Safe Speed Forums

Our local broadsheet newspaper here in Christchurch, New Zealand carries this half page advert:

"Vehicle speeds have
dropped in the last 12 months


Deaths on our roads have
dropped in the last 12 months



You decide if they equate."


which probably shows the same lack of imagination on the part of the NZ authorities as in the UK. Having driven extensively in both countries I can report that drivers here are much slower than their UK counterparts - but also far worse - crashes below the speed limit are frequent (I normally come across one every couple of weeks) and rubbernecking suggests virtually all these are the result of inattention/tailgating and nothing to do with exceeding the limit. Be warned if you come for a holiday....expect the unexpected. Must go - time to light up the barbie.

_________________
jaykay in NZ

And my tiger repellant belt has been 100% succesful. I have not been eaten alive by a single tiger in the last year.

Ah, the old logical fallacy, "post hoc, ergo propter hoc" - in other words, because B happened after A, B must automatically be a result of A. As used by politicians everywhere.

In my experience (I visited last year), many Kiwis are petrolheads at heart even though they do obey the low speed limits. I was parked up at a scenic lookout overlooking Lyttelton Harbour and the chap in the next car wanted to point his car the other way. But a three point turn wasn't enough, he had to do a couple of doughnuts first, in close proximity to the other parked cars! Expect the unexpected, indeed.

At least the advert finishes with, "You decide." In which case, fine - I decide that there is probably no connection at all.

Cut out the advert, write "No, they don't equate, see www.safespeed.org.uk for details" on it and post it to your MP?

"The total number of cars on the road has increased over the last 12 months

Deaths on our roads have dropped in the last 12 months"

...so to save more lives, we need more cars

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

How about a safe speed advert...
"Number of speed cameras have
increased in the last 12 months


Deaths on our roads have
increased in the last 12 months



You decide if they equate."