Urgent action needed
In regards to the recent accident south of Ulladulla ('Crash zone alarm', Wednesday, October 31), I would like to add support for the push for action, whether it be a reduction in the speed limit, the easiest, most cost effective option, a designated turning lane on both sides of highway which would need to go from Suncoast driveway to the north and Moon's exit driveway to the south, or a two-way turning lane in the centre.
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I travel this dangerous section daily. I slow down and indicate at least 500 metres before the driveway where I have to cross over the highway.
One time a fully laden prime mover came up over the crest heading south and obviously did not see my indicator until the last second.
As Bec says, you are watching your rear view mirror just as much as straight ahead waiting for the break in traffic to make your turn. On that day I saw the truck showing no signs of slowing. It was the scariest day of my life as he braked, smoke billowing out of his tyres with no chance of controlling his vehicle prior to the imminent collision so I just floored it.
Thankfully at the time I had a vehicle capable of that manoeuvre. I went off the road about 500 metres further down south to gather my thoughts.
My heart was pumping. Unbeknown to me Steve Smith saw it all unfold that day. He thought I was a goner, so did I. I think the truckie did too.
RMS has several options to make this section of highway safer.
The Ulladulla and Districts Community Forum has sent correspondence to roads ministers/RMS dating back over 20 years requesting changes on road safety.
One suggestion (the reason for the request was not directly linked to this location but if it was actioned there would not be an issue) was that the speed limit of 80km/h be removed and have the 60km/h continue through from Ulladulla to Burrill Lake before there is a fatality.
The statistics of the collisions at these "grey spots" (I'm assuming they only title it a "black spot" if there has been a fatality) are made available to them, as are the collisions at Pitman Avenue and Kings Point Drive intersections.
At holiday time, this section of the highway sees thousands of holiday makers using the roads and shared pathways. Obviously, the speed is not an issue then because traffic drops to a snail’s pace and you only have to rely on motorist etiquette to allow us to ingress or egress the highway but at least it is safer.
The current development works going on both sides of the highway south of Ulladulla will lead to an increase in permanent residency of 200+ on both sides of this small section of highway sometime next year.
S. Ord, Ulladulla
Time to tax meat
Researchers in the UK and US have put forward a plan that could prevent millions of deaths globally each year, and save billions of dollars in healthcare costs.
It’s a simple plan: tax meat.
A 2015 World Health Organisation report found that bacon, hot dogs, and other processed meats cause cancer and that red meat—including beef, pork, and lamb—is probably carcinogenic as well. The research estimates that in 2020, 2.4 million people will die from red and processed meat attributed deaths, while the healthcare costs for red meat-related illnesses will hit US$285 billion ($400 billion AUD). A modest 16 percent drop in meat consumption would lead to a drop in global greenhouse gas emissions by over a hundred million tonnes. We tax cigarettes heavily to help cover medical costs – it’s time to do the same for meat.
Such a bold move would also save billions of non-humans from lives of terror, including having their horns cut or burned off and males having their testicles ripped out of their scrotums – all without painkillers, followed by agonising deaths.
