tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post6477530435175224038..comments2023-05-01T11:44:04.490-03:00Comments on D for Disorientation: When the carrot doesn't workPablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08296074005654785159noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post-80525156093413414052007-06-13T02:32:00.000-03:002007-06-13T02:32:00.000-03:00The town in which I grew up in used to publish the...The town in which I grew up in used to publish the names of convicted drunk drivers in the local newspaper (which most everybody subscribed to). Sort of like the literary version of a public pillory … and quite effective too.<BR/><BR/>I’ve always been at a loss as to why people don’t wear seat belts. I’ve been driving for over 20 years, and I would feed “naked” if I weren’t restrained by one. There have been enough times I’ve had to stop suddenly because of a road hazard, or even been hit from behind a couple of times when I’ve been stopped in heavy traffic, to understand how important they are.<BR/><BR/>My car will sound an audible alarm if there is a person in either of the front seats without the seat belt being buckled. I certainly won’t drive with a passenger in front without them being buckled up – If caught I would probably get fined, my insurance rates could increase (insurance is compulsory in CA), and I would get a demerit point on my driving record. Not to mention how I would feel if I were in an accident and a passenger was injured (or worse).<BR/><BR/>JohnSFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04846379168854781828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post-45871382736555131872007-06-12T17:11:00.000-03:002007-06-12T17:11:00.000-03:00When i was back in BA a couple of weeks ago, i saw...When i was back in BA a couple of weeks ago, i saw some TV adverts (paid for by a private charity, not the government)-they were actually road safety awareness adverts from England from the late 1980s. I recognised them. <BR/><BR/>My mum told me that when she was in her 20s, it was usual to drink and drive. About 30 years ago the government in britain made a huge effort to raise awareness of the dangers of this with graphic images and adverts. It worked-drink driving is now taboo. You just don't do it. Despite having a stupidly easy driving test, britain has one of the lowest road traffic accidents in the world-that's all through teaching and awareness campaigns. It can be done and i would work just as well in Argentina as it did in england. At the end of the day, people don't really like dying.<BR/><BR/>In Chile, the driving is much, much better than in Argentina. The police over here are strict and chileans are terrified of getting stopped for speeding or drink-driving as they know they're done for-you can't bribe a chilean policeman and fines range from us$50 to us$100s. There are no safe driving campaigns over here-with those, i think the driving culture would improve even more.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09900725715325926065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8132273.post-3103280620128581362007-06-12T16:07:00.000-03:002007-06-12T16:07:00.000-03:00Congratulations! I love it that your local governm...Congratulations! I love it that your local government is being active about this. I know that in Buenos Aires you see many alcohol check points, especially at night. One night last week I had to go to a 24 hour pharmacy at 2am and saw them at work.<BR/><BR/>I wish they would install those cameras as well around here and, this part is a dream I know, apply the law to the busses and taxis, especially the buses.<BR/><BR/>A lot has changed here recently. I mean you can´t smoke wherever and now they are trying to make sure you can´t just drink and drive and think nothing of it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05340834139819735298noreply@blogger.com