Huge crash in Geelong Sat Night.

[Dale61]

In light of the Noble Park incident, there was a massive smash in Geelong late Sat night.

Whilst sitting fixing a pc, there was these two almight bangs, which sounded like they were just outside the front door, but further investigation found a car (Ford wagon) had crashed through the front doors of a local pizza shop.

What caused the Ford - carrying a young family of four (2 kids; 4 yo and another under 12 months, Mum and Dad) to come to a stop there, was it had been hit by a car driven by a P-plater running a red light.

Being so close, I raced down there (only about 60 metres away) to help out, and ended up directing traffic until the police arrived.

On this intersection is a Safeway, and about 12 people actually saw the impact. The P-plater actually had the audacity to try and say he didn't run the red, but the first thing most of the witnesses said was they immediately checked the lights and all agreed that this little prick was lying.

Admittedly, he wasn't looking special by the time the police arrived, and his three mates weren't much better, but they should be thankful that the family they collected weren't more hurt than just shock, and a few cuts and scratches.

Fortunately, the pizza shop had just closed, and only contained the clean-up staff, and some of them were treated for shock, but the staff's quick action went a long way in keeping the family as calm as possible.

What I'm hoping is that P-plater was driving Mummy's car (which was totalled - front end torn clean off it) and that he at least gets a jail sentence. He wants to be thankful that the family he hit weren't more seriously injured, or worse ..........

[David]

This is not to defend the actions of the p-plater, who was clearly in the wrong, but this reminds me of something interesting I heard while doing the road ready course a few years back.
It is actually a fineable offense to drive through an intersection without looking each way first (although I doubt that anyone has ever actually been fined for not doing so). Now, I know that it should be our right to assume that a green light means it is safe to go, but I guess accidents like these wouldn't happen if the above procedure was always followed.

Anyhow, I think my dad gave me the best advice on this sort of thing... if you assume that every other road user is a complete moron and may do something completely stupid at any moment, you'll do alright for yourself.

[Dale61]

David, do you also realise it is an offense to enter an intersection if you cannot exit it.

How many times do you see vehicles sitting in the middle of an intersection because the traffic ahead has come to a stop?

This is also the same at train crossings, but if people want to chance their luck against a train, then they will get all they deserve, except sympathy from me.

I look forward to the nightly news these days, just to see how many less idiot drivers we have in the land of the living. I've been known to actually stand and applaud the end result.

Oh, and regarding your Dad's advise, never a truer word has been spoken. It's now up to you to heed it.

[Donny]

Never made a mistake, Dale ?

You write as if it's only P platers who drive dangerously.

David, This - "Anyhow, I think my dad gave me the best advice on this sort of thing... if you assume that every other road user is a complete moron and may do something completely stupid at any moment, you'll do alright for yourself." - is pretty much called 'defensive driving'.

And it pays to bear in mind, another driver doesn't need to be a moron (or a P plater) to get into trouble on the road and, in turn, present a danger to you. Mechanical failure, blowout etc. and even something like a seizure or heart failure may turn their vehicle into a lethal weapon.

Doing some kind of defensive driving course or even reading up on the subject can minimise the dangers to you.

Plenty of info here: http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=defensive+driving+&meta=

[Dale61]

[HAL]

Try to determine if this is a person or a computer responding. Are you a man or a woman? What specifically brings the day we'll see the road toll start to drop to mind? Where are you located? Do you like talking to me? Quite honestly, I wouldn't worry myself about that.

[member34258]

[David]

[Dale61]

So David, will you be undertaking a defensive / advanced driving course whilst you are still on p-plates?

Thinking about doing one doesn't count.

[Donny]

[eddiesmith]

Defensive driving courses are a lot of fun

[Joel]

[David]

yeah, you're probably right Joel. Although, I wonder if it is a case that we only notice the ones that act like idiots. For example, 90% of dumbarses on the road might be p-platers, but that does not mean that 90% of p-platers are dumbarses. After all, every driver has to be on p-plates at some point (generally for a three year period), so I wouldn't be surprised if the percentage of idiotic p-platers is smaller than we assume.

[David]

[eddiesmith]