RACQ Clubhouse: Email roadahead@racq.com.au. Mail The Road Ahead, P.O. Box 4, Springwood, QLD, 4127. Please include name and address. Letters will not receive an individual reply and should be no more than 120 words.
Call to remove dingoes
The article on being dingo-safe on K’gari (Spring TRA 2024) was timely. Tourism to the island is booming, but dingo attacks are increasing and, as the article rightly points out, those dingoes “should be treated with caution”.
However, there is only one viable and permanent solution to the dingo problem there. While it is not a matter for the RACQ, the dingoes should be removed.
Most could be sent to zoos, while the balance could go to a new Dingo Centre, to be established on the island. It would be a safe tourist attraction for both RACQ members and other visitors.
KEN MOORE, CHAPEL HILL
Study assessed senior drivers
In support of Paul Reeves’ article, “Safety first for seniors” (Spring TRA 2024). On 21 November 2023 I participated in a Roadsafe study program entitled "Neuropsychological correlates of fitness to drive in older adults".
This comprehensive study was conducted by Professor Mathew Summers, Professor of Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
The study comprised a three-hour assessment (one-on-one with the assessor).
The purpose of the study was to assist in developing a standard criterion to assist medical professionals when they are assessing the ability of older adults to drive.
Hopefully, the study results will assist medical professionals in making informed decisions and give them more confidence to advise older drivers when they are no longer capable of driving safely.
I am happy to say at 76 years of age I passed all tests with flying colours.
GRAEME DOUGLASS, BRIBIE ISLAND
Young motorists criticised
I read with interest the article (Spring TRA 2024) regarding senior drivers.
As a senior driver who has carried a heavy combination licence for most of my almost 60 years of driving, I must stand up and say, “What about the young drivers today?"
In the past few years, I believe I have never seen so many young drivers who obviously have no clue regarding road rules.
Driving to me carries a responsibility that seems to be all but totally lacking in many of the young drivers today.
I could go on a rant here, but I hope you get my point.
I agree, there are older drivers who need to consider giving up their licence, as hard as that may be, but there are far more young drivers who ought to have their driver licence revoked for downright stupidity, lack of road rule application, aggression, lack of consideration, and their selfish attitude.
JOHN STILLE, TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN
Refresher driving course suggested
I am 94 years of age and have held a driving licence for just on 70 years.
Some years ago, the government introduced a system whereby all persons holding a licence were required to present themselves to a qualified doctor with a questionnaire provided by the government for the doctor to complete.
If the doctor was satisfied that the patient was healthy enough to drive, he/she would sign a 'medical certificate' to that effect, with any restrictions noted. For example, my licence shows restrictions of 'local driving 30km, no night driving'.
Provided I adhere to those restrictions, all will be well.
Disobey them, I could be in trouble. Sounds okay, but that certificate has nothing to do with my ability to control my vehicle on the road.
The skills I had 30 or 40 years ago have deteriorated; I am not as aware as I used to be, I get annoyed at the ‘stupidity’ of other motorists, especially those of the younger generation, the red-light runners etc.
There is a possibility that as I get steamed up with these, I take my eyes and mind off my driving and cause an incident.
So where am I going?
I believe that when motorists go to renew their licence, especially when they arrive at the age of 80 or over, they need to have a refresher course of some description before such licence is issued.
And I plan to surrender my licence at the end of 2024 or even earlier, such is my belief.
ALLAN BAIN, WISHART
Highway needs safety upgrade
We have just completed the Sunshine Coast to Port Douglas and return road trip over three weeks using the Bruce Highway.
Comparing the drive from Maroochydore to Brisbane and return in the day, the 'city' trip is far more continuously mentally and physically demanding.
The Bruce Highway has some big issues, but it does have plentiful overtaking lanes, with signs well in advance.
By eliminating the two-star sections and reducing the crash rate we could have one of Australia's better highways.
KEN MARTIN, PEREGIAN BEACH
Car gives safety advice
Responding to Mr Crawford’s letter (Spring TRA 2024) about electric vehicles having no spare tyre, one that does, and there are probably others, is the Chery Omoda E5. Also, it is a full-size tyre.
I drive a BYD Atto 3 and I have been told that a spare wheel kit is available. I assume that it can fit under the removable boot floor.
A 12-volt air compressor with a can of sealant comes with the car as standard. I also read about when to give up driving in the magazine.
At nearly 79 I am still able to do my own maintenance around the place here, and still have good reflexes.
The BYD Atto 3 has a lot of driving assistance built in, which adds to driving confidence.
The other day I was reversing out of an awkward parking area and forgot to put my seat belt on.
I only went a few meters when a voice said, “For your own safety please fasten your seat belt”.
So, if I do something wrong, the car tells me off.
RON GROVES, COOLOOLA COVE
Doing the lap solo
I read with interest the story “Lapping up an epic road trip” (Spring TRA 2024).
In January 2023 I decided I was going to travel around Australia in my 2006 motorhome.
I bought a map of Australia and put dots on everything I wanted to see, then literally joined the dots.
My cat (Ally) and I left on 17 March 2023. I had never done any longer than a few weeks away previously.
I think my children thought I had lost the plot; however they wished me well and, as I pointed out, you can die anywhere so why not while doing something exciting!
I predominately did free camping and some locations were a little bit, well, dodgy.
I did everything on my bucket list and returned home six months and 21,000km later totally invigorated.
However, I was minus my cat; she died in Eucla, WA.
Not bad for a solo female traveller in her late 60s.
ALICEN BELL, BEACHMERE
I read with interest the story “Lapping up an epic road trip” (Spring TRA 2024).
In January 2023 I decided I was going to travel around Australia in my 2006 motorhome.
I bought a map of Australia and put dots on everything I wanted to see, then literally joined the dots.
My cat (Ally) and I left on 17 March 2023. I had never done any longer than a few weeks away previously.
I think my children thought I had lost the plot; however they wished me well and, as I pointed out, you can die anywhere so why not while doing something exciting!
I predominately did free camping and some locations were a little bit, well, dodgy.
I did everything on my bucket list and returned home six months and 21,000km later totally invigorated.
However, I was minus my cat; she died in Eucla, WA.
Not bad for a solo female traveller in her late 60s.
ALICEN BELL, BEACHMERE
Animal ads a big hit with members
I enjoyed reading the article (Spring TRA 2024) regarding the animal advertisements for RACQ and the way the animals were brought to life on the screen.
I love them and my congratulations go to Lav and Mike for their innovative work.
My favourite is the two kookaburras, followed closely by the water dragons.
I laugh every time I see the ads on TV.
The way the animals move, the subtle humour and the voices are brilliant. Other companies who have tried to use animals in recent television advertising have failed miserably in my opinion, however the RACQ interpretations are spot on. Well done for such a wonderful campaign, which has highlighted the amazing work done by RACQ.
JUDITH GREY, CLOSEBURN
Car maintenance matters
I have been a member of RACQ for 60 years and my father was a member for many years before that. We probably span more than 100 years of the 120 years RACQ has been in existence.
In my early years my father had several originals of the prior magazine The Queensland Motorist.
I devoured these as they were 100% related to motoring. How the years have changed.
Now The Road Ahead is a much, much larger magazine and is mostly a lifestyle and a tourist magazine.
I needed to turn to page 50 to see the first motoring comments.
That is not a criticism but a comment as I'm now 81 and have little interest in most subjects except motoring items.
This brings me to the huge number of callouts to RACQ for battery and flat tyre issues.
We grew up in an era when we always changed our flat tyres ourselves and regularly checked our battery.
In over 60 years have never called out the RACQ for these. In fact, regularly checking my tyre pressures and a full check of my motor vehicle has necessitated a total of three callouts in more than 60 years.
Today, batteries normally give an indication of coming failure and tyre pressures are never checked except on the vehicle’s annual service.
How much could be saved if members did these basic checks?
I have been driving since the age of 16 and have never had an accident or made an insurance claim.
I hope I can continue driving and be an RACQ member for several more years.
STEPHEN FOXWELL, TOLGA
School zone speed warning
On 9 August 2024, I drove to the Ekka to put in an exhibit. Afterwards, I drove through Water Street (Spring Hill), which is unfamiliar to me as I have lived in the Caboolture area since 1982.
Being a careful 71-year-old driver, and not knowing the street, I was doing 50km/h in what I thought was a 60 zone.
I passed one school zone speed sign but as I was driving at 12.40pm, I thought that the 40km/h speed zone did not apply.
I was shocked when I received an Infringement Notice. Upon checking Google Maps’ street view, I saw that the school zone speed sign had the time 7am - 4pm.
Unfamiliar drivers need to be warned. As I was not intentionally (or knowingly) speeding, the fine of $483 and three demerit points, seems excessive and not justified.
ELIZABETH O’SULLIVAN, ELIMBAH
Fix your faulty headlights
For the past few years, I have started to count the number of vehicles I meet on the roads that only have one headlight.
I spoke to the local police about this growing situation and was advised it was just too hard to police.
A new headlight can be very expensive but surely drivers realise that not only does this problem diminish their visibility at night but cars meeting them have trouble discerning their distance.
Most especially if the non-operating headlight is on the driver's side of the car.
If you take a tyre that is down to the wear bars to a tyre shop, they won't fix it.
Why then do shops service vehicles and not make replacement light repair mandatory?
It is for everyone's safety.
JOHN STILLE, TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN
