Archive for the ‘Letters’ Category

Hi Dave N.  Great reply!  Smoky  …..  I have a better idea!  Bring up the rate for frieght, “Not speed” , suport TWU in their fight for better ,safer respectable work conditions that will cover the cost to suvive for both the ownerdriver and companies within the transport industry.  I know 1st hand that things are starting to happen and yeh there are a few hick ups at present with gov dept in some rushed solutions to date ie new log book , workcover with OHS, self defence procedures etc . I hope its all for the best!

Carl  …..  I drive a car and a coach.  Sorry I don’t tow a carravan - just a pop top when taking my wife and 3 little girls on holiday. “big deal” SO what do you mean about this game??  I thought this site is about communicating between all drivers. 

I personally find, not sitting up the ass of the vehicle in front leaves the driver to concentrate and do the speed that they’re comfortable with SO get up RTA for more dual pass lanes.. DONT BAG OUT THE OTHER DRIVER. This word (family) what can we do to preserve that living word?
I mean (mine,yours tanya’s westy’s others even Chris’s new baby girl!

Carl stop being a such a hypocrite and DO a little to preserve this word (family)…
Just dropping in to say hi to every one.  Keep safe
Ian B (The favourite coach driver)

do ya remember him (Chris N,F,Y 2007) ha” ha”

Hi Lyndal  …..  This is really both comment and question.  Firstly, thanks for publishing my earlier email to you. I did mention my concerns about the risks involved that could come from dangerous ”payback” if a particularly aggressive tailgating truck driver for example, gets enraged by a  motorist  photographing their truck.

Despite that comment, I think that you are bravely putting necessary attention on a problem that has been ‘too hard’ for our lawmakers and lawmen for too many decades.

And before anybody jumps down my throat about ‘picking on truckies’, as well as being a transport historian/researcher I have driven buses in two states and am well aware that cars tailgate cars, motorbikes and even my buses (how intelligent was that!), its not just truck drivers. Also cars, vans, motorbikes and cyclists do amazing acts of risk around large vehicles of all types.

So to my question  …..  As well as trying to address the problem of tailgating, this site provides me with excellent support on my arguments to governments that they focus too much on crashes and traffic infringements, while there is a much bigger world of risk-taking out there that they don’t take into account.

And despite the fact that some of the claims on this site will be flawed in that the  people will be telling only their sometimes unreliable account of the story, it doesn’t change the fact of highlighting the numbers of problems out there every day.

Getting back to truckies, I know of one who tragically died trying to avoid a dangerously overtaking car from the opposite direction. This man should not have had to die like that, yet if it wasn’t for other people taking evasive actions, the road death toll could be 3-5 or more times higher than it is.

So pulling out in front of others at T-junctions, dangerous overtaking, corner cutting on blind corners, its all out there, and by all ages of drivers and all types of vehicles - mums, dads, grandparents, brothers and sisters, all playing dodgems.

I have just put this into a letter to Minister for Transport Albanese and am wondering if Lyndal has thoughts of expanding this site to allow people to register all these unsafe actions?  If not, I am considering creating a similar site, and at least we could provide links.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers to this issue of so much unsafe activity on our roads, and I know that despite my best efforts, I can still make a mistake that means risk. But I do know, like Lyndal, it cannot continue to be overlooked by politicians and their agencies as it has for decades.  Thanks for the oppprtunity of airing these thoughts.
Cheers Peter Mac

Hello Lyndal  …..  as you know and I have passed comment, I am now getting very passionate about this and this site and all the wonderful things that you and others are trying to achieve on here.

I have been giving many of the comments a lot of thought and from what I have READ and can UNDERSTAND, there is a need to really get something worked out and put to the state/territory governments and even the FEDERAL government.

