 were out on the roads, potentially being the victims of a serious car crash - or worse, ending up in a twisted metal wreck like seen in Mill Park.
What will crushing the cars actually do? Its a direct disincentive to drivers not to hoon. Many of these guys, and they usually are guys, love their cars more than life itself. Tens of thousands of dollars are spent obtaining the car, followed by more money to maintain, modify and repair it.
Take away the car for 48 hours and they might suffer mild withdrawal symptoms at best. Crush the car and it would be like crushing their own child.
We can talk about the psychology of young male drivers until we are blue in the face. Unfortunately, understanding the psychology of young males is not just about understanding their bad driving and perhaps finding a solution. The psychological problems of of some young men which leads to hoon driving are probably the same as those which have seen indiscriminate violence on the rise. Not just here, but around the world. In other words, its a societal problem and one without a quick fix.
We need to stop hoon drivers in the first instance, not try to stop them reoffending. Throw in the possibility of a loss of car and you will kill part of the problem overnight. And its not about selling the car either – it has to be destroyed. While that may seem like a waste, it’s the only way to ram home the point. Selling a prized possession to another hoon isn't the answer – and it wouldn’t have nearly the same impact on the driver.
But no doubt you will get some “expert” in response, giving varying points as to why crushing cars is a bad idea. Why we should try something else first. Impound their cars for longer or some such idea. I say to them good. Keep talking. It is experts and bureaucrats who keep positive solutions from taking off. And you are the reason that more people die.
Crush the cars and you crush the problem. Otherwise we wont be talking about five young men being killed when their car hits a tree. We will be talking about a family or kids wiped out when a hoon car smashes into them.
About Just Grumpy
5 comments
Its not like "hoon driving" is a new epidemic.
If you really want to reduce "hoon" driving then why do you insist this kind of driving needs to be stamped out completly? Because you don't understand it thats why.
FACT: Yes hoon driving on public roads is wrong
Here's a suggestion, how about build more tracks where "hoons" can do it in a safe enviroment with medical crews on standby and with a audience. only a select few venues exist currently and are not close to the worst area's such as Dandenong.
do you really think crushing "hoons" cars will do any good? most of the cars are not even expensive.
perhaps its time to look at both sides of the story, no doubt my comment will not be censored as it opposes the media's point of view, so much for a free country.
First Mill park was a drunk driver and these guys only ever get a slap on the wrist.
Second the only way to stop hoon drivers (and drunks)is with a mandatory 1 week jail sentence for the second offence.
Every country that imposes jail terms for excessive speeding has no speeding problem. (whoops, there goes the states camera revenue) The problems with car crushing or extended confiscation laws are huge. Eg You get your car serviced at a dealership. the young mechanic has a couple of hoon charges already and speeds in your car. You lose the car, hes a good mechanic which are in short supply so he wont lose his job. You may be able to sue the workshop but it will be very hard and costly. There are particular laws governing responsibility when handing your car to mechs and valets and all dealerships make you sign a waiver when you drop off the car. (this waiver has been around for years and not even really nessecary)
On the other extreme if they attempt to cover the previous shortfall; Joe buys a car puts it in franks name and vice versa. Joe gets caught hooning. Frank pleads his case that its his car. Joe instantly sells his car to frank for $1 Frank gets the car back, Joe has no car to crush but he did have a motorbike in bits he brought off ebay for $50 some time ago. That gets crushed and frank sells him back the car for the dollar.
Then also will be those who dont want their precious car crushed, try to outrun the police (Who they know will break off the pursuit over a certain speed)and then hide the car at a mates.
Then theres the speed kills campaign to justify the overdose of speed cameras. Of course speed is a factor in accidents because if you hit something at 0km you wouldnt even notice. Driving on a freeway at 80-100km/h is very leisurely its very easy for people to zone out and that causes accidents. Go to europe drive on the autobahn at 160 and you always pay attention to what you are doing. If they raised the speed limit on the SE, Doncaster and Geelong freeways between 11pm and 5am it would reduce the road toll. It would also give someone who wanted to speed and get it out of their system somewhere to go, no pedestrians, no intersections, less traffic at those times. Instead of suburban streets where they think they wont be seen. Too easy.
If speed cameras really reduce the road toll by stopping speeding drivers, how can they predict how much money each new camera will bring in?
The government needs to get serious; Mandatory Jail terms for hoons/drunks, Make an advanced driving course compulsory and Foreigners staying more than 3 months must sit an Australian license test. (so they can be safe and know the road rules)
I LIKE ARABS
i FUK HOON DRIVERS
ha
Post a Comment