Letters: Distracted drivers a major danger on roads; NZ should stay away from the Strait of Hormuz
Distracted drivers
I drive a school bus on a daily rural route in Warkworth, and in the past week have faced three separate incidents of drivers crossing the centre line towards my bus while distracted from driving, obviously on their phones.
I am currently contemplating leaving the industry because of this, the fine here is $150 and makes a joke of this offence. I think the fine in Australia is a few thousand dollars.
It doesn’t bear thinking about the catastrophic consequences of a distracted driver colliding with a busload of children. I have recently installed my own bus camera to record all my movements when driving my school bus.
Greg Labone, Warkworth.
Rugby’s woes
Interesting views from Julian Savea (May 2) on what is wrong with rugby today. He compares the amazing crowd numbers and support given the Warriors with the empty stands and confusing refereeing of today’s rugby.
His comments came the morning after the Hurricanes versus Crusaders game, featuring more unattractive play that included a first half with more than 60 kicks, many of them just aimless “aerial ping pong”.
Coming from Julian, his criticisms of the game will hopefully initiate some positive reactions from the rugby leadership designed to improve rugby’s image and crowd enjoyment, before it is too late.
Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.
Kicking game
Dave Rennie must be worried about New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific teams’ lack of an accurate kicking game.
Lack of an accurate kicking game exposed the All Blacks over the past few years.
Years ago, the three Ps – “possession, possession, possession” – was the mantra, but Super teams seem to have forgotten this old mantra and continually kick possession away.
You can’t score tries without the ball.
Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.
We still haven’t adopted MMP
Our political parties have still not adapted to Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) government. Under First Past the Post, each major party put forward a manifesto and policy statement announcing what it would do if it became the elected government. This worked well because there was always a majority single party elected.
Under MMP, governments are almost always formed by coalitions of two or more parties that have different policies, which must be negotiated at coalition formation discussions. But Members of Parliament are selected and elected based on their ability to support and uphold their party’s dogma and idealistic policies. We don’t expect MPs to have strengths in negotiation and compromise.
If our parliamentary representatives were elected based on skills of problem solving, dialogue, listening and compromise, we could have better laws and better lawmaking. We could stop the see-sawing and revision of previous legislation every time the is a change of government. We might even get a coalition of Labour and National committed to working together to solve global problems that affect all of us.
Peter Graham, Helensville.
Bridging the gap
A Hawke’s Bay farmer, Dave Ellison, would like the flood-damaged one-lane bridge over the Burnside River to be repaired or replaced so locals can take vehicles across. The council wants a two-lane bridge costing $16 million. Dave says he could build a one-lane replacement for $2.75m.
Beer budget but buying overpriced champagne
Farmer Dave Ellison has every right to complain
A one-lane bridge was damaged in a flood
Now plans to reinstate are stuck in the mud
Council wants a new bridge that is two-lane
Costing $16 mil prompting language profane
“All we want is beer not top-shelf champagne”
“We just want to get our mobility back again”
$3 mil is Dave’s cost for a one-lane version
Done now to avoid a 56-kilometre diversion
Probably even cheaper to strengthen and reinstate
Here’s hoping a sensible solution will soon emanate
David Hopkins, Remuera.
Stay out of Strait of Hormuz
New Zealand must stay away from the unauthorised, illegal war America is waging with Iran.
The war caused havoc around the world, which continues due to America’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Every country and every household around the world is affected by another unwelcome American war. Responsibility for opening the strait sits with one man – the President of the United States – who can release the shipping with one swift decision in the interest of global freight.
There’s no need for a UN-organised initiative, just a need for some common sense from Washington.
Frank Olsson, Freemans Bay.