Your say: Giving our members a voice

Roadside trivia a good idea

I RECENTLY SAW the State Government signs with great questionnaires on the roadside. What do you call a baby echidna? Answer: A puggle. I thought, what a great idea to keep people awake while driving on the road. This was on the way up to Hervey Bay from the Sunshine Coast. I think the State Government should put more of these trivia questions on the roads. It was fun but we only saw a couple of questions on the way. After looking for more we were disappointed to find none.

ANGIE WATERS Palmwoods

Travel insurance recommended

This time last year I had just undergone surgery after arriving home from Paris with a serious leg injury. I was in a brace for nearly six months and am now just about recovered. I must thank RACQ and Tokio Marine Australasian Insurance for providing the support and medical assistance that got me home. A paramedic was flown from Vancouver to Paris and accompanied me to my hospital in Ipswich. I was in excellent care throughout. Wheelchairs were provided at all airports on the way home and vehicles to and from airports, all organised by insurance, helped ease the trauma for my wife and me. My medical support coordinator was superb, providing excellent care and arranging every detail of the trip. All of this emphasised the importance of having good travel insurance. You never know when you need it. By the way, I love your current TV commercials.

BAILEY PASHLEY Carpendale

Call for bigger parking bays

Despite the introduction of much larger vehicles such as SUVs, Ram pickups and other new large tradie-type utes, people movers, vans etc, parking bays in shopping centre car parks are still designed as ‘one size fits all.’ It has become very dangerous to enter and especially exit the car parking spaces due to the size of the above types of vehicles. Also, many people walk in between the rows of cars, push shopping trolleys and using their mobile phones. Why can’t we have the shopping centres upgrade their car parks so the customer walkways are in between the two rows of cars instead of having to walk where the vehicles drive? They should also increase the length of the car spaces to accommodate large and high vehicles. There may be fewer car spaces but the advantages would far outweigh this issue.

DAVID SNELL Main Beach

Mail delivery disturbance

I RECENTLY ASKED an Australia Post contractor to stop beeping his horn repeatedly to alert clients that they had mail delivered. He told me that it was policy. I made inquiries to Australia Post who said that they were under Federal law and not Queensland law. The law in Queensland states that horns can only be used in certain situations. So, are they breaking the law or not? The use of the horn is annoying to residents and upsets dogs.

BILL WOODS Prenzlau

OUR SAY: Queensland road rules state that a vehicle horn may only be used to warn other road users or animals of the vehicle's approach or position, or as part of an anti-theft or alcohol interlock system. When Mr Woods’ concerns were raised with Australia Post a spokesperson said: “Posties play a vital role in delivering to their local communities. They are encouraged to use their horn as necessary to warn approaching vehicles and pedestrians and must always obey relevant state road rules.”

Lack of indicators frustrating

I would like to emphasise the importance of when and how to use indicators. Indicators are there to show a vehicle’s intention. Putting your indicators on while changing lanes is too late. Driving instructors should be training drivers that there must be at least three clicks of the indicator before commencing your intention, such as merging into an adjacent lane. My pet hate is incorrect use of indicators on roundabouts. What’s the use of putting your left indicator on when you have already started exiting the roundabout? The vehicle entering the roundabout has to stop until it realises the vehicle is exiting. This not only congests traffic but causes a lot of anguish had the driver signalled correctly. The left indicator should be turned on when your vehicle is opposite the exit prior to your exit. This way vehicles entering can clearly see your intentions and proceed through roundabout smoothly.

ROB SNEEK Boyne Island

OUR SAY: Under Queensland road rules, when changing lanes drivers must indicate for long enough to warn other road users before moving across. While some driving instructors may teach a ‘three-click’ rule as a guide, it is not a legal requirement. At roundabouts, drivers should indicate left before exiting so that other road users can understand their intentions and respond safely.

Member's early DIY seatblets

Thank you for publishing information on seatbelts in your winter edition. At the age of 19, in late 1957, I purchased ‘aircraft-style’ lap belts and fitted them to my 1956 Holden FE and insisted that anyone riding with me wore them or I would refuse to drive. I fitted seat belts to subsequent cars – 1960 Fiat 1800, 1964 Fiat 2300, 1968 Fiat 125. In 1971, I purchased a new Volvo 144 which came with belts installed. Since 1971 I have owned seven Volvos, so I have been a “bloody Volvo driver” for 55 years! I am now 88 years of age, still driving, have never had a driving accident and I can also claim to have been using seat belts and been a RACV and RACQ member for 68 years. Can anyone beat that record?

KEVIN GREENAWAY Beachmere

Simple invention a life-saver

As someone interested in Australia’s motoring history, I found your story of seatbelts (Winter TRA) fascinating. It is easy to forget – and hard to believe – that there was a time when wearing a seatbelt was optional, yet Australia led the world when Victoria made seatbelt use compulsory in 1970. Today, buckling up is second nature for most of us. I still remember older family members talking about cars without seatbelts and my grandmother putting her arm across us when she slowed quickly in traffic. It’s remarkable to think such a simple invention has saved so many lives and become one of the biggest advances in road safety. One small habit can make such a big difference.

TIM BORTEN Helensvale

Space for full-size tyre

Further to the letter on the topic of full-size spare tyres (Summer TRA). Our 2012 Honda Jazz Vibe came with a space-saver wheel but included a big piece of foam to make the carpet level in the boot.  I found a normal wheel could easily be installed in the wheel well and it still needs a small amount of foam to level up the carpet. Are the car makers saving a few kilograms of weight?  I’d rather have a proper wheel there. There must be many models which can take a full wheel. Check it out.

GRAHAM HYSLOP Mudgeeraba

Drivers behaving badly

I travel the Gore, Newell and Olympic highways to Victoria at least twice a year and have done for the last 57 years. I read Shane Hounslow's letter (Winter TRA) with interest. While I do see occasional instances of poor behaviour by heavy transport drivers, the vast majority, in my experience, are courteous and operate within the law. The worst offending by all drivers by far, is on the Brisbane to Toowoomba to stretch during peak hours. Tailgating of people already over the speed limit and frequent lane changes for little gain seem to be the order of the day. 

STEWART ELDRIDGE Geebung

Rain revelas lights issue

I was travelling to Brisbane on the Bruce Highway when it began raining extremely heavily. I drive an old car with no daytime running lights, so I turned my headlights on and slowed down to about 70km/h. I had great difficulty in seeing the back of the vehicle in front of me due to the rain, so I turned on my hazard lights as well so everyone could see me. What I discovered is that many drivers don’t turn their headlights on as their vehicle is equipped with automatic daytime running lights. Many drivers do not realise that their taillights are not illuminated unless they switch on their headlights. An education program to inform the public of this potentially dangerous situation would be a good idea.

JOHN ZAMMIT Rockhampton

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