Your say: Giving members a voice

Island is natural habitat for dingoes

Not wanting to actually holiday on Fraser Island (K’gari) but having a curious desire to visit the highly acclaimed heritage-listed, largest sand island in the world, I embarked on an organised one-day coach tour which was absolutely wonderful. We treated the dingoes’ territory with caution and respect as it is their habitat, and we were visiting where they have a right to be. It’s a bit like sharks in the ocean – if you want to stay safe, why not stick to the heavily populated areas and swim between the flags. The sea is the sharks’ domain and we humans are encroaching in their space. Plus, would you wittingly swim in a crocodile-infested river and risk having life and limb snapped up? Perhaps these creatures feel their safety is threatened and react accordingly when they see or sense human interlopers in their environment. Common sense should prevail, but unfortunately like so many things of the past, e.g. common courtesy, it is just not so common anymore.

JULIE BERRY, MURGON

Wild animals mus be respected

Having read a number of calls for dingoes to be removed from K’gari due to the danger they pose to people, I find it necessary to state my opposition to such a move. I was a lucky regular visitor to the island in the late ’70s and early ’80s.The dingoes were everywhere then. There were no fences and no restricted areas, just a respect for the wildlife that is there. We often had dingoes around the camp site, mainly at Waddy point, but always ensured foodstuffs and waste were stored well out of reach and in sealed containers. We never fed the dingoes or attempted having photos taken with them. We never had a problem other than paw prints around the camp. Calling for the removal of dingoes from K’gari is nothing more than highlighting the incompetence of the people going there. Therefore, in conclusion, I can only call for a total ban on people going there.

STEVE THOMPSON, CLEVELAND

Riders ignoring e-bike rules

Living on the Gold Coast, I’ve noticed that e-bikes can be a real problem. To be legal, e-bikes must be pedal-assisted, have maximum motor power of 250 watts, no throttle is allowed, and the maximum motor-assisted speed is 25km/h, among other things. Every day I see e-bike riders doing speeds well exceeding 25km/h, two and even three people on them, no helmets, using phones, running red lights, ignoring road rules etc. The police are not bothering or are unable to do anything to enforce the rules as riders are unidentifiable and just disappear up the nearest alleyway. If they are illegal, they are classed as motorcycles not e-bikes. E-bikes are a great way to get around but there are rules for a reason.

JOHN BRADLEY, BURLEIGH WATERS

Public transport parking problem

With the introduction of 50-cent public transport fares, our political representatives of both parties have failed to think through the whole process and ramifications. While patronage has increased, everyone who doesn’t use the public system is subsiding the service one way or another. Is that fair for everyone? I think not. It would be fairer for patrons to be charged a fair rate and not be subsidised by the rest of the community. Another development has been with people driving to and parking anywhere and everywhere near a bus stop to catch their 50-cent ride. An issue in my area is that people are parking for free in areas designated for small complexes including patient parking at doctor surgeries. People with disabilities are forced to park at distances from the surgery causing them great inconvenience and angst and have been known to receive parking infringements. Thanks to the selfish and inconsiderate people, and our political parties who are only interested in being reelected.

ROB MCGREGOR, CARINDALE

Ticking off new-car checklist

There is now a plethora of new, foreign cars for sale in Australia. RACQ does a good job of reviewing them in each issue of this magazine, plus the e-newsletters. These reviews give lots of important information on price and the technical details, such as battery, crash rating, power, cylinders, driving smoothness, range and an overall assessment for or against the model. However, for me, as a recent buyer, other important considerations were spare tyre (increasingly unavailable), road clearance (for country driving and even the speed bumps in shopping centres), delivery times (when not available from the showroom), local servicing, availability of spares (especially if war breaks out), and colours (other than black or white). The demise of Australian car manufacturing, with its potential for export to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, is a national tragedy. Car manufacturing would revive our declining manufacturing sector.

