Archives for: " 2005"
SCHOOL ZONE SANTA IS ONE YEAR OLD
December 21st, 2005And what has he achieved one might ask? Well he has a bit of a profile now and when I ring or write at least they know what I'm about. The letters and e-mails I've sent and the promises made and the subsequent inaction has given me foundation to build… more »
Christmas, a time of goodwill?
December 13th, 2005Well sense has come to the Bangor Bypass and the speed limit has been raised from 70 to 80 k/mh. 10 k/mh mightn't seem much, but does make a real difference. ................................................................... If only the trouble in the… more »
Testing.
December 7th, 2005I caught listener on 2GB this morning talking about flashing lights being tested at St Catherines in Waverly (Sydney's East) The 40 on the school zone sign was circled by small lights. Why not just two orange flashing lights on the school zone signs?… more »
OH DEAR !!!!
December 2nd, 2005The news on the cross city tunnel doesn't appear too good. It appears that the affected traffic is horrendous in the CBD and the number of extra drivers using the tunnel isn't quite what would make the CCT shareholders rub their hands with glee. All… more »
Cross City Tunnel
November 29th, 2005Well it'll be on again on Thursday when the 6 week "no toll" period ends and paying is again required. The "rat run" to avoid paying the toll has been made even more difficult by extra work carried out in the last 6 weeks.… more »
80 km/h for the Bangor bypass
November 22nd, 2005Our Premier has announced that the speed limit on the Bangor bypass will be raised from 70 to 80 in December. A little bit of common sense. ....................................................................… more »
Photo opportunity.
November 17th, 2005I see in today's Leader that our roads minister Mr Tripodi was at the switching on of the new pedestrian traffic lights at Bangor. These are to replace the old pedestrian bridge. ...................................................................… more »
40 zones don't work
November 13th, 2005Today tonight had a story this week about school zones in Victoria, then there was the report in the Telegraph I mentioned on my last page. So to try and keep the pot simmering I emailed this into the telegraph and it made the letters page on 12/11/05… more »
Case dismissed!
November 11th, 2005Are magistrates getting an idea that school zones can be a little bit unfair. Last week it was people booked on a pupil free day that were let off. This report was in the paper this morning.… more »
"I slow down"
November 8th, 2005"What do you do when you find yourself in the middle of a school zone?" I asked a lady customer in Gymea bay this afternoon. "I slow down" she said "Too late if youre half way in a zone" I said, and told me she had been caught at the camera at Gymea.… more »
The postman's been.
October 30th, 2005I emailed the previous road minister in July /05 ................................................................... ................................................................... A letter in reply came on 19/10/05… more »
MY FOI REQUEST...Back to the drawing board.
October 30th, 2005At long last I received information back in answer to my request under the Freedom of information act, but alas it's taken from 2/8/05 to 20/10/05 to get here and it's the wrong stuff. Not very helpful, but I'll bat on, it just shows up another level of… more »
Bonnet Bay
October 24th, 2005Driving Down Tudor Ave Bonnet Bay at 2.45pm last friday I saw something flashing in the distance, it attracted my attention and it was lights flashing on the school zone sign. The photo doesn't show this but as I took a couple of photos cars drove past… more »
And the winner is !!!!!!!!!!
October 21st, 2005. School zone cameras were in the news again with one in Mosman featuring as the top money earner. .................................................................... .................................................................... How many of the… more »
21 days?
October 12th, 2005The wait for my Freedom of information request concerning the Kogarah and Gymea school zones is now in it's third month. . When I first applied 2nd August I was told there was a backlog, which sounded a little like the "as soon as possible" reply to my… more »
New Zealand
October 9th, 2005I've been told (Hi big sister) that new Zealand is to introduce 40 kmh school zones. The experience with school zones in NSW is not what could be called a good role model, and motorists over there will soon realise this, when the fines and the demerit… more »
October 6th, 2005
The Reason for school zone santa is explained in the Category "About school zone santa." The other pages and categories I've posted are mostly santa's thoughts on other road related subjects while waiting for RTA decisions on school zones The RTA were… more »
Never ending story
October 4th, 2005From today's paper. Another candidate for wheel clamps. ........................................................................ ........................................................................ I would imagine if he is convicted of this alleged… more »
welcome
October 1st, 2005Hi to new visitors. There hasn't been much on the school zone question lately , but it's not forgotten. I've made a few phone calls and next month there should be more to report. Here's a recent letter in our local paper.… more »
How many more are out there?
