Adventure Ausrama Blog

Toll roads just do not pay. At least in Australia they don't. Councils and states have praised projects before they begin construction, boasting of the benefits of new toll roads. At best such schemes can only expect to break even. Drivers use it for a while with low introductory tolls. When the tolls are raised people change back to the old route. A toll is a dinner for a truck driver. Ordinary people just do not calculate the extra cost of petrol to avoid a toll road. AECOM Technology did a feasibility study for a toll road. It grossly overestimated traffic flow. In short, it knew the numbers were inflated and knew the report was full of lies.  The company said if the court challenge to them is upheld it will bankrupt the business. The claimants are seeking three times the whole yearly earnings of the company which is based in the U.S. This is gross earnings, before depreciation, tax and amortization. This amount is based on the bankruptcy of the RiverCi...

There isn't much doubt that there is discrimination against older members of society. This is confirmed by comments from young people that it is unfair that the elderly usually fully own their own homes.  If the young had their way property would be forcibly taken from seniors. It is forgotten however that the elderly took a lifetime to buy their homes. Another issue is the overreaction to car accidents involving senior drivers. A five year inquiry is going on at present to set a test for doctors to apply to the elderly who want to continue to drive. This is despite the fact that younger drivers have far more car accidents than older people. Young drivers are more dangerous on the following factors: 1) Poor Hazard Detection; 2) Low Risk Perception; 3) Higher Risk Taking; 4) Not Wearing Seat Belts; 5) Lack of Skill; 6) Taking Alcohol and Drugs; 7) More Crashes When Carrying Passengers; and 8) Accidents After 9:00 pm. Let's wish the Monash University inquiry good luck in it...

If you drink alcohol your ability to drive a motor vehicle is definitely negatively affected.  What about other drugs though?  A US attorney Matt Abel claims that "stoned" drivers were much safer than those who did not use marijuana.  The attorney is leading a petition calling for the decriminalization for people 21 and over. He cites research studies that show marijuana affected drivers moved more slowly.  Their body actions were slow.  This, he claims makes them safer drivers.  If a driver has another car speeding toward him from the rear, he would prefer that the other driver had extremely fast reflexes, not slow ones. Some research has found that some marijuana smokers performed as well as they did without the substance, but there was no improvement.  Most studies, however, show clear negative affects on driving from marijuana intoxication.  In Australia marijuana smokers were most likely to be at fault in motor vehicle accidents.  Like...