Vote for Anna...

[RonK]

Premier Anna Bligh today promised to introduce a new dangerous driving law for the protection of cyclists if re-elected.

Would like to see a similar commitment from the other side...

[Rhubarb]

Do you have any more info on that, eg link to the quote or policy detail etc?

[RonK]

Do you have any more info on that, eg link to the quote or policy detail etc?

Nope, just her utterances on the news last night...

Edit: Well it wasn't hard to find. Here is the media release.

Here is the policy statement.

And here is the announcement:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB3fXPIZtuM&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

[Comedian]

Here is the link to the whole story.

I applaud the change to legislation but I think strict liability would be far more effective, and is what is needed. Motorists need to know that if they kill someone with a car they are guilty and will go to gaol just like any other murder.

[high_tea]

Not that strict liability means anything of the sort, but yeah, this does nothing to solve the problem of the police being unwilling or unable to make out this sort of offence.

BTW there's a specific offence: causing death by dangerous driving. Something like that.

[Max]

I'd like to see current laws enforced before getting excited about a new law that won't be enforced.

Max


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[find_bruce]

Gee, a politician who has been in parliament since 1995, Premier of Qld since 2007, promises just before an election that if you vote for me, life will be better for you ...

How many bridges, railways, airports & other infrastructure have been promised in the lead-up to an election that never happen ?

Colour me cynical, but I will believe it when, or should I say if, it ever happens.

[Oxford]

I'd like to see current laws enforced before getting excited about a new law that won't be enforced.

Max


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my thoughts too. don't introduce a new law until you can commit to enforcing the current laws. bugger that, how about some real punishments for offences that really hurt, that will make a motorist think.

all I heard was blah blah blah blah blah.

[RonK]

Perhaps, but what will the other side do to protect cyclists and promote safe cycling? Do they even have a policy?

Campbell Newman has always found votes in building roads and tunnels to funnel even more traffic into the city. The only politician from the right I've seen on a bike was Bruce Flegg.

I'm all ears Campbell.


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[ekib]

Comments,

as per previous posters,
- Election time promise, ...
- Weekend before Bike Week ...
and questions,
when and if the new law were introduced,

would it actually achieve anything ?
and
would it make cycling any better or safer?
and would it encourage more people to cycle?

Ekib

[Comedian]

Comments,

as per previous posters,
- Election time promise, ...
- Weekend before Bike Week ...
and questions,
when and if the new law were introduced,

would it actually achieve anything ?
and
would it make cycling any better or safer?
and would it encourage more people to cycle?

Ekib

I know there are issues with strict liability. None the less, if it's out there then people just know if they whack a ped or biker they are in trouble. Now they just SMIDSY their way out.

[PawPaw]

The timing is a gutter level insult to every cyclist who has been seriously injured or killed since she has been Premier.
If she just woke up that cyclists need protection, and that now is a good time to maybe act, well make a "promise", like no carbon tax, then she is the callous opportunistic wnkr I've always thought since she married her partner of 20+ years when Beattie made it clear he would stepping down.

[Comedian]

The timing is a gutter level insult to every cyclist who has been seriously injured or killed since she has been Premier.
If she just woke up that cyclists need protection, and that now is a good time to maybe act, well make a "promise", like no carbon tax, then she is the callous opportunistic wnkr I've always thought since she married her partner of 20+ years when Beattie made it clear he would stepping down.

So mate, can you tell us what you really think about her? Don't hold back.

[martinjs]

Seems to be a bit of Politics being discussed here!

Martin

[Mulger bill]

I'll vote for Anna.

Problem is, I've been ineligible to vote up there since Joh left the building...

Ity mightn't be much and it might be late but at least it's something that might be able to be hawked around the other states.

[high_tea]

The best thing about this announcement is that it suggests that cyclists have become electorally significant. The actual substance: not much there, for mine. Hey, you've got to start somewhere. I wonder what BQ,AGF,SCA etc make of this. Did any of them suggest it, for that matter?

[heanous]

^^^ I don't think so, seems like an opportunistic feel good announcement conveniently delivered on the commencement of Bike Week here in Brisbane. Call me cynical, but I've heard enough 'announcements' and 'commitments' and 'delivering' from the current state govt to last me another lifetime.

[grasshopper]

The best thing about this announcement is that it suggests that cyclists have become electorally significant. The actual substance: not much there, for mine. Hey, you've got to start somewhere. I wonder what BQ,AGF,SCA etc make of this. Did any of them suggest it, for that matter?