September 28th, 2005Just a couple of more examples of candidates for wheel clamps (see "P" Plate crisis category ON RIGHT ) -----> ...................................................................... ......................................................................… more »
By passed.
September 26th, 2005The E-mail I sent to the paper about the Bangor bypass article in the Leader, was printed, although by adjusting my letter to make it fit, now looks a little like I'm having a go at the Police.… more »
Bangor bypass
September 21st, 2005I e-mailed an observation on the 365 drivers caught by the police (previous page) to the Leader. We need road rules, but we need sensible rules and limits. The 70 kmh speed limit on the bypass is ridiculous. Or maybe I'm missing something,and there is a… more »
More wheel clamps needed.
September 16th, 2005Today's local paper has a police operation report. There's two drivers that caught my eye. . Drivers like the two above,have to be made to realize that you can't drive while disqualified.… more »
Wheel clamps
September 14th, 2005Tonight Mr Scouby of the pedestrian council said on "A Current Affair " that 10% of drivers on the road are disqualified. I don't know if this is an accurate figure but if it's true, the demerit point system as a deterrent is not working. Every day… more »
It won't go away.
September 14th, 2005Talk back radio was on again today about school zones. An NRMA report in the papers sparked renewed interest, and good on Ray Hadley for keeping the debate going. Some of the information on 2GB was more detailed than what I read in my paper. This story… more »
Nightmare
September 13th, 2005I'm still waiting for the school zone information from the "freedom of information people" Here's another topic. What happened to the banks, when they were deregulated? The NRMA since demutualisation? How much it costs to park at the airport since it… more »
Parking Meter Blues
September 9th, 2005As regulars know I have a thing about wasting money on over engineering as in Mellenium train , Collins class submarines etc. On 2GB this morning Jason Morrison was talking about our solar powered parking meters in the ciy. You know the ones that… more »
Thoughts
September 8th, 2005Nothing on the School zone front .............................................. I was sorry to see last week's resignation of Mr Brogden. He had a few drinks and seems to have made a bit of a fool of himself. Who hasn't? Let he who is without sin cast… more »
Sad Times
September 6th, 2005........................................................................ My real and imagined concerns are almost laughable, when I see the misery in the USA after the hurricane. Most of the people that are most affected have the least. Let's just hope… more »
August 30th, 2005
On Talk back radio this morning there was Bob, who admitted to a "voluminous" driving record and who was very clever and got off two red light fines in a short space of time, and kept his points (he said) by fronting up at court. How many innocent… more »
Little bit of nonsense
August 27th, 2005In readiness for the Cross city tunnel opening next monday 26/8/05 I wanted to add other thoughts about what would happen to traffic flow if there's a computor glich, break down or accident in peak hour, and the tunnel would close and all the traffic… more »
Storm clouds
August 26th, 2005I happened to tune into "A current Affair "tonight and guess what, another story about dodgy speed cameras Modern Technology, great if it works. Talk back radio today was wall to wall tunnel and about the RTA saying that it'll be chaos on Monday when… more »
Where's Kyrayztan?
August 25th, 2005Kyrayztan is one of the 61 different contries that have logged on so far this month. He/she I must admit didn't stay on long,as my bitching about the cross city tunnel wouldn't really be of much interest to a Kyrayztanian. The Telegraph had a page ad… more »
NRMA (Nothing really matters anymore)
August 23rd, 2005There was a letter in the Telegraph (22/8/05 )and the writer was complaining that the NRMA should stick to road service and not waste money on things, like the cross city tunnel. I don't agree, the NRMA was set up to help members and if something… more »
Rat run maps
August 22nd, 2005I read in the Telegraph that the NRMA is going to have maps printed to show motorists how to get around the cross city tunnel tollway. I sent this e-mail to the Telegraph. .....................................................................… more »
Why School Zone Santa?
August 18th, 2005Well the santa suit was to stand out and it also helped keep my identity private as all I wanted to do was get a bit of action on the flashing light issue.
