ATTITUDE CHANGE NEEDED
THE tragic events on our roads in the past week have once again seen pleas from police, the Road Safety Advisory Council and the RACT for drivers to take care and calls for urgent upgrades to road infrastructure.
It's all very commendable, but I despair it will not make any difference whatsoever as there is one ingredient that has not changed and will probably never change.
It's called attitude.
Between 2011 and 2020 a total of 321 people died in crashes on our roads with the lowest number of 24 in 2011 and the highest of 36 in 2016 and 2020 with an overall average of 32.
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In the same period there were 2690 serious injuries with the lowest at 241 in 2012 and the highest of 298 in 2015 for an overall average of 269.
In short, in 10 years there has been no progress towards achieving the RSAC objective of TOWARDS ZERO.
The statistics graph has flatlined.
With many year's experience conducting structured defensive driving courses statewide, I am well past being shocked by the absolute stupidity of drivers who place their fellow drivers in danger, let alone themselves.
On Monday I observed two cars turn right when the lights were red and the green arrow had already come up for the vehicle in front of me to move forward across the intersection.
The only reason a crash was avoided was because the driver in front of me was astute enough to check left and right before moving off.
Despite an increase in the hours required to achieve the privilege to be a licenced driver young drivers, especially some young women, ignore speed limits and like their older and supposedly more experienced counterparts continue to tailgate with a vengeance.
The list of bad driving practices is almost endless, but until drivers take stock of their driving attitude and recognise the possible devastating consequences of their selfish actions I fear we are fighting a losing battle.
Please, please prove me wrong.
Barry Oliver, Newnham.
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THANK YOU
THANKS to LGH Ward 4D, plus kitchen staff for their care and thoughtfulness during my late husband's final days there last month.
The free-to-air recently installed Channel 104 is a great addition, not only for the patients but also those who sometimes need to sit by their bedside.
The beautiful Tasmanian scenery, soothing music and comforting words have been such a blessing to us and I'm sure too many others reading reassurance during difficult days.
D Shellard, Riverside.
LAUNCESTON DEVELOPMENT
ANGIE Lyons compares Launceston's development to that of Melbourne and Sydney, but what a disaster it would be if our beautiful historic low rise city tried to emulate mainland cities. (The Examiner, July 14).
Ms Lyons should take note of the 2011 Gehl Architects Report, a report endorsed and included by Architect Heritage Consultant Paul Davies in his 2018 Launceston Height Study for Launceston City Council. He recommended to "Maintain the historical, low-rise city, and make sure that new areas obtain similar qualities. Protect, develop and refine the qualities that already exist".
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The Gehl Report also said "Launceston is not seen as a city of tall or large buildings, but rather a unique collection of buildings of generally very consistent scale and form that sets Launceston apart from other cities in Australia".
Long may it remain so.
Nobody is opposed to development but any development must be appropriate for the site and location and maintain the unique character of our historical city.
Jim Collier, Legana.
SENATOR ABETZ
YES Mr Abetz, Richard Flanagan, whom you felt compelled to call out, whilst by appearances not having the courage to name him, is a novelist, one of great regard. He is also an experienced investigative journalist of many years experience being published in Australia and internationally, including in London's Daily Telegraph and The New York Times. His exposé on Gunn's pulp mill plot arguably helped to bring down the long time business which had survived on the exploitation of Tasmania's precious forest resources and left the managing director, John Gay, convicted of insider trading.
And further, if a fish farmer wished to critique a novel and displayed such intelligence, thoughtfulness and wit, and had actually read the book, as Flanagan has considered the evidence, I would certainly listen to what he had to say. Especially given I had an interest in this book, as all Tasmanians have an interest in only allowing truly sustainable development to join our community.
And while Abetz assures us of the small footprint of our ocean run salmon farming he neglects to mention the size of the expansions proposed.
We all know that politicians often are voted in thanks to the quality of their spin, which unfortunately does not necessarily indicate the reliable presence of any actual skill in understanding the nuances involved in moving us into the future successfully, yet many of us give them that benefit of the doubt often.