MUARC suggested a look at strict liability a couple of years ago, and AGF got on board last month, when it was discussed here. Even BV begrudgingly acknowledged a need for more legal protection last week, so I think you're right; the ground is shifting and the wheels are groaning in to action. Even the discussion canvases the revolutionary concept that drivers might have responsibilities, as well as rights.

[Oxford]

funny how this is suddenly an issue now, its been an issue for a long time.

I hate how elections bring out the desperation in politicians. and what's worse is the way they all weasel out of these promises post election. there should be a law that election promises are personally binding, we'd see a different landscape on the hustings then.

would this law if brought in, change the mind of my wife and make her happy that its now safe for me to cycle commute? absolutely not! so would this law work? absolutely not! so is it worth anything to me. absolutely not!

[il padrone]

What's your view on this, Womble ?? Is it a good step in your view? (Not your 1m rule I know)

[InTheWoods]

Won't it be a step up from the current situation, where as long as the motorist doesn't hit you, or cause you to take action to avoid a collision, the police won't do anything apart from maybe speak to the driver? If there is a specific rule against reckless driving near cyclists, our video evidence may turn out to be a lot more effective.

I don't think there's any single magic bullet here. But surely a specific rule about driving recklessly near cyclists is one positive step in the right direction? On its own it won't make a significant difference but a combination of a whole lot of things (eg. such as better driver education/testing) can reduce the risks.

[The 2nd Womble]

The best thing about this announcement is that it suggests that cyclists have become electorally significant. The actual substance: not much there, for mine. Hey, you've got to start somewhere. I wonder what BQ,AGF,SCA etc make of this. Did any of them suggest it, for that matter?

Yes, yes we did. Hopefully it's the safe passing/strictish liability legislation we've been pushing for but who knows? No detail. SCA IS 50/50 here:
Yea's-better late than never if (if) you win Anna
Nay's-9 Queenslanders lost in the 12 months leading up to the election everyones been talking about,
cheap vote grab and from a cyclist of all people(!)
no content whatsoever as yet despite us asking repeatedly (says dodgy to us),
and as said yet again here, enforce the current laws so everyone takes you seriously!

Mind you, Campbell seems to gold cyclists in about as much contempt as Queenslanders do for his deranged wife. And no policy oitline from them at all regarsing anything road related that I know of.

[The 2nd Womble]

Provided Labor wins - and Can botch Campbell is doing all he can to help them do so - and the QPS play ball, (2 mighty big if's) we'll be going nuts on the sofa in the Womble's warren. The enforcement is a huge concern. And what guidelines for constituting an offence without video footage if a cyclist wants to report an act of aggression. We want to see details people!

[high_tea]

Won't it be a step up from the current situation, where as long as the motorist doesn't hit you, or cause you to take action to avoid a collision, the police won't do anything apart from maybe speak to the driver? If there is a specific rule against reckless driving near cyclists, our video evidence may turn out to be a lot more effective.

I don't think there's any single magic bullet here. But surely a specific rule about driving recklessly near cyclists is one positive step in the right direction? On its own it won't make a significant difference but a combination of a whole lot of things (eg. such as better driver education/testing) can reduce the risks.

p7 of the policy document RonK linked to states:

we will amend the Criminal Code offence of Dangerous Driving to include a specific provision which will increase the penalty if the dangerous driving deliberately or recklessly endangers a cyclist. The penalties will increase from a maximum 200 penalty units ($20,000) or 3 years imprisonment to a
maximum penalty of 400 penalty units ($40,000) or 5 years imprisonment under the new provision.

So, no specific offence, just a circumstance of aggravation to dangerous driving. Not a bad thing, but it doesn't change the standard of behaviour one bit. It just increases the penalties.

[molly]

Great choice we have, both Bligh and Newman waste obscene amounts of money on stuff-ups (Queensland Health, Traverston Dam, Clem 7, Go-Between Bridge) and neither will do anything about real issues (public transport/moving away from car-centric Brisbane, Great Barrier Reef, protecting farmers/mining issues etc)

I am just wondering what I can do to oppose this stupid system of unaccountability, complete backflips and essentially lying/skirting the truth, while slinging mud at any opposition.

Voting based on any one pre-election promise (in light of all australian policians performances lately) is strange to me.