I have come up with an idea. Really when you think about it, all that’s needed here is to go right back to the beginning and the basics of teaching drivers and ask them this question first…….WHY DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE A LICENCE and the PRIVILIGE TO DRIVE.  I can almost say that 90% of people think that because they are of age its their RIGHT not PRIVILAGE to have a license and to drive.  Well in saying that there is the beginning of confusion and disarray and to me that’s the wrong attitude. 

My idea is to teach young people to drive properly.  I thought of a title.   Look at my last name (Willoughby) take the first few letters and with that we can have  LEARN WILLYS WAY NOT THE SILLY WAY!

In the transport industry there are restrictions set down by insurance companies for the age that you can drive trucks and to be insured so why isn’t this applied to the general motorist as well?

You know why its all about the MIGHTY DOLLAR and without they cant function. My way of thinking is that if there was restriction placed by insurance companies there would be less accidents and lower insurances I think commonsense prevails here.

Also another thing that gets me going is the fact that there are to many people out there teaching others to drive and they are only teaching them their bad habits and I have seen many occasions of that at different times for example go to many shopping centre car parks on weekends when they are empty and you will almost always see someone there teaching someone how to drive.

Why do we have DRIVING SCHOOLS but that’s another point.  These so called schools have a lot to answer for as well.  I can give you some very good examples of what some of them do.  I don’t care if I get them upset over this but its really getting beyond a joke as most of the time its a MONEY MAKING issue with them and the prices that they charge are out of control.

Why am I like this you ask me?  Well I put one to a test one day and boy didn’t that open my eyes.  I went in there and asked them about getting my MC license and they wanted me to pay in the excess of $1500.00 dollars for about 5 lessons to learn nothing appropriate in obtaining that class of license.

This was going to be over a 5 week period and all we did there was learn how to drive forward and then backwards and to try to place the two trailers in dock situations and then the last lesson was on the open road and there you learnt to drive in the general traffic and to me that was not what I wanted to learn.

I looked at the guy and asked him how long has he been teaching these so called future drivers and his answer was 2 years and I asked him what does he do for a living during the week and he told me he worked in a warehouse as a storeman. Well with that, I sort of lost the plot and I basically told him what I thought of him and informed him then and there I already had what I was after and had had it for almost as many years as he was alive and with that he didn’t know what to say or do.

So now can you see and understand why my passion is growing here and I am now starting to become more vocal and appreciate your concept here and believe that there is a REAL NEED TO SORT SOMETHING OUT and get the GOVERNMENTS to hopefully deal with this and MAYBE (I use that with hesitation) and are they the ONES that are saying that there needs something done about getting the ROAD TOLL DOWN and getting people to be more accountable for their driving across this nation of ours.

So that brings me to a HUGE QUESTION  ………  WHO IS GOING TO LISTEN AND TRY AND WORK THIS OUT?  How far and how much longer is this country going to go before there is more CARNAGE and DEATHS on our roads?  Who is going to sit up and LISTEN and DO something about this.

Lyndal I for one am here and willing to really voice myself over this and given time and explanations and what ever it takes HOPEFULLY we can get the message through to someone who genuinely cares and is willing to take something in and MAYBE do something about it all.

Like I said in the beginning lets go back to the basics and the teachings and YES LETS GET IT RIGHT and then we can all have that PRIVILAGE TO DRIVE. I have many ideas over how we can start and you know really when you think about isn’t everything that we do today started with an IDEA that someone came up with. And what was the first thing that comes to mind. FIRE followed by the wheel. Two of the greatest ideas known to mankind. So there is now room once again for ideas and yes lets hope we can get this through to someone.   Sorry to bore you but like I said I have the time and passion now for this cause.

Richie Willoughby

Hi Richie  ….. apologies for the length of time taken to put your letter on the site.  Your idea has great merit and yes – every contribution, idea, suggestion and opinion helps in some way.  About a month ago, Chris emailed me the first in a series of back to the basics driving tips for learners which I plan to put on the revamped COASTTOCOAST100 website in the very near future so please  …..  go your hardest  ….. keep those ideas coming.  We could all benefit from your knowledge and experience.

Kind regards
Lyndal

I just want to know how you verify complaints are true and not made up or are the result of car drivers not knowing correct laws?  Otherwise I agree with the site’s idea.
Colin

Hi Colin  …..  thanks for all your excellent contributions to the site!  With regard to your question – quite simply - we don’t know whether the reports are true or not. Trucking companies however do know their driver’s and so we simply forward the Report a Truckie reports onto the companies to investigate themselves.

In some instances, as a result of our reports, drivers have been sacked on the spot for dangerous driving in the extreme.  In other instances, motorist’s ignorance/poor behavior has been the cause of the incident and companies realize this too. 

Overall, the service we provide serves to highlight to irresponsible truck drivers the need to think twice before they execute intimidating driving behavior. If a company receives one Report a Truckie report for a particular driver then that driver should be given the opportunity to give an account of his side of the story however, if a trucking company receives multiple reports about a driver from different motorists over a period of time, then they obviously have a problem.

These reports also provide invaluable data to us with regard to which companies have the best and worst driving records, which companies care and which ones don’t, times when aggressive driving is more likely to occur and where.  The object here is to save lives - not to malign truckies.  Hope this information helps answer your questions.

Kind regards
Lyndal

Hi Lyndal  …..  I was wondering if there was an area on your site where we could report a “Good” truckie/coach driver??  Would save the angst from those who believe that this site is only for ‘truckie bashing’!!  Also, I would like to publicly say a ‘thank-you’ to my favorite coach driver, who has driven me 250kms each way, once a week for the past 6mths with never a problem (except that the bus broke down once, and he had to pull over in a road named Cemetery Road - I hoped it wasn’t the start of a bad day!!), always vigilant, smiling, and very professional.  Just a thought,
Regards Fiona
Tenterfield, NSW

That wouldn’t be Countrylink Coach Driver Ian would it Fiona?  Lovely man, VERY professional and a regular contributor to this site.  The Report a Truckie feature on the website is also there to report good new stories too.
Kind regards Lyndal

I was watching Today Tonight and I think what you are doing is great!  It’s about time this is brought to the publics attention!!  I have been living in North Brisbane for about 3 yrs. The truck drivers over here are a joke!!   I noticed you said they have one of the hardest jobs around.  Well I do not go with that!!

My buddies back in the UK who have their own companies as truck companies are good drivers and can’t go over a certain speed because it is LAW. What law is their here?  I think sitting on their backsides all day driving like idiots, at speed, tailgating, makes it a hard job for themselves. They are the worst drivers I have ever come across in the world!!

They have no respect for others on the road and it is about time the government put his bloody foot down on these traveling killing machines!!  Good one Ya for making a stand as this is a major problem on our roads and they are getting away with murder!!
Kindest Regards Carl

I sent a heavy email to GTS Transport Mildura regarding very dangerous driving and tailgating over a month ago. Today I emailed again asking why it had not been acknowledged?  I’m an ex semi driver myself and have never seen such aggressive driving of a B Double…..

It reached speeds of 120KMH and made several ill fated efforts to pass me in torrential rain on a very poor highway in darkness. As an ex Truckie, I’m beyond intimidation but I imagine a timid driver could have almost been killed…  Maybe you could get an answer for me as they have ignored me!!!!
Regards Frank

Hi Lyndal  …..  I am very interested in your campaign as my mother and father were tailgated by a huge truck on one of our highways here in WA and it really frightened them.  I have had similar experiences and the trucks blame us when they cannot get to their destinations faster.  They are speed limited here in WA to 100kmphr, however, they have been noted to do faster.
 
Will your campaign be established here in WA?  In your segment on Today Tonight it mentioned that you have stickers which say ” please do not tailgate”  Is it possible to purchase these somewhere?  I would be interested in buying some for my family and their cars.  Would you mind letting me know.  Thank you
 
I wish you all the best. I think it is a wonderful thing you are doing. It is our lives and the lives of our family and friends that are at stake. Well-done! And it is great that some truck companies are behind you. I hope they all see reason and join in the fight to save lives.
 

