In a fine state

When Victoria’s population was half the size, five times as many people died on the state’s roads.

Senior members of the Victorian constabulary recently joined with road safety experts and academics in proclaiming their shared intention to see the state’s road toll reduced to zero, a proposition that if taken at face value speaks of a wonderful optimism. Back in the Seventies, when the Garden State’s population was half what it is today, it was a rare year when at least 1000 people did not die on the roads, so 2018’s tally of 211 represents a remarkable achievement in every sense. Indeed, one might even conclude that further reductions can only be incremental — unless, of course, our masters in Spring Street ban the private use of vehicles altogether.

One might also conclude that, having won the traffic-death war, Victoria Police might want to declare victory and switch some manpower — sorry, personpower, this is Andrewsstan on the Yarra, don’t forget — from mailing out fine notices to addressing areas of more immediate public concern. Gangs of violent youths kicking in doors at 1am and rioting on beaches spring immediately to mind.

Apparently Queensland law enforcement authorities are following the same road as their southern cousins, but unlike Victoria, where we believe everything the Labor government tells us, there remain cynics who see hefty fines for being 3km-per-hour over the limit as having a lot more to do with revenue than a reverence for human life. Friend of Quadrant and frequent contributor Geoffrey Luck is one such specimen. Suspicion of a state-sponsored shakedown scheme incited his muse:

Radar Gun

Police always wait at the bottom of a hill
Hide behind trees chanting “Speed will kill”
They really don’t care about me or you
All they want is the revenue.