Lack of respect too clear

THERE is no doubt that the case of Constable Matt Butcher has ignited passions and outrage in our community and has galvanised public opinion in ways not often seen.

While the debate rages over mandatory prison terms for people who assault public officers, it is important that we also turn our minds to the reason that we have to resort to such punishments.

There is a growing loss of respect and an increasing level of selfishness in our communities and you need not look much further than driver behaviour to get first hand evidence of this.

The lack of courtesy and consideration for others on our roads and the increasingly “competitive” nature of drivers is at best making driving unpleasant and at worst creating dangerous situations.

It seems we are beset with a new generation of drivers who have either never been taught tolerance or simply choose not to show it.

They seem to make no allowance for the age, skill level or competence of other people they share the road with and they are hell bent on making sure that everyone knows it.

These drivers are unable to resist their natural desire to seek revenge on those who impede their progress, for whatever reason.

It seems like there is a whole generation of drivers out there who have taken it upon themselves to “educate” others by making it clear that they will not be inconvenienced.

Police can “do their bit” and prosecute drivers where offences are committed but it will not solve the problem.

I fear that the lack or respect for authority so recently the subject of media headlines is only a small part of the total problem of lack of respect for others in our communities.

This will take a lot of fixing and will require an enormous amount of work with our younger people.

We can look forward to a lot more unpleasant driving experiences as Perth traffic becomes increasingly heavier unless we are collectively able to change the attitudes of many of our drivers.

What everyone else is thinking

pat

27/10/2009

We were upset about the 'Birds' Wings clipped". We live facing the lake at Port Kennedy and had the ducks in our garden most of the time. Because one neighbour complained to the council about them drinking the water out of his fountain and flattening a couple of plants, the council took them away assuring us that they had a place for them on a farm. After reading your article we were dismayed to see that they have been destroyed. I hope this neighbour is pleased with himself.

Geronimo

12/05/2009

Prov 13:24: "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (diligently)."
Prov 19:18: "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."
Prov 22:15: "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."
Prov 23:13: "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."
Prov 23:14: "Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell (Shoel)."
Prov 29:15: "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

I think there is a message here somewhere.

steve

23/04/2009

All these problems that we have now with people not showing any courtesy or respect towards others, while driving, cykling or even walking, when did they start? Was it when parents were banned by the 'authorities' from 'physically educating' their children? I received more than one whack in my bum when I was a child, and now at 45 have never turned into a murderer, thief, drug-user, road rager or similar. Perhaps a return to the good old days is in order, but it seems the political correctness have taken over. Stop the world, I want to get off it.

Nifty Nev

17/04/2009

I know what I am about to say is sacrilege in Australia, but here goes anyway :-)

Ban alcohol.

It has minimal redeeming values, not just to idiot drunk drivers, but in so many other areas.

Imagine how much easier life would be for our Police (and the public) if people couldn't get drunk anymore cos they couldn't buy booze!

Increase fines & penalties threefold to really HAMMER bad/dangerous drivers - hit them in the hip pocket where it REALLY hurts, and use their fine money to pay to send them to driving school.

Don't let them drive until the school is happy they have learned their lesson!

Don't send anyone extra to jail who doesn't need it - that would just overload the system. Instead, hit them hard financially and make their life difficult if they want to be an idiot and not respect other people on the road.

Nev.

mike

15/04/2009

most of the driving problems I see are easy to fix. See the left hand lane? Use it! If you are in a truck which is heavily loaded - stay out of there, particularly in traffic light areas where the whole world waits for you to get up to speed. If you are in an suv, there is nothing in your owners manual that says you need to drive in the fast lane while you tow a trailer next to another slow moving car. When the lights change to orange, don't change lanes to shorten the queue, then when they go green travel that slowly you end up behind where you started. If you want to travel at 10km/h under the speed limit - that's great, but do it in the left lane. If you see someone in the left lane trying to pull out to overtake a slower vehicle - don't speed up to stop them getting in front of you. And please, try to look past the end of the bonnet and see what is happening a few hundred metres in front, it's amazing how much easier it can be to avoid problems that way.

ann

08/04/2009

I think drugs have a lot to do with it. I have a 16 year old who i know dabbles in marjiuana. Most if not all of the friends smoke it. Several of them have been selling it. I have noticed a significent difference in my childs behaviour when I believe marijuana has been used. There is a lot more anger and abuse. The friends smoke it and drive because they think it is ok.??? What a society we live in.

drop

Yes, alcohol is a menace, but I would lay a bet that a lot of the new generation of drivers have a level of "leftover" illegal drugs in their bodies from private partying or using in the previous weeks. It takes time to filter out of the body, and by that time the next lot will have been absorbed. The amazing attitudes and stunts by some drivers are beyond normal as is their total inability to tolerate any other drivers on the road in their vicinity.
No-one will be able to deal with this, or change it until there is a way of determining not only 'blood alcohol', but also 'blood drugs'.
This same stuff hypes people up at nightclubs etc. Mix it with alcohol and it is a lethal cocktail before they even get out in the street "looking" for a fight.
Regular police don't stand a chance before the onslaught of a drug enraged person. They need riot gear on for protection.

Bernie Brown

02/04/2009

Yeah sure! of course! it must all be related to booze! get a grip here.
Sure, alcohol is a menace to many drivers I agree. However, there are numerous reasons for the attitude of drivers nation wide. People seem to always be in a darn hurry, patience has been diminishing for years, our hectic living style has become more pronounced. I know hundreds of people who drink responsibly then drive under the limit. I handed my licence in for one reason. I suffer from road rage, (I get extremely abusive, not violent) However, I realised that the next step could be violence so I chose to cease driving.

Crystal

01/04/2009

Mandatory sentencing is not the answer, even if we had it now...those responsible for the injuries to Const Butcher would not be in prison.

Courtesy and respect are the first victims of alcohol, "ban the booze"

GW

Karl, you are so right. Courtesy and respect - common decency really which should be provided by every one in our community and age should not deter this. Come on West Australians isn't this what we want in our society so that we can ALL enjoy our beautiful state as we know it to be?