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Your views: Winter 2024

Our readers share their thoughts on school zones, EVs, road conditions and more.

Speed limit confusion

I travel along West Tamar Road and come upon a school zone with a speed limit of 50km/h. The road sign indicates I can legally travel at 50km/h for the length of the school zone but in doing so, I pass a school bus displaying a 40km/h sign. Can I be issued an infringement notice for travelling at 50km/h in a 50km/h school zone? Regardless, why should this 50km/h school zone even exist on West Tamar Road at Riverside, when all other school zones in Tasmania are 40km/h zones?*

Paul LeFevre

*Editor's note

In general, regardless of the speed limit assigned to a road, exceeding 40km/h within 50 metres of a bus displaying a school bus warning light is an offence. Speed limits within school zones are set by the Commissioner for Transport.

The variation in speed limits in school zones between 40km/h and 50km/h depends on the road environment and other relative components. The default speed limit for a school zone in Tasmania is 40km/h; however, it could be set to 50km/h due to many reasons like less pedestrian activity than regular school zones, or where the school is on a road with a higher speed limit prior to the school zone. Other reasons could be road type, traffic volume, safety concerns etc. This is determined by the Transport Commission in consultation with the relevant council.

Push for affordable EVs

I would love to be able to purchase something like a Citroën ami-e, Fiat Topolino or Microlino in the sub-$20k price range, but we need to create a new category of light urban vehicles like they’ve done in the EU, UK and USA. It would really help if respected organisations such as RACT would push the government to help democratise EVs because it seems they’re only available to the wealthier classes of AU citizen.

Clive Austin

A call for common sense

I purchased a near-new car. Recently, the engine was replaced under warranty. When I tried to advise Transport Tas of the new engine number I was told a roadworthy ticket was required for a replacement of the faulty engine.

When I sold my 28-year-old car, no roadworthy ticket was required. This is madness. Please lobby the incoming government to employ people to manage Transport Tas who have at least half a brain.

Ken Treanor / Retired automotive mechanic, mining plant and equipment maintenance planner

Shocking road conditions

I recently had visitors from Queensland. They were horrified by the atrocious road conditions from Gladstone to Musselroe Bay which forms part of the East Coast tourist road (track). They said it was worse than outback Queensland tracks. When is the government going to rectify these tracks?

Ian Hardman

Reviving road safety education

Regarding the CEO’s intro in Autumn Journeys, what a great idea to push for road safety education in our schools. This is a case where ‘everything old is new again’. Road safety education was part of the curriculum when I was at school in the late ’60s. There was a team of road safety officers that drove around the state giving government-funded road safety education to schools. I remember a regular visitor to our school in Scottsdale and part of his presentation involved him setting up a slot car display to demonstrate road rules. This was much anticipated and enjoyed by me. I’m not sure but I presume there was one officer employed for each of the three geographical areas of the state. These officers also looked after the school crossing guards. Road safety education in schools is certainly not a new thing, but sadly road safety officers are a thing of the past.

Peter Riggall / Riverside