A Request for Safer Streets

In the past few years the traffic situation in southeast Queensland has become a significant problem.  In addition to congestion, this includes the increasing number of cars speeding and driving aggressively.

This specific trend can be linked in part to the recent growth in the number of cars, which have been modified after manufacture (by local auto shops) to look and sound like race cars.

These modifications include deliberately loud exhaust and stereo sound systems, and conspicuous rear spoilers (invented to keep cars stable at speeds over 200km/hr).

Since their sole purpose is to maximise speed and noise, it should come as no surprise that those operating them tend to drive accordingly, making our roads unsafe for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Hooning is much more commonplace as a result and will only increase unless something effective is done.

This specific problem is able to grow because current Queensland legislation permits the very same car that races at Archerfield Raceway to drive on our neighbourhood streets.

 The relevant Labor MP initially responded that the  "Anti-hooning legislation" now in place (a reactive approach which expands policing powers but places an additional burden on their resources), coupled with expensive tax-payer funded anti-speeding campaigns, would redress any problems related to hooning.

The relevant Shadow Liberal MP suggested their party's  'Hoon watch' program (basically encouraging citizens to report hooning instances - another reactive strategy) was adequate.

 Although the Labor MP has now graciously agreed to take the matter further, the aim of this petition is to:

  "draw attention to this issue so that the State Government will pass legislation prohibiting such racing modifications - including a reasonable limit on stereo system sound output."

It would be a straightforward task to prohibit the types of modifications which are increasingly becoming accepted into the mainstream, yet make our streets unsafe. The simple logic underlying this petition is that race cars belong on raceways not in our neighbourhoods.  

The reality is that neither police nor conscientious citizens can be all places at all times, and therefore these types of preventative strategies are essential because they keep the 'tools' that encourage and enable this type of driving off our roads in the first place.

Please sign** (and even send on to others) if you agree that the above ideas might help make our roads more civilised in the coming years. A significant number of signatures may encourage our politicians to take this issue seriously enough to act.    Cheers.

**please note: in order for your signature to be completed, you'll need to click on the verification email generated by this website 

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