What's making News - 2023

[Pottsy]

Only coz they go and have their accidents in other "real" states   

Just trying to boost Dans dying economy!

[Bird]

if you can drive you have nothing to worry about... may even save ya some $ on insurance.

[jclures]

I think they are all up here.

[Bird]

......

[DandyD]

I suppose if something is worth doing, it's worth doing properly. 

Van jammed underneath railway bridge causes disruption in Derbyshire town

[Fizzie]

Please put us out of misery ...

How

[NZMarkb]

It must of been on a transporter, Surely 

[DandyD]

It must of been on a transporter, Surely 

You get the cigar...

Firefighters from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to reports that a vehicle was jammed underneath a railway bridge in Chesterfield Road in Dronfield.

The incident was first reported around midnight on Saturday, August 19.

It is reported that the van was on the back of a recovery truck and became stuck after the truck attempted to manoeuvre under the bridge that connects Dronfield train station with Chesterfield.

[Bird]

I suppose if something is worth doing, it's worth doing properly. 

Van jammed underneath railway bridge causes disruption in Derbyshire town

we have our own version https://howmanydayssincemontaguestreetbridgehasbeenhit.com/

[Fizzie]

& the "recovery truck" driver is being spoken to severely!

[xcvator]

Sad day  we have lost a genuine hero ( not a bloody football player either )
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-22/long-tan-vietnam-veteran-harry-smith-dies/102761072

[NZMarkb]

Sad day  we have lost a genuine hero ( not a bloody football player either )
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-22/long-tan-vietnam-veteran-harry-smith-dies/102761072

You've lost a true hero
Sorry to hear

Kia Kaha Kia Kaha

[Fizzie]

RIP Colonel Smith

At the going down of the Sun
And in the morning
We will remember them

Lest We Forget

[Fizzie]

(& with {slight} apologies for the length)

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the RSL,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he'd once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his mates;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbours
His tales became a joke,
All his mates listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jacks and Johnnos,
Went to battle, but we know,

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING
FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY"

[Bird]

Smell like a fix is in place??
Next they will have an online system where every time you attempt to click the NO box, it keeps moving, until you click the YES box.


'Tick will be accepted, cross will not': AEC boss slammed for confusing Voice referendum rule

The head of the AEC has sparked backlash after suggesting that ticks will be counted as votes for Yes but crosses will not be counted as Nos.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/tick-will-be-accepted-cross-will-not-aec-boss-slammed-for-confusing-voice-referendum-rule/news-story/b8c6e57e6c7d4e9564ce32d183460bb2

[prodigyrf]

Ve haf vays of slimming you down deplorables. Mwahahahahaha! 
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/road-safety-experts-propose-levy-on-suvs-in-city-to-curb-rising-victorian-road-deaths/ar-AA1fFK63

[Fizzie]

& are there any figures to show what % of fatal accidents actually involved an SUV / ute

[xcvator]

& are there any figures to show what % of fatal accidents actually involved an SUV / ute

I can make some up for you if you want 

[Rowlie]

Ve haf vays of slimming you down deplorables. Mwahahahahaha! 
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/road-safety-experts-propose-levy-on-suvs-in-city-to-curb-rising-victorian-road-deaths/ar-AA1fFK63

I was listening to some talkback on ABC radio on this yesterday. The usual Yaris drivers were all piling on with their ill informed nonsense but one guy really made me spill my latte. He was saying that when he was taught to drive he was told to keep his eyes focussed 3 cars ahead. Now with "these vehicles" on the road he has no option but to tailgate them in order to meet that goal. Apparently he can't back off a bit. Not sure how he copes with semis, vans, fire engines, etc etc.

In a nutshell the stats don't stack up. Speed, alcohol/drugs, fatigue, and dear little munchkins who drive vehicles they don't own with a heap of their friends inside when mummy and daddy haven't long taken the training wheels off their bikes lead the stats.

If anyone does the maths they'll soon realise that their proposed levy pales into insignificance against the costs we pay to buy, modify, run, service, insure our vehicles.

[Bird]

& are there any figures to show what % of fatal accidents actually involved an SUV / ute

well looking at the road daily, there would be 75%+ SUV's on the road these days so people might not like the figures.

I think Rowlie has hit it on the head too although **** more levys/taxes what ever they call it this week

[Bird]

dont give em any ideas.


As ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) cameras proliferate across the UK's capital city, we are now seeing a new social movement (or anti-social, depending how you look at it) rise in response. British police are reporting hundreds of the cameras used to enforce ULEZ regulations are now being vandalized, to stop the auto-ticketing.


https://www.advrider.com/uk-motorists-battle-ulez-cameras/

[Brij]

& are there any figures to show what % of fatal accidents actually involved an SUV / ute

There is quite a few stats floating around showing that the main driver of Vic fatality rate is rural, regional roads.
Usually as the preface for road safety experts calling for a reduction in open road speed limits from 100km/h to 80km/h.

[Fizzie]

There is quite a few stats floating around showing that the main driver of Vic fatality rate is rural, regional roads.
Usually as the preface for road safety experts calling for a reduction in open road speed limits from 100km/h to 80km/h.

But I noticed on our last trip that when you get west of Dalby, the highway speed limit has been changed from 100 to 110kph!

I guess they realised that nobody was obeying the 100 limit, so may as well put it up a bit

[Brij]

But I noticed on our last trip that when you get west of Dalby, the highway speed limit has been changed from 100 to 110kph!

I guess they realised that nobody was obeying the 100 limit, so may as well put it up a bit

I'm only referring to Vic stats and speed limits.
We only have 110km/h on multilane freeways.

[GeoffA]

....
We only have 110km/h on multilane freeways.

Not completely correct Brij (unless things have changed).

When we went to Mildura in 2019 the speed limit on the Calder changed to 110km/h just north of Wycheproof (or therabouts)....