The best idea I ever had for road safety ...

[pshore]

Mandate that: all motor vehicles display their current speed on the front and rear.

Every camera becomes a speed camera and perhaps society will self regulate through shame.

No pedestrian I have spoken to yet has thought it is a bad idea. Time to road test it on a larger audience.

I give this idea to the world for free. And if it is as good as I arrogantly think it is, how do I get Brussels to mandate it ?

 

[cd365]

Youths will try and see who can display the fastest down the local roads

 

[Globalti]

My idea is to display the shells of smashed-up cars on the middle of big roundabouts with a notice of how many people were killed, etc etc.

 

[Night Train]

Retesting of all drivers on a 5 yearly basis. One year ban and retraining if the driver fails the test.

 

[Arch]

Mandate that: all motor vehicles display their current speed on the front and rear.

Every camera becomes a speed camera and perhaps society will self regulate through shame.

No pedestrian I have spoken to yet has thought it is a bad idea. Time to road test it on a larger audience.

I give this idea to the world for free. And if it is as good as I arrogantly think it is, how do I get Brussels to mandate it ?

I like it a lot.

But it'll confuse bus passengers waiting at stops. "Is that the 28 coming along Hilda?" "No, it's the 29... 30... 29... yes, it's the 28... no, 27...."

But seriously, I like it. Along with retesting and a bit of shock and awe as part of the learning process - lectures from traffic cops and doctors, with pictures, no holds barred. With plenty of emphasis on the effects on people outside the cars. Drivers can kill themselves if they want, as far as I'm concerned (but preferably not their passengers).

 

[coffeejo]

Great idea. Instant 3 year ban if you go more than 10% over the limit, life ban if more than 10mph over. Also a life ban for a conviction of causing death / serious injury of other people, and for driving under the influence. Mandatory display of MOT and insurance details (as in 'insured til x date), just like the car tax sticker thingies.

 

[Davidc]

Agree with most of it, but haven't seen "life ban on first offence for drink driving, combined with a new zero limit", or "6 month minimum compulsory ban plus £1000 fine for all traffic and motor vehicle offences combined with a new traffic police force paid for from the fines and on a £500 per conviction personal bonus scheme".

Plenty on here know my views on driving and think them extreme so I'll stop there.

 

[Arch]

Agree with most of it, but haven't seen "life ban on first offence for drink driving, combined with a new zero limit", or "6 month minimum compulsory ban plus £1000 fine for all traffic and motor vehicle offences combined with a new traffic police force paid for from the fines and on a £500 per conviction personal bonus scheme".

Plenty on here know my views on driving and think them extreme so I'll stop there.

I see where you're coming from!

I do think there should be a second chance, in the cases where an offence hasn't actually injured someone. A stern talking to, a fine, and a mark on the licence should be enough. People make mistakes, do daft things. What they shouldn't be allowed to do, is do them over and over. What does the current system give you? Four goes at speeding or similar? If you can't (or won't) learn after one chance, you shouldn't be on the road.

Also, stop letting people off because they need their cars for work, or to take the kids to school. The more your car matters to your lifestyle and family, the more careful you should be! Most people wouldn't generally expect to get away with keeping their jobs if they were to continually be rude to customers or colleagues, or assault them. Why should driving be different?

 

[G-Zero]

.... and perhaps society will self regulate through shame....

I love your idea, but I'm pleased you said "perhaps".

The worst offenders in society don't give a toss about anyone else and shame has never stopped them in the past.

 

[mcshroom]

Banning cars completely would be more effective

 

[Arch]

Banning cars completely would be more effective

Yes, but less fun for the responsible ones who manage to operate them safely. There are a few of us..

 

[Night Train]

Banning cars completely would be more effective

Would this be just cars or all powered vehicles?

 

[Archie_tect]

Difficult to set standards...so how about, "impound and crush any vehicle:
1) found parked on or driven on a public road without MOT or insurance or registered to someone without a valid license to drive it at the time of checking -simple registration plate check on database [Eire has both current VED and insurance discs on windscreen],
2) driven by someone over the speed limit by 10%,
3) driven by anyone over the current drink limit."

There that should cover it- buses and lorries and vehicles driven by a person but owned by someone else could be a small issue but who cares- shoot them [in front of their families].

 

[pshore]

I'm glad you all like the idea.

It's born out of frustration that there are still too many drivers speeding in really stupid places like near schools, residential streets etc and they know the chances of being caught are slim. Away from fixed speed cameras, a lot of drivers know there is little chance of being caught, but with their speed on display, if any person takes offence to your anti-social driving they can take a picture and shame you, report you or whatever. Society can decide separately what to do with the information.

There is no way car manufacturers would put a speedo on the outside. It would scare buyers off.

 

[Arch]

I saw a thing on the news recently about a primary school in Liverpool, where they had a crackdown on speed. People caught by the police where given a choice of points and fine, or 15 minutes explaining themselves to a bunch of 8 year olds. Some people took the points, and of those who opted for the kids, at least one woman ended up in tears.

That's what we need, kangaroo courts comprised of 8 or 9 year olds - you know that age when they REALLY know what they think, the world is nicely black and white and right and wrong, and they're not afraid to say what they think... Give them sentencing powers....