Oz minister Tim Pal: Hamilton 'a dickhead' for risking lives
Discussion
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/158215/1/oz_minister_...
The Lewis Hamilton 'over-exuberant driving' row refuses to die down even now the Australian Grand Prix has been and gone, with Mark Webber springing to his McLaren-Mercedes rival's defence and Victoria roads minister Tim Pallas conversely labelling the former F1 World Champion 'a d
head'
In an extraordinary twist, Lewis Hamiton has been labelled 'a dhead' for having 'put people's lives at risk' with the 'over-exuberant driving' that brought the former F1 World Champion to the attention of Australian police on Friday evening – as Red Bull Racing rival Mark Webber waded into the row by calling his homeland 'a nanny state'.
Hamilton was stopped by police following free practice in Melbourne last week, for performing a smoky 'burn-out' in his new silver Mercedes sportscar not far from the city's Albert Park circuit [see separate story – click here]. The 25-year-old McLaren-Mercedes star was admonished for his driving – for which he later issued a public apology – and had his car temporarily impounded, and will likely later face a fine for his actions.
Webber, though – like many F1 fans – has argued that the whole incident has been blown entirely out of proportion and if anything is an indictment of the world that we live in today, and the New South Wales native revealed that since returning Down Under from Europe for his home grand prix, he had spent much of his time 'dodging the ridiculous speeding and parking [rules] and all the nanny-state country that we have here in Australia' that 'pisses him off'.
“It's a great country,” the 33-year-old conceded, according to Melbourne newspaper The Age, “but we've got to be responsible for our actions and it's certainly a bloody nanny-state when it comes to what we can do, as Lewis has found out very quickly. I think we've got to read an instruction booklet when we get out of bed as to what we can do and what we can't do, put a yellow vest on and all that sort of stuff. It's certainly changed since I left, and this isn't going to bring me back.”
However, Webber's comments have not been received well by the local authorities, particularly given the fact that an entire family was killed by a speeding car thief last week in his hometown of Queanbeyan near Canberra – and that five people were killed on Victoria roads over the weekend, meaning the annual death toll is currently on-course to be the highest it has been for five years, with 78 fatalities so far this year compared to 67 at the same stage in 2009.
The state government has recently launched a new road safety campaign bluntly entitled 'Don't be a dhead' