NSW Police Chief's last plea to Car Hoons

[EVO-00X]

Top cop writes open letter to car hoons
August 19, 2007 - 10:24AM

NSW's police chief has taken the extraordinary step of writing an open letter to car hoons in a bid to halt the bloody consequences of their reckless stupidity.

In the letter, Commissioner Ken Moroney invites speeding drivers and illegal street racers to stand and watch emergency service workers as they battle to rescue people injured in collisions.

Negligent drivers should be forced to hear the screams of the dying and forced to witness the carnage they cause, he writes.

Mr Moroney writes that he "wonders what more (he) can do".

Only on Saturday, police arrested a 21-year-old learner driver who hurtled down the Hume Highway at almost 200 km/h.

"Yours is an act of sheer bastardry," Mr Moroney writes.

"You drive as though there is no tomorrow.

"I want you to come with me and stand beside my police officers, ambulance officers, doctors and nurses as they valiantly apply all of their skill and knowledge to save you and those whose lives you have forever changed.

"I want you to ... witness the carnage of your actions. I want you to hear the screaming and see at first hand the trauma that comes from your negligent actions...

"I want you to stand beside my police officers as they deliver messages to loved ones that you have killed or injured or ... that your actions have resulted in the death or injury of an innocent person...

"I want you to stand in the prison yard and think about the fact that as you enter that cell and hear the clang of the bolt through the door knowing that this is your home for some time yet to come, that this is no real future."

Mr Moroney said tougher penalties were not deterring dangerous drivers.

He said forcing drivers to take personal responsibility for their actions was more important than debate about access to powerful vehicles and the state of NSW roads.

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Here here. Personally I have no problem with crushing the cars of repeat offenders and dumping them in their front yards Bigger fines, tougher penalties, longer loss of license, it aint stopping the carnage as it doesnt effect the pscychological thought process of what 'can' happen. In the minds of the majority who are in the act of street racing they are only thinking about winning and street cred. The 'think (of your actions and the resultant consequences) before you act' notion is attacking the problem proactively from another tanget, however, what Ken Moroney has proposed above is easier said than done as I cant ever see it happening. Unless of course they start incorporating driver rehab programs and enforcing participation for those caught street racing or being hoons, I cant see how they are ever going to get people to be at the side of police officers in those kinds of events. Rob.

 

[bazeng]

I agree.

Prevention is better than cure...
Education is the key.

Spend the money on education, teach em in school, provide free driving courses... but then where would their revenue raising money come from?

 

[jase]

^werd baz

it's all about the money. got nothing to do with slowing kids down..

fines and car crushing only pisses people off.. doesn't slow anyone down. if anything it makes them more likely to run!

 

[runuts]

In all honesy, the hoon legislation is a load of shit!!!!

Seriously, how often has a proper street race ended in tragedy? And im not talking about people lining up at a set of traffic lights in a heavily populated suburban 60 zone.

This is just a typical misguided media frenzy!!!

A drink driver is more at risk of killing someone!!! While I'm sure there are some aspects of the car scene and so called hoons that can be classed as anti-social behaviour, the simple fact is, its an easy target, easily marketed and hey, if most people into cars, are employed, can and will pay fines etc etc.

The punishments sure as hell dont fit the crimes.

 

[GSRSOL]

In all honesy, the hoon legislation is a load of shit!!!!

Seriously, how often has a proper street race ended in tragedy? And im not talking about people lining up at a set of traffic lights in a heavily populated suburban 60 zone.

This is just a typical misguided media frenzy!!!

A drink driver is more at risk of killing someone!!! While I'm sure there are some aspects of the car scene and so called hoons that can be classed as anti-social behaviour, the simple fact is, its an easy target, easily marketed and hey, if most people into cars, are employed, can and will pay fines etc etc.

The punishments sure as hell dont fit the crimes.

i couldnt have said it any better myself :!:

 

[PROGSR]

In all honesy, the hoon legislation is a load of shit!!!!

Seriously, how often has a proper street race ended in tragedy? And im not talking about people lining up at a set of traffic lights in a heavily populated suburban 60 zone.

This is just a typical misguided media frenzy!!!

A drink driver is more at risk of killing someone!!! While I'm sure there are some aspects of the car scene and so called hoons that can be classed as anti-social behaviour, the simple fact is, its an easy target, easily marketed and hey, if most people into cars, are employed, can and will pay fines etc etc.

The punishments sure as hell dont fit the crimes.

i couldnt have said it any better myself :!:

i standby this also....

i think its double standards that hoon drivers have been attacked so harsh when the drink drivers still dont get such a law inforcement against them of getting their cars confiscated when they get caught driving over and over again.... even though this has been a longer on going issue in the publics eye... eg: they lose their licence, they continue to drive and still when they get caught drunk dont get their cars taken :evil: so what if they fit them devices to breathlise before driving their car.. whats to stop their friend, daughter, son or neighbour doing it for them...

drink drivers are a far greater hazard in situations on the road especially when speed is added to the factor , they have no quick reaction reflex's when in that state of mind to be able to avoid a tragedy... but only to simply create one...

I really think were a easy target, we spend money on our cars so we've got money to pay them compared to the others they drink to their sorrows of being in the red throughtout their lives... and just like to mention the law themselves dont imply to their own rules.... my mate knows many cop's and they tell him everytime they have a x-mas party or break up they all drive home pissed!!! one word to sum this up BSTDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GSRSOL]

At the time of losing my licence, (112kph in a 70kph zone), I got 6 points and 6 months loss of licence. If I had have been busted for drink driving, I would of only got 1 month ...... how would that have been fair?

and that was 3 years ago ....

imagine how fucked up the laws are now :?

hoon laws = massive joke


all they do is put more power in the hands of people who shouldn't have any :evil:

 

[EVO-00X]

When comparing hoons laws to Drink Driving laws then yeah, something just doesnt seem right does it? but both should have no place on our roads anyway!. The car scene is increasing all the time and the younger kids are getting more involved in it. Street racing and hooning around in cars is dangerous, no ifs or buts about it because someone can get hurt. Too many youngens are being taken from us as it is with drugs and suicide and more kids have access to cars than drugs (I hope) :lol: . I dunno about you fellas but when I read or hear about a P-plater death on our roads I feel sorry for the family and friends that a life was taken away so young. When I hear that it happened whilst drunk driving or racing/being a dickhead on the streets then I feel that it serves them right :evil: The problem with the latter is that if they want to drink drive or race eachother at stupid speeds then do it somewhere else other than in a populated urban environment. There's too many innocent lives at stake and all sh!t can happen in a fraction of a second. I suppose it hits hardest when it hits too close to home.

 

[CLuTZ]

IMO they should be subsidising entry costs at local drag strips, to try and encourage more racers off the streets.

I also think that the victorian police drag car team is a joke- and should be scrapped. Its a blatant waste of money! Who on earth would go to the drags just to see them race? No one!!

The councils/government/federal government/police/taxpayers should be putting more money into legal racing, cos lets face it- people want to go fast. No matter what. Perhaps they should triple the fine, and then use the extra money and build a public drag strip, for everyone to use, for free or a small fee??

 

[emz]

The councils/government/federal government/police/taxpayers should be putting more money into legal racing, cos lets face it- people want to go fast. No matter what. Perhaps they should triple the fine, and then use the extra money and build a public drag strip, for everyone to use, for free or a small fee??

i think this would be one of the best ideas the government/cops could ever come across because as we all know it can cost ridiculous amount of money to drag/race legally which is why people resort to street racing and then when something goes wrong its the innocent which pay for it. instead of going to the strippers (which has been in the media lately lol), eating doughnuts and sitting on the side of the road fining people for going 4 kmz over the limit, build a free/ small fee drag strip in each side of the city so everyone can have a go, and i think more people would be inclined to keep it off the streets if a race/drag strip was readily availible in their area yeah???

 

[JAP63]

This issue is majorly to do with age

Once your into your mid 20's you grow right out of that shit anyway...or you use your brains more if you engage in "spirited Driving"
I know..i did it when i was young..and stupid things too..

Anyone who says they havent is kidding themselves...

I do agree with harsher enforcement...but dont beleive it will stop it..i dont think youll ever stop it..curb it maybe..stop it never.

Put on operation drag..and people will race on their way there..and on there way out..it happens..
Certain measure do help though.

 

[vsthis]

I have thought about this for a while now. I have done a lot of stupid/dangerous stuff in my time but a big part in making me think twice before I do things now has been due to what I see on a daily basis at work.

I have worked as an emergency/trauma nurse in WA and Vic for the past 4 years. And there is rarely a day that I go to work and don't see someone die or have their lives ruined by their own or someone elses stupidity behind the wheel. The news always talks abouth the road toll and the people that die on the roads but it rarely speaks of the people that are permanantly injured. For every 1 person that I see die from road accidents, I would estimate that 10-15 are left paralized for life, 10-15 are mentally impaired beyond being able to function independantly, 5-10 are burned beyond recognition, and about 20-30 require extensive surgery and minimum of 3-5 years of rehabilitation.

Like probably most of you, the ads on TV, news paper and TV news never had any real effect on me. What did make it real to me was actually seeing real people in real situations. Talking to someone who will never walk again, watching a mum or dad feed their mentally impaired 18 year old, seeing the look on a dad's face when he finds out that he has lost 2 of his 3 children and his wife, talking to a driver that was in the wrong that has killed an entire family, really hits home how real lives can be ruined in a split second from a stupid or silly mistake. I could go on forever with examples because they happen every single day!

I really think that there should be a program in our schooling system where 15-18 year old kids come to hospital and witness the concequences of poor decisions. They should go to the rehab centers and talk to the patients there and hear their stories. It should be part of getting a licence. You should know how dangerous a weapon a car is before you can use one! This shouldn't only be aimed at young people either. The elderly should have to see the results of their driving aswell before they decide to continue driving

I don't agree with cracking down on hoons stronger than drink drivers, or crushing/confiscating cars as it does nothing.

Build more facilities where people can use their cars in a safe environment that are eaisily accessable positionally and finacially. If people are still stupid enough to race on suburban streets, crush their cars, cut off their hands, remove their facilities to breed, because they are obviously full of the d#@khead factor that no amount of education or availability of facilities will cure.

Dick said it best when he said "ban low performance drivers, not high performance vehicles"

And as always, prevention is better a cure.

Sorry for the long rant but it's something that frustrates me every single day!!!

 

[doommachine]

I agree with the police chiefs idea of forcing offenders to go to roadside traumas. I'm sure vsthis is a very careful and considerate driver due to his experiences.

Crushing vehicles doesn't help either, it's just a great way to ensure police get into high speed chases. I'd reckon the threat of having one of your major (or only!) assets destroyed would make anyone act irrationally.

I know what would help, if we had a licensing system like germany, where it costs 2-3k to get your license due to the extensive driver training. They are trained in how to control a car that's going out of control, what speeds to do in poor conditions, and in general the whole dynamic of driving a car is explained properly, whereas here if you asked the driving instructor what to do in the wet if you start to slide they'd probably tell you to "power out" of it.

 

[matress]

It's all well and good to propose these sorts of things, but people are always going to take the chance to satisfy their "need for speed"

I think education will help some people, but there will always be a group who will continue to be "hoons". You'll never rule them out completely.

If there were more facilities where you could go and do it legally and reasonable cheaply, I think that could possible reduce the amount of reckless behaviour on public roads.

Who knows what there is to do about it that will actually work, but I'm all for keeping dickheads off the roads!

There's a time and a place, and a crowded street on a busy night isn't the time or place to do a burnout, like some halfwit did who nearly spun into me :evil:

 

[EVO-00X]

That Borkowski guy in the Holden Jacket who smashed into the Howles (old couple) in Sydney and killed them whilst drag racing was originally facing up to 25 years in jail. I think now its going to be more like a 10 year jail term for manslaughter. What probably innocently (and stupidly) started off as a drag race will end up with him losing 10 years of his freedom. Still, this doesnt bring back the Howles, nor ease the pain and anguish it has caused for their family and friends. Hindsight is a marvellous thing aint it :roll:

 

[Ross Cox]

IMHO...
Just to set my bona fides..
I own and race a VR4 rally car. I used to own and race a 1900cc Gemini rally car with 110hp at rear wheels.
I have written off a rally car by going into the trees, the cage and belts did their job.
I have been over 150 kph in the Gemini and over 160 kph in the VR4 in the forest in both cars and was shitting/enjoying myself.
If you have a car with a thousand HP at the wheels and want to race someone do some proactive work in your city/area/State to get some organised low cost racing opportunites. Join a Sporting Car Club..Help Organise Drag strips/Drifts/Club weekends at race tracks.
Have your quick cars but KEEP RACING OFF THE STREETS.
Buy an old rear wheel drive shitbox,buy decent seatbelts, get a cage welded in, buy a helmet/overalls and a fire extinguisher, grab two mates and go do an autocross...See who is the fastest DRIVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Learn how a car works yourself, learn the dynamics of controlling a fast car, then talk about how good you are.
Any knucklehead can do 200KPH on a freeway, DON'T LET ME CATCH YOU!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :x :x :x
KEEP RACING OFF THE STREETS
Take care
Ross

This issue is majorly to do with age

Once your into your mid 20's you grow right out of that shit anyway...or you use your brains more if you engage in "spirited Driving"
I know..i did it when i was young..and stupid things too..

Anyone who says they havent is kidding themselves...

I do agree with harsher enforcement...but dont beleive it will stop it..i dont think youll ever stop it..curb it maybe..stop it never.

Put on operation drag..and people will race on their way there..and on there way out..it happens..
Certain measure do help though.

If there was an operation drag, make sure that it is known the Police will be out and about, let the D*&^%#ads get caught...Losing points and money would be enough incentive for this little black duck to behave.

 

[rob323]

Ah, good old street racing, easy target to pick on for the police, politicians and of course, the media :roll:

I've only just read this thread and noticed a few things.

Firstly, everyone here that has posted has generally agreed that although no-one is 100% innocent, we all do try to act responsibly as a motorist and agree that street racing is generally not acceptable. And this coming from a relatively young (average age-wise) group of people that enjoy their cars for more than just commuting. And it seems like, that no matter which forum you are on, the general consensus is the same everywhere.

It also seems, that most of us here have more of an idea of how to fix the "problem" than the people supposedly trying to prevent the "problem".

And I'm sure it was just pure coincidence that frequency of dangerous street racing on the gold coast increased dramatically at the same time that they closed down the drag strip and subdivided it for housing. Yet, they can't (or don't want) to put 2 and 2 together.