Page 39 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine Jan-Feb 2019

PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019 WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
GROUNDHOG MONTH
Crash Course
JANUARY 2019 KICKED OFF AS PREDICATABLY AS ANY OTHER YEAR – ‘GROUNDHOG MONTH’ IF YOU LIKE.
CTIVISTS SEEM TO AWAKEN
from a mung bean and kale induced holiday slumber, overdose on caffeine at inner- city coffee shops and fire off at the meaning of Australia Day, the flag and summer temperatures. Not to be out- done, the government, motoring organi- sations, media commentators and so- called experts begin their annual chest thumping fest to justify their stance on what would have prevented the previous
year's road toll and crash statistics.
As always, rationality vanishes and the debate is reduced to the lowest and simplest denominator with speed cast as the principal cause of crashes. This is followed by frenetic discussion about a catalogue of punishments that will ar- rest the villain speed. Then after all the hype, the same old punitive solutions are trotted out. You know, more speed cameras and the activation of point to point cameras for all motorists which are trumpeted as the solution to prevent
crashes and save lives. End of debate.
KNEE JERK REACTION
Repeat the knee-jerk reaction next January! Needless to say, the effect of punitive solutions such as a prolifera- tion of speed cameras, double demerit points periods and increased penal- ties for all sorts of driving infringe- ments has levelled out and the repeat- ed focus on them has become a major distraction to seriously tackling other issues contributing to Australia's road toll problem.
Anyone with half a brain understands that the cause of crashes and the subse- quent road toll problem is far too com- plex and multi-faceted to rely on threats and punishments as solutions.
It was the TV commercial with two cars side by side, but one travelling 5km/h faster at 55km/h, just as a truck pulls out in front of them. After braking, both hit the truck with the slower car's impact speed of only 5km/h not injuring the occupants. The car originally travel- ling 5km/h faster has an impact speed 27km/h greater resulting in catastrophic damage. Even though the maths may be correct, for most viewers it made little sense and their eyes just glazed over. Others who understand that driving is all about assessing variables looked beyond the shock theatrics within the commercial and wondered why, in this ABS era, did neither driver steer away from the prob- lem? Would a better trained driver have perceived the danger sooner, braked earlier and had an escape route in mind?
EDUCATE DRIVERS
Taking those questions into account, ef- fective education and driver training cou- pled with regular skills practice would have to be at the top of the list of crash preventative measures. However, these have largely been ignored by the powers that be and I suspect that's because they're not conducive to revenue raising.
A recent visit to a large insurance con- tracted repairer unearthed another key issue that has most likely contributed to crashes but also remains ignored.
A conversation with its manager about this topic, prompted him to show me the "crashes waiting to happen" in his work- shop. A cursory and random glance at the many cars in there revealed how poorly maintained a large proportion were.
The litany of neglect included wind- screens you could barely see out of from the build-up of film on the inside, bald and/or under-inflated tyres, sagged sus- pension, broken or inoperative switch- gear, loose items dumped around the cabin and floor and perished wiper rub- bers. The list went on.
Responsible car maintenance definitely needs to be built into any driver education program. This is more critical now with longer service schedules and a generation of drivers way more interested in their phones and other devices than their cars.
But Jeez, that would be getting serious and doing something else rather than more of the same to address the com- plexities of the road toll problem.
In the meantime the fruitless fracas eve- ry January helps keep you in business!
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© SCOTT RIGNEY