I wasn't doing it because I am bitter at being fined at a school zone (I haven't) but drivers… more »
RTA 's troubles continue
August 17th, 2005"FIVE ANGRY DRIVERS BEAT THE RTA'S SCHOOL TRAP" THE DAILY TELEGRAPH (16/8/05)has a report about 5 drivers caught by a school zone speed camera on a pupil free day. They went to court and won and the magistrate ruled against the RTA. It was a gazetted… more »
Mellenium madness
August 16th, 2005On 2GB this afternoon the boss of state rail was interviewed about the new rail time table. A question put to him was where were all the mellenium trains as this train travelling listener never sees one. Well it seems due to the fact the these trains… more »
Freedom of information
August 15th, 2005My request to the RTA for information under the FOI act concerning the Kogarah and Gymea school zones was confirmed by letter, and then I received a phone call last Friday to say it was being passed onto the Traffic Infringment department as the… more »
Unmarked Police Cars
August 12th, 2005There was discussion on the radio today and it appears the police want more unmarked police cars to catch the "bad" (my word) drivers, the ones who sulk behind a marked police car,then speed off,and break all sorts of road rules when the coast is clear.… more »
"Bagdad Bob"
August 11th, 2005The Telegraph this morning reported that a driver went to court and beat the RTA on a speed camera fine. It appeares the the RTA couldn't prove to the court that the camera's information couldn't be inaccurate. To make it a really bad day for the RTA… more »
What is the answer?
August 9th, 2005In the last page I wrote about a 30 year old woman caught driving even though he is disqualified till 2042. That was Saturday and Sundays paper had another 2 reports so I thought I'd share the wheel clamp idea. I e-mailed the letters page.… more »
How many are out there?
August 7th, 2005In this morning's paper Sunday Telegraph (7/8/05) there's a report about a 30yr woman caught behind the wheel( allegedl)y when stopped for a random breath test. This driver is already disqualified from driving till 2042. The idea of loosing points and… more »
Shuffle Shuffle
August 4th, 2005We have a new roads minister Will the E-mail I sent in Febuary and the one sent recently to Mr Costa be passed on to the new minister, or do I need to resubmit. They are printed and the response with the "as soon as possible" replies, a couple of pages… more »
Welcome new visitors
August 1st, 2005I haven't seen the leader yet, but if that's why you're here, thanks for the interest. Who and why I have embarked on this "mission" is explained (hopefully) in the "About school zone santa" category. A suggestion given to me today, that maybe to stop… more »
"75 year old desperado"
July 28th, 2005As there was press release about school zones The Leader rang me for comment as they know through my "School zone santa" antics I would be interested in anything new concerning this issue Why there ever was a school zone santa is explained in the… more »
Same old ,same old
July 26th, 2005As I have not seen any media about the completion of the school zone "flashing light" trial I e-mailed Mr Costa on (24/7/05) ...................................................................... Dear Mr Costa When you took up the challenge of your new… more »
Foxtel customers.
July 22nd, 2005Yesterday I did a small job at a house in Carlton and by way of conversation asked if they had pay TV. Yes we have Foxtel. Satelite? I asked. They did and did not realize that "free to air" 7 and 10 were missing until after installation. As they had… more »
Foxtel Digital
July 19th, 2005I'm working on a new sign and a few facts and figures to go on the web site when new visitors log on when I get out there again. The old sign was a bit too subtle for some people so I'll have to be more direct in my wording. Something to catch the eye,… more »
Solar powered parking meters.
July 18th, 2005In March there was a report in the Daily Telegraph about problems with the roll out of 1000 super dooper new parking meters A lot of these independant (solar powered)units weren't "switched on" but "didn't have power problems"the reporter was told. A… more »
Foxtel's big catch.
July 12th, 2005The ads on TV are coming thick and fast about a "big catch"promotion and that so many of the great advertised programs are now only availiable on Foxtel Digital. There is another catch with Foxtel satellite Digital that is kept "on a need to know but… more »
The "TRIALS" are over.
July 12th, 2005It won't be long now before we get the results of the RTA's school zone "flashing light" trial. Do drivers slow down at school zones that have flashing lights or will the data be "inconclusive" and some committee will have to look at it and report on… more »
School zones (Foxtel people next page)
July 5th, 2005No I haven't forgotten about school zones and I'm waiting for an RTA announcement re the results of their school zone "flashing light "trials. I have read about a raft of new and amended penalties for motorists but can't find any mention of extra… more »
BIG BROTHER
June 27th, 2005WELCOME TO NEW VISITORS Most of you I assume, would be after you saw my sign. How many thousands of drivers saw it this morning? Peakhour on a major highway into Sydney. Why would I be bothered to go to the trouble? I can't stand people being hoodwinked… more »
Thinking of switching to Foxtel Digital?
June 3rd, 2005A differant topic that you might find interesting. DO YOU LIVE IN AN BAD TV RECEPTION AREA? THINKING OF "SWITCHING" FROM OPTUS VISION TO FOXTEL DIGITAL ? BEFORE YOU SIGN, TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ THE FOLLOWING... We had been with Optus Vision for a… more »
$6 billion and counting.
June 1st, 2005I just saw a news item on TV and it appears an Adelaide company has won the tender to build 3 Air warfare destroyers "The nations biggest and most complex defence project" The winning company won because of their "Value for money bid" This same company… more »
Thanks
May 31st, 2005Thank you to the people that keep logging on. There hasn't been much to say on school zone at the moment that I haven't said before. I have done work in the homes of two serving Police in the last week and they both agreed with me about the farce of… more »
School zones
May 21st, 2005All quiet on the school zone front, apart from a couple of mentions on afternoon talkback, but who ever I ask, yes they have been caught,or know someone who has. All I ask, would slow down for flashing lights at school zones. Things don't seem to be… more »
Ten great years of ideas and achivements.
May 13th, 2005That is the heading in today's Southern shire leader. Mr Carr proudly talks about the Cross city tunnel being six months ahead of schedule and the M7 west link 4 months ahead too. Mr Carr doesn't mention these are privately funded and built and the… more »
WOW!!!!!
May 4th, 2005Big news yesterday, a Spit Hill speed camera was uprooted and is going to be installed on the F3. It should work pretty well there as this one malfunctions when "heavy laden vehicles" come near it. Should be a good little money spinner as quite a few… more »
Pit Bull
May 3rd, 2005Today talk back radio was wall to wall pit bull terriers and that something should be done about them. There was much ado last week about the car hoons at the rocks etc. Then there was the "Bali Nine"and poor Chappell But the day's topics are the day's… more »
Old McDonald had a farm.
April 30th, 2005"A current affair " did a story this week about the disrepect shown to police at Brighton, The Rocks and in Melbourne. Groups of young men openly taunting police and calling them "pigs" and "Dogs" ,and the police appearantly powerless to take any… more »
Police /Public Relations?
April 28th, 2005I'm back, and so is school and school zones. Last Thursday morning I noticed a couple of vans and busy workmen swarming over the school zone speed camera at Gymea and that same afternoon, 3 vans were parked on the Eastern footpath at kogarah as they… more »
Media secret.
April 20th, 2005I rang the office of the opposition roads minister Mr Stoner today and yes there was a press release on the 15th April and we are going to get flashing lights at school zones when we have a change of government. As Mr Carr is stumbling from crisis to… more »
Votes count.
April 17th, 2005Saturdays Hearld had a small story about speed cameras in Britain. I tried to scan it, but must be missing a step. Here's the 2 fingered version. .................................................................. VOTE CATCHER Speed cameras will be a… more »
Was I dreaming?
April 16th, 2005I'm sorry if I've misled anybody, but I wrote last night that the NSW's opposition said it was going to get "flashing lights" at school zones if it wins the next election. I heard this on 2GB,or did I? Nothing mentioned on any other news. Even after all… more »
A sure vote winner.