KEN MOORE, CHAPEL HILL

Slip road rules reminder

Many signal-controlled intersections incorporate slip lanes signed ‘Turn left at any time with care’. Unfortunately, many drivers do not respect the rights of pedestrians when using such lanes. Queensland road rules state: “If you are turning left using a slip lane, you must also give way to any pedestrian and bicycle or personal mobility device rider on or entering the slip lane”. It is very easy for drivers to think, I am in a hurry and the pedestrian can wait a few seconds. Roads are busy most of the time and pedestrians, being the most vulnerable, will not force their right of way. Do give them a go as we all have a right to reach our destination on time and safely.

FRANKLIN REDSELL, DURACK

Space-saver tyre suggestions

I would like to bring something to the attention of all other members who are driving around with a temporary spare wheel, aka ‘space-saver tyre’. If your spare is more than 10 years old, even if never used, it should be replaced. If you have used it and accumulated more than 300km, it should also be replaced. The same goes if you have exceeded the maximum speed rating of 80km/h for a sustained period. The problem that may be encountered when replacing the tyre is unavailability in Australia. Not many sizes are sold by the tyre retailers and if they are the cost could be $300–$400. I tried to get a T135/90-17R for my 2012 Kia Grand Carnival and none were available for sale anywhere. I finally sourced one from a wreckers that was 15 years old but at least it wasn’t badly deteriorated like mine was. Check your spare today and start doing some research on availability so you are not left at risk. Also check the tyre pressure. It will more than likely be low as these tyres are inflated to around 60psi and don’t hold for that long.

DARIO POSAVAC, BRACKEN RIDGE

Brake lights part warning

I have just discovered what I believe is a little-known fact but could be very important. I recently observed that the brake lights on my Nissan Patrol were permanently on. Now this normally could cause a flat battery. Mine was caused by a little piece of plastic that operates the brake-light switch which had perished and fallen on the floor. If I had been towing my caravan, which was to happen a week later, this would have caused the electric van brakes to come on. This, of course, could be very dangerous. The spare-parts guys told me they sell a lot of these, so the potential is quite great for this occurrence, particularly on older vehicles

JOHN SEECK,W AMURAN

Vehicles must stop at 'stop' sign

My understanding is that motorists must come to a complete stop at the white line adjacent to a stop sign. This means that if there is a queue of cars at the stop sign and the first car moves off, each following car must move forward and stop at the white line before proceeding. In the past I have seen police issuing fines for breeches of this rule. However, there are two stop signs on major traffic routes I use almost daily where almost no one stops after the first car moves off (if it is clear to proceed). My concern is that when I move forward and stop at the white line, that someone, not expecting me to stop, will collide with the rear of my vehicle. There have been a few close calls and I have seen collisions occur with other unfortunate motorists. Please clarify the requirements. I am loathe to unleash the police on poor unfortunate motorists who already have enough expenses, however a publicity campaign may be in order.

STEWART ELDRIDGE, GEEBUNG

OUR SAY: ALL vehicles must come to a complete stop at a 'stop' sign and obey give-way rules, even if they are in a line of vehicles. The rule ensures that each driver has a clear view of the intersection and can safely assess whether they can proceed.

Call for action on noisy vehicles

I fully agree with calls for law reforms and expansion of hooning laws and police to enforce the laws (Autumn TRA). There is an important issue that RACQ did not mention – noise hoons who modify their exhaust system to far exceed noise-emission limits, for motorcycles, cars and trucks, as well as truckers who use engine-brakes in built-up areas. This excessive and unnecessary traffic noise is causing additional daily living stress that no one needs. Police should crack down on noise hoons by using unmarked car patrols, staking out certain locations, or using automated cameras like mobile phone cameras to detect and log noisy vehicles. The penalties for all hoons need to be increased to include permanent confiscation of vehicles for repeat offenders.

ROD MOULD, BILINGA

RACQ CLUBHOUSE: Email roadahead@racq.com.au. Mail The Road Ahead, PO Box 4, Springwood, Qld 4127. Please include name and address. Letters will not receive an individual reply and should be no more than 120 words.