Proof that people are losing the plot

stevz · 19-12-2012, 09:56 PM

What can I say......

http://www.news.com.au/national/woma...-1226540444509

Quote:

Woman photographed reading a book while driving at 100 km/h on Monash Freeway

A WOMAN has been photographed reading a book while travelling at 100 km/h on a busy freeway.

The woman was spotted in Berwick about 9.30am driving east on the Monash Freeway towards Pakenham.

Bruce, who asked to remain anonymous, said he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the woman using her thumbs to flick pages as she barrelled along the freeway.

"I stayed beside this lady for about two kilometres and watched her turn the page and continue reading the book resting on her steering wheel,’’ he said.

"She was holding the book with both hands and reading it as though she was sitting on a train. It was clearly a novel by the page layout.’’

The concerned motorist also captured a photograph of the woman’s registration number, which the Herald Sun passed on to police.

Do you know the driver? Contact our newsdesk on 9292 1226 or email news@heraldsun.com.au

Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said police are becoming increasing concerned about driver distraction.

"Distraction can be technology-based, such as use of mobile phones and GPS devices, or everyday behaviour such as putting on make-up, eating, drinking or in this case reading a book,'' she said.

"Driving is a complex task that requires full concentration. It is essential drivers minimise the risk of distraction in their vehicle.

"Reading a book on your way to work is just not worth losing your life, or taking someone else's.

"Anyone who witnesses irresponsible driving behaviour should report the matter to police, and if the situation is dangerous then they should call triple zero.’’

Nikked · 19-12-2012, 09:58 PM

Those darn 50 shades books...

Franco Cozzo · 19-12-2012, 10:08 PM

I call lies.

You can't do 100km/h on the Monash freeway, its a car park.

stevz · 19-12-2012, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I call lies.

You can't do 100km/h on the Monash freeway, its a car park.

She was driving east towards Pakenham at 9:30am, the car park would have been in the other direction.

OLDFORDNUT · 19-12-2012, 11:40 PM

holy cripes, she needs a slap

mik · 19-12-2012, 11:53 PM

at least she was looking sort of in the general direction of the road, gee if only i had photographed one one individual i have seen talking on the phone ...........yes only talking not texting ............looking down at the brake pedal(dopey sod hit my mirror), thick as two planks some of them, it`s the only explanation.

sleek7 · 19-12-2012, 11:55 PM

I have seen the exact same thing a few years ago now driving to Melb on the Hume... some younger woman with a book up on the steering wheel, eyes darting up and down....

Mr Brooksy · 20-12-2012, 12:15 AM

In 02 I was driving through Sydney at about 7am - 8am when I found myself cut off, by a woman driver.
The reason I remember it so vividly was because at the next set of lights I was able to get up beside her to give her "the look". To my horror, she was doing her eyelashes, had a laptop on the passenger seat while holding her phone talking with her head and shoulder!

Im pretty sure she wasn't playing music through her laptop as he new Merc prob had a CD player that worked fine. And that the brick of a phone wasn't there to hold up her 50 something head with all the gold bars in her ears weighing her down. Not to mention that if she was doing her eyelashes, she was prob doing her lippy and anything else she could too whilst driving.

In response to the OP's subject... I think many had lost it a LONG time ago! Driving now is like playing Russian Roulette with a loaded machine gun... not good odds.

Kryton · 20-12-2012, 12:29 AM

If we were allowed to drive faster than 100km/h, motorists might have a reason not to be so bored and they might just start paying attention.

Mickxr8 · 20-12-2012, 01:00 AM

And just how did `bruce` manage to take this pic ? , assuming he was the driver , might take a few tics to aim and click ??

, enough time to make him as daft as the person next to him ( sighs )

**DJR-351** · 20-12-2012, 01:18 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EWGpZwwoM8

djjase · 20-12-2012, 01:26 AM

but what about the driver taking the picture with his mobile phone - now isn't that illegal as well and at 100km/hr making it just as bad???

XW WA · 20-12-2012, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickxr8

And just how did `bruce` manage to take this pic ? , assuming he was the driver , might take a few tics to aim and click ??

, enough time to make him as daft as the person next to him ( sighs )

Have a look at the picture .Obviously taken from the passenger seat.Ive seen a few trucks with the paper spread out over the wheel.Not in the metro area tho

TheInterceptor · 20-12-2012, 02:08 AM

Humans...the most intelligent lifeform on the planet HA HA .. . . ahuh....

Mickxr8 · 20-12-2012, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XW WA

Have a look at the picture .Obviously taken from the passenger seat.Ive seen a few trucks with the paper spread out over the wheel.Not in the metro area tho

Read the story , any mention of a passenger in the media version ? , Either media forgot to mention it ( never let the truth get in the way of a good story ) or `bruce` just leant his left arm across and took a pic ? , not hard to do .

gf got told off just tonight for ringing me when driving ,

zilo · 20-12-2012, 08:40 AM

She's driving at the speed limit, keeping in the left lane ...what more do people want?

She's a better behaved driver than most on the Monash.

And she's not breaking any laws.

Some people should get off their high horses.

OzJavelin · 20-12-2012, 08:47 AM

I worked with a guy about ten years ago who lived in Wodonga and worked in Wangaratta .. and everyday drove to work down the Hume in the morning reading a book, newspaper, etc.

DBourne · 20-12-2012, 08:59 AM

Funny enough as I was driving home the other day, had a bloke in a corolla texting the ENTIRE drive home (30 odd minutes) you could see him look down at his phone for ages.

The guy almost had 5 or 6 big accidents and almost drifted in to other peoples lanes many times, and whilst he would get honked etc he just got annoyed at those who honked him.. what the heck?

noflac52 · 20-12-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugg

She's driving at the speed limit, keeping in the left lane ...what more do people want?

She's a better behaved driver than most on the Monash.

And she's not breaking any laws.

Some people should get off their high horses.

Sarcasm I hope! Otherwise you need to consult the rule book!

aussie muscle · 20-12-2012, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDFORDNUT

holy cripes, she needs a slap

The court should be able to order that as a punishment for minor infractions that are the result of stupidity...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugg

And she's not breaking any laws.

actually, not being in full control of a vehicle is against the law. if they can fine you for picking up a mobile phone in a car park while stopped, they can definitely crack you open for this.

duaned · 20-12-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

I worked with a guy about ten years ago who lived in Wodonga and worked in Wangaratta .. and everyday drove to work down the Hume in the morning reading a book, newspaper, etc.

Imagine if he tried that going the back way to Wang via Beechworth. lol!

That novel that woman is reading must be of a romantic nature. That's a better prospect instead of reading the number plate up front!

Stagg · 20-12-2012, 10:50 AM

Alright I'm going to have to be the one to say this... Most of these types of drivers in my experience are young girls and women?

Here is something else that proves people see there is a market for people losing the plot

blk6t · 20-12-2012, 11:06 AM

At least she has 2 hands on the steering wheel...haha

Gees must have been a slow week, I can't actually believe this made the news...

stevz · 20-12-2012, 11:13 AM

I seriously can't believe people are defending this woman. In this day and age with all the emphasis on road safety etc, I cannot even begin to fathom how somebody could think that it would be perfectly acceptable to bury their face in a novel whilst driving a motor vehicle on a public freeway.
I hope the police track her down, fine her, strip her of her licence and publicly shame her.

Yellow_Festiva · 20-12-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugg

She's driving at the speed limit, keeping in the left lane ...what more do people want?

She's a better behaved driver than most on the Monash.

And she's not breaking any laws.

Some people should get off their high horses.

I hope you're joking???

If not, she most certainly is breaking the law. Is there not a law that states "failure to have proper control of a motor vehicle" or words to that effect?

Stagg · 20-12-2012, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevz

I seriously can't believe people are defending this woman. In this day and age with all the emphasis on road safety etc, I cannot even begin to fathom how somebody could think that it would be perfectly acceptable to bury their face in a novel whilst driving a motor vehicle on a public freeway.
I hope the police track her down, fine her, strip her of her licence and publicly shame her.

Her number plate was forwarded onto Victoria police so she will get fined for that and hopefully will learn her lesson that way, naming and shaming I think might be a bit too far to teach someone a lesson.

What grinds my gears is when these people point fingers at those who talk on mobile phones whilst driving yet see it as acceptable to do any number of distracting things whilst driving EXCEPT for talking on their phone.

I also always wondered with cops as well, talking on the phone is against the law as it should be, but the cops are talking on the radio, using their computer, and a number of other things while driving.

NAK302 · 20-12-2012, 11:35 AM

......and wowsers are concerned about guns.
people are idiots no matter which way you look.

Dragoneletra · 20-12-2012, 12:34 PM

[QUOTE=stevz;4557641]What can I say......

Saw a guy here in town trying to read the newspaper whilst driving he wasn't doing too well.

Also another chick a couple years ago doing the same thing, with a book.

ute83 · 20-12-2012, 01:16 PM

She might have the cruise control on..........

zilo · 20-12-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

actually, not being in full control of a vehicle is against the law. if they can fine you for picking up a mobile phone in a car park while stopped, they can definitely crack you open for this.

I know about mobile phone laws...but can someone show me the law that she is breaking?

I'm pretty sure that consulting for example a street directory while driving isn't against any SPECIFIC law.

Not being in full control of a vehicle?

I think that's a bit precious...did she crash?

Nope.

Did the person who took the photograph mention any erratic driving?

Nope.

I better not have the radio on else my mind might wander and I might crash?

FFS what a load of crock !