Canberra Times letters to the editor: Imagined risk

The editorial of the same day (p18) gives the impression that the article deliberately chose not to explore how many of the infringements occurred at the time when children are actually coming and going to school. Without that information, it is impossible to tell whether vulnerable children really are at a significant risk, or whether it is just a nice revenue raiser from technical offenders – noting that the authorities had evidently concluded that it was safe to do, say, 60km/h there in the absence of schoolchildren.

The editorial acknowledges that across the border in Queanbeyan the 40km/h special speed applies only in those arrival and departure windows. Has this caused carnage around NSW schools? Are ACT drivers flagrantly disregarding the road rules, or is it more akin to where a 40km/h roadworks sign is thoughtlessly displayed despite the absence of any workers or changes to the carriageway?

My recollection is that until the late 1980s, a special school speed of 25km/h applied "whenever school children are about". The speed was ridiculous, but that approach did more reasonably address the possibility that children might arrive or depart outside the main time windows.

Ian Douglas, Jerrabomberra

Now that Christmas is over, we have time to reflect on its true meaning.

Recently, the media have expounded their reflections on this subject. Ian Warden ("Herald angels nag at disbelief", CT, December 17) quoted Professor Richard Dawkins stating "celebrating families – really is the modern meaning of Christmas".

This belief is supported in the editorial of The Sunday Telegraph on Christmas Eve: "Christmas is about family. That's all. That's everything."

There was no acknowledgment of the centrality of The Holy Family.

Yet, I believe that, as long as we have public performances of Christmas carols – from Carols by Candlelight to the boy playing them on his trumpet outside Woolies, the true meaning of Christmas will not be completely lost to our community.

Helen Baker, Scullin

I don't doubt Bob Gardiner's compassion ("Cruelty outrage", letters, December 24), just his common sense. They may well have been refugees when they left their countries of origin but as they passed through India, Thailand, Malaysia etc on route to Australia, they forfeited that status and became economic migrants, which is why the silent majority support their detention offshore.

Roger Dace, Reid

Just as the motor car has reshaped cities since World War II, so "fleets of autonomous vehicles offering 24/7, door-to-door, on-demand travel for a fraction of the cost of current public and private transport" (Kent Fitch, Letters, December 21) are likely to bring a similar degree of change to our urban environment in the decades ahead.

Besides the crucial impact in reducing road trauma and other obvious benefits regarding the parking and garaging of cars, and less congestion on the roads, there will be major economic disruption.

The efficiency of fleets means the auto industry will contract and the contraction will range from oil exploration, refining and distribution to the maintenance of vehicles.

The sales, insurance and chauffeuring sectors will be drastically reduced. Many people will never need a driver's licence.

The recent proposal for apartments without dedicated parking spaces will apply across the board to conventional housing, leading to new architectural styles and more- efficient land use. There will be an accompanying rise in online shopping for staples and automated delivery.

Perhaps the most significant impact will be at the social level. While the fleet dispatching systems will cater for privacy and segregated travel, one is likely to soon share a ride with each and every one of the neighbours.

Active travel will flourish.

As for the new trams, perhaps the National Museum will take one!

John L.Smith, Farrer

I am a regular user of ACTION buses and a supporter of the light rail. I disagree, however, with J.Bodsworth (letters, December 24) that it would be a good thing to have the light rail go to Canberra Hospital.

The hospital is serviced by several bus routes, some of which stop outside its main entrance in Hospital Road. Passengers with mobility impairment have a short, level route from the bus stop to reception and a bank of elevators. I suspect that if light rail were to service the hospital, the only practical route would be along Yamba Drive, stopping near the existing ACTION stop. From there it is a fairly steep walk up to the secondary entrance through casualty – not desirable for patients or their visitors, many of whom are elderly.

Trying to overcome this problem would require secondary works that would add to the already considerable expense

of extending the light rail track.

Mike Reddy, Curtin

Kevin Cox (letters, December 24) has suggested an innovative way to fund the light rail to Gungahlin. He wants those who use the tram regularly to invest in it, presumably in exchange for fare-free travel.

This option could be attractive to the 3000 passengers expected to commute daily. I calculate they would need to invest a share of $576,000 each to cover the $1.73billion total cost over 20 years, as calculated by the Auditor-General. The shareholders would then travel effectively for $115 return per day compared with a MyWay return fare of $6.12! Their investment would be a sunk cost after 20 years.

Light rail is not a viable investment for anyone without the bottomless pockets of the ACT ratepayers.

The cost of operating and maintaining stage1 alone would be enough money to make the entire ACTION network fare free.

Chris Emery, Reid