17th July 2006
Premier Steve Bracks
Parliament of Victorian
Parliament House
Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3800
Peter Thomson / reference to accident at Korumburra 28/05/06 killing of Glenda Thomson, Michelle Hurst (Sisters), and maiming of Tara Wells/Thomson.
Please consider my following recommendations to amend the laws in relation to road safety and driver training. My aim is to recalibrate the minds of Victorians and Australians alike. From the deadly ways we have become accustomed to. A car is very similar to a bullet, but thousands of times larger, both are made of metal and in the wrong hands are lethal weapons. Adjustments to laws and penalties need to happen, (Mostly it is a good system). But the judges need to be strong. Not gutless.
1. Drink Drivers:
Being able to drive after a major accident, because they are just below .15 (not mentioning killing someone) needs changing.
It is a danger to others and a bad example to people that think they might get away with it. If you walked down the street with a registered gun and accidentally killed someone, you would be put on remand.
2. Driver Training:
To start young drivers on 120 hours log booked on the roads with L plates with 10% of these hours spent on a large flat skid pan area with witches' hats, to learn:
- Swerve recovery and vehicle behaviour
- Wet braking and cornering
- Cornering with gravel on bitumen
Eg. A pilot program could be at Gippsland motor sport complex, just starting now.
To reduce accidents, injuries and deaths, have a motor sport complex, a circuit area and a drag strip. Use this track to test your car and yourself have time trials or rivalries with mates in a safe environment. At a low cost to the users eg. $20-$30.
I would like to try and recalibrate the minds of younger drivers, that the roads are used to get people from A to B and to respect all others using the roads.
If you want to have go, have a go on a track.
3. Advertising:
(i). Before you turn the key think of someone you love and what it would be like if they were taken and you would never see them a again.
(ii).if you can't think of someone you love think of how long you'll be in prison breaking up rocks when the laws change.
4. Funding:
Could come from: 3km over speed limit levy surplus, TAC money saved from:
- Death and injury payouts
- Rehabilitation
- Psychology
- Physiotherapy
5. Summary:
I had considered changes to road safety legislation prior to the accident but was at a loss with what I could do. I am saying this because when I was younger, I did some very stupid things in cars. Later on after I had done these things I realised how stupid I was, now it has done a full circle and come back to haunt me.
I have lost my beautiful wife - Glenie May
Her beloved sister - Michelle
And my lovely daughter Tara has been maimed.
I am writing to you in the hope that some good may come of this and save one or even thousands of others? No family should go through the same nightmare as mine because of one stupid act.
Hoping you will respond.
Sincerely
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