April 16th, 2005Great news !!! The State Liberals announced today that they are going to put "flashing lights" at school zones if elected at the next election. It will cost $40 million and be done on a priority basis. This has also trumped any move by the Carr… more »
Random breath test
April 14th, 2005I read a story in the telegraph where a driver is pulled in for a RBT and speeds off. The police pursue and catch him and one of 4 pit bull terriers in the car attacks one of the officers, and when capsicum spray didn't work the dog was shot. Surprise,… more »
school holidays
April 12th, 2005A bit quiet on the school zone front until school goes back, and then it's on again for young and old, especially the unaware old. This morning I did a job at Worinora and happened to mention school zones(funny that) and was told that "my wife was… more »
Wrong button
April 8th, 2005Just a short note . I had a post ready and after spell check I hit a wrong key and lost it. Yes, I should "save" as I go along, and we should all know when it's school zone time too. I did a small job this morning and by way of conversation, mentioned… more »
Things to come
April 5th, 2005Last night on "A Current Affair " there was more on the never ending saga of speed cameras. As I have written I don't have a problem with road rules,I have never been booked for something I haven't done. But since the advent of speed cameras people are… more »
Dark days for solar meters
April 4th, 2005Welcome aboard. Nothing to report on the school zone issue so I've a few thoughts on sem-related topics. Planning Minister Craig Knowles has failed a random breath test, where he allegedly registered 0.085 and later .0.06, (DT 4/4/05)and he was charged,… more »
Warning
March 30th, 2005I read in the Telegraph last weekend that if a driver has not been booked for 10 years he/she can be let off with a warning. The catch is that you have to write in and tell the RTA, and as this "loop hole" is not well advertised, not many good drivers… more »
What road users summit?
March 27th, 2005Has anyone read anything about the road users summit other than the larger fine for not keeping to the left? What about the "P" plate drivers ? School zones? Or was it all too hard. I emailed Mr Costa On the 22/2/04 about School zones and they going to… more »
It's who you are.
March 23rd, 2005Nothing to do with school zones but something that I noticed. I heard on the radio yesterday, that a student in the U.S. had shot dead 9 people and himself. His grandparents, a security guard at school a teacher and 5 students as well as injuring many… more »
What hope have we..?
March 21st, 2005If what the Telegraph has printed this morning is correct ,what hope does the average person out in the real world have? Taxpayers are forking out $17 million a year in salaries for public servants without official duties.(page 3 next to a picture of… more »
Time for a break.
March 18th, 2005At 9.25am Thursday (17/3/05) I was on my spot on the eastern side slowing traffic when a driver called out from his van from the slow moving city bound traffic. I'd dressed up in my full school zone santa suit having decided that it was to be my last… more »
BOTTLE NECK
March 16th, 2005Reading the Leader story (15/3/05) again I see that Ms Burton said "it was ridiculous to have a school zone on a major highway" But I can't see it being very sensible to have major highway traffic speeding past students a metre away on a crowded… more »
MR COSTA COMES TO KOGARAH
March 15th, 2005The St George and Southern shire leader 15/3/05 has reported that after inspecting the kogarah school speed camera site with the local member Ms Burton( they forgot to invite me), Mr Costa conceded that Ms Burton had a case for having the speed cameras… more »
"Mrs" SANTA.
March 15th, 2005To create a little more interest Mrs Santa came along for this morning's school zone time. She was very well relieved. For those new to the web site, the reason for us being at the twin speed camera school zone /variable speed zone is simple. To try and… more »
NOT TOO FLASH
March 14th, 2005This morning to get an idea of numbers I decided to let nature take it's course and count the number of flashes of the south bound camera during school zone time. It's easy for me to say I slowed this or that number of cars so I needed to see what… more »
NOT TOO FLASH
March 14th, 2005This morning to get an idea of numbers I decided to let nature take it's course and count the number of flashes of the south bound camera during school zone time. One flash in 1 1/2 hrs when an ambulance drove south at speed ,with lights flashing and… more »
"P" plate drivers.
March 13th, 2005Not much to report on the kogarah front though Friday morning was a busy one. I taped a sheet of paper on the back of my sign and when I slowed a "speeding" car with a wave, I marked it down. After school zone time finished I had 88 vehicles marked as… more »
What are we doing?
March 9th, 2005Random acts of kindness it appears. The idea was to slow down cars to get publicity and highlight the problems at school zones. Since school started this year we have slowed down to the legal speed hundreds of cars at the Kogarah school zone… more »
Sidekick Ron
March 8th, 2005Ron is my offsider holding the fort when I can't make it. This morning I de robed further and went with just my civies and a santa hat and Sunnies. "Where's your suit?" was the comment from a passing truck. The kids on the way to school still said… more »
Where's your beard?
