Your views: Summer 2023-24

Feedback on Scandi lessons

I read the letter “Scandi lessons” (Spring edition). As a truck driver for over 40 years, my observation is that the problem drivers are not the ones driving around the speed limit. It’s the slower ones driving without confidence, usually unaware of their current surroundings. Dropping the speed limit to 80km/h would destroy the economy. Trucks leaving Hobart every day to deliver to the northwest would not be able to complete the job, and it would turn the job into a two-day trip, which would double the freight cost. Add to that, you wouldn’t get drivers to do it, because they deserve to be at home at night with their loved ones, just like everyone else. Constant berating of drivers, telling them that if they go anywhere near the speed limit they will inevitably die, is doing nothing. Giving drivers usable skills and building their confidence and awareness of surroundings is essential to anyone out on the roads. Perhaps we could start with driving on the left unless overtaking.

Jeff Elliot

I agree with the author of the letter “Scandi lessons” that we should drop the speed limit. It should be 80km/h on country roads, excepting the Midland/ Bass Highway divided roads. It is ridiculous to have signage on country roads like the ones to Strathgordon, Dunalley and the East Coast that say “100 changing conditions”. I drive a school bus, ride a motorcycle and have had a driving licence for 50 years. Rarely can you do 90/100 on those roads. I see dangerous driving everywhere: P-platers going way too fast and erratic, drivers not indicating, tailgating and more. Authorities need to send out a severe message and follow up with penalties. People caught hooning and speeding should lose their licence and vehicle. I do not support the premise that older vehicles are unsafe. Any vehicle driven by a thoughtless inconsiderate impatient egotistical driver is unsafe. Some of the latest-model cars have design features that defy common sense. Some have headlights that blind and indicators that blend in with a brighter brake light that renders them almost invisible. Motoring standards are slipping and authorities who should be checking are either overworked or non-existent.

Nick Gill

Ill-considered intersection

I wholeheartedly support Geoff Wells’ letter (Spring edition) re the atrocious intersection of Domain Highway and Brooker Highway for drivers travelling north. This is easily the most ill-considered piece of road building in Hobart and in need of urgent remediation. Every time I drive north along the Brooker, I merge into the right lane when approaching that intersection so that cars entering from Lower Domain Highway can merge and some of the queue can clear. In the afternoons, the queue is astonishingly long. I realise the overpass would need serious work to add a merging lane for those cars entering the Brooker, but it should be done anyway. If not, as a minimum, forcing northbound Brooker traffic to only use the right lane would certainly solve some issues (when traffic is light). Sadly, that isn’t in the evening peak when both roads are full. Fixing this needs to be a top priority for the state government. I urge RACT to lobby for this.

Adam Fry

It is the most frustrating occurrence to be waiting to enter the Brooker Highway but stopped by one vehicle using the outside lane preventing cars from entering and feeding into the Brooker. Part of the problem seems to be the geography with the overpass preventing the feed in lane being extended further north. Whatever the reason, it is a bad road design exasperating the situation.

Jeff Byerley

Sincere thanks

Once again my wife and I would like to congratulate the Roadside Service person Jon who attended to our problem recently. Great attitude and extremely knowledgeable with suggestions that saw our vehicle back on the road without any hassle. Please pass on our sincere thanks.

Brian and Judy Walker