Hi Cathryn  …..  thank you for your support.  Stickers can be purchased by posting a money order/cheque to PO Box 1230 Ballina.  They are $5 each and come in 2 designs which are featured down the bottom of the homepage.  Postage for up to 10 stickers is $1 so if you want one sticker, that will be $6.  10 stickers will cost $51.  The campaign is nationwide and we are happy for you to report dangerous driving behavior and we will liaise with the trucking company involved on your behalf.

Kind regards and safe driving
Lyndal Denny

Hi, just to introduce myself, I have been driving professionally for 35 odd years, two of which have been as a heavy vehicle instructor. At present am driving a “B” double tanker throughout Queensland and NSW grossing 64.5 tonnes.

For over 10 years I have been trying to educate drivers in sharing the road with heavy vehicles, considering weight, acceleration, manoeuvre-ability and braking distance of same. I started out with a camera taking photos of different situations, but found it difficult (and sometimes dangerous.) I moved onto a video recorder but found that was just as difficult. Last year I found the perfect solution - a stand alone video camera and hard drive unit that can take up to 4 cameras + sound at the same time in real time and up to two weeks.

I have trialed the unit myself and have my first DVD with more to come. There are quite a few of these units on our highways - the more the better - some advertise the fact of camera on board and report a different attitude of motorists around them once aware especially from behind,(tailgating is less frequent).

I have surveyed many drivers and most would have a camera for their own protection (it is legal to record police or RTA - they are probably recording you) some say it is like having big brother with you.

Personally, I prefer to have one on board as an eye witness for the cars that brake hard in front then accuse you of tailgating, for the ones that cut you off, take up your braking room at lights etc, not to mention in the case of an accident, you have an eye witness.

How many accidents involving trucks have been caused by factions beyond the control of the truck driver but he still cops the blame. I will agree that some truckies are a danger on our roads but for every truck driver there are dozens of car drivers and motorcyclists who do not deserve a licence.

I do not profess to know the answers, and will also admit I am not perfect but I am one person trying to do something to benefit all road users and if I can save one life through education then it’s been worth the effort. If you would like any more information please contact me at www.watchtheroad.com.au  Thank you Rob Nielsen.
Hi Rob  ….  great to hear from you!  You know, there are an enormous number of private organisations out there  - like Watchtheroad – like COASTTOCOAST100 trying to unravel the complexities of Australia road safety issues. None of us have all the answers but providing forums for conversations is vital to finding solutions  …..

Your on-board camera is an excellent idea – in terms of both recording dangerous driving practice by others but also as a protective measure for the driver to prove innocence.

Are you planning on introducing the concept to authorities, manufacturers and road users?  I will link your website to mine to give readers another reference source.  Good luck and keep up the great work!
Kind regards
Lyndal

If 20% of trucks tailgate, what is the persentage of cars that tailgate?  What percentage of car drivers don’t know how to drive properly? (e.g. keep left unless overtaking, drive at the speed limit not 20k’s under it)

NO I am not a truck driver but I have seen many car drivers do the wrong thing, *cutting off trucks - they may be a bit slower but take longer to stop *sitting on the right back corner of trucks because they are to scared to pass them or passing trucks on the left.
You should be directing your website to all that tailgate not just trucks.

If people find driving around trucks/any type of large vehicle difficult, they should not have a license. The roads are for all.
Kathy

Hi Kathy, thanks for your contribution.  All the points you raise are valid and continue to be discussed on this site.  Just a point for your consideration  …. Tailgating is an offence in ALL states of Australia – regardless of who tailgates who however, if a car tailgates another car or a car tailgates a truck and a crash occurs the damage will NEVER be as devastating as that  resulting from a tailgating truck hitting the rear of a smaller vehicle.
Kind regards
Lyndal