March 7th, 2005I was told by a person that I should, to be credible drop the santa thing and get help from corporations. A little bit difficult with the web site name as it is. The whole idea was to stand out, and it does. So I took off the beard and "where's your… more »
Mad Friday
March 4th, 2005I did the morning shift and it was quite stressful the number of cars coming through at speed was silly especially after 9.0am. Why do they do it are they stupid or just don't realize what time it is? My daughter is off work sick and drove too fast this… more »
Camera spring clean.
March 3rd, 2005The RTA were very busy today giving the speed cameras at Kogarah a spruce up. I see on the news tonight that one of the Spit hill speed cameras WAS faulty. I thought it was the buses that were faulty. Something to do with heavy vehicles struggling… more »
RAIN
March 2nd, 2005Welcome new viewers Have a look and comments good or bad are most welcome. This morning a new santa' helper did the peak hour side. He told me that he did slow some law breakers who were endangering children. The southbound traffic seemed to be quite… more »
World wide web.
March 1st, 2005Among the people that accessed my web site today were people from the USA and China. Someone in China was looking at my words. I feel quite important. How do you say welcome in Chinese? Do they have variable speed zones in China? My friends at the RTA… more »
So much for Febuary
February 28th, 2005Well the last day of Feb was a quiet one. The passing traffic was more subdued than usual,only about 100 drivers needed slowing down to a safe speed. Two convertibles today and one driver when he saw me and realized the error of his ways, applied the… more »
The Story so far.
February 27th, 2005I have been at the Kogarah variable /school zone for three weeks now helping the RTA slow down traffic for the childrens safety. By slowing the cars down to the legal speed they coincidentally don't get caught by the speed camera. In 20003/2004 49,500… more »
Welcome
February 23rd, 2005Thanks to all who saw my banner and have tuned in . I am at Kogarah to protest and at the same time to help unaware drivers to safely travel through this school zone and help the children. I had quite a busy day today after a slow start, and slowed to… more »
GET A LIFE !
February 21st, 2005"Get A Life!" These unkind words were yelled in my direction by a male driver in a black car Five minutes later someone called out "Keep it up" The plus' out number the minuses 1000 to 1. I thought it was going to be a quiet morning but no, I would have… more »
FAULTY SPEED CAMERA AT KOGARAH
February 20th, 2005On Friday morning around 9 am I looked back at the south speed camera and lo and behold the flash was going off like the strobe light in an East Sydney night club. I took a video of this malfunctioning equipment and rang the media. Channel 7 would pass… more »
JUST THE TWO OF US (AT THE MOMENT)
February 17th, 2005Another day at the office and a very busy one. Last thursday was too ,we might have to call it "mad Thursday" I slowed at least 200 cars (for the childrens safety)and my mate Jeff who was monitoring the peak side would've helped a few. I read in the… more »
GOOD BYE CHANNEL TEN
February 16th, 2005So much for all the camera angles . they used me in one line in a news item and that one statement they aired out of context. They forgot to use the soundtrack of "One flew over the cuckoos nest " in the back ground to complete the picture. Now here a… more »
Hullo Channel Ten
February 16th, 2005This morning it appears that Graham. was held up, possibly he was coming by train. So Jeff was santas' helper across the road. After today's telegraph story Channel 10 was here to get some school zone footage. They filmed me doing my bit to slow down… more »
Well well well
February 16th, 2005Fines going down indeed (DT 16/2/05 )that's a new one. PUT "FLASHING LIGHTS" AT VARIABLE SPEED ZONES MR.COSTA, FINE ANY DRIVER DOUBLE THAT IGNORE THEM.(AND SOME WILL.) WE DON'T NEED MORE DISQUALIFIED DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. To lower the cost of the fine… more »
HELP IS AT HAND.
February 15th, 2005We need "Flashing lights" at all variable speed zones The idea to slow down drivers outside schools is great, but in practice doesn't work.The problem as I see it, is that people can't get used to the times and the signs just don't stand out. Which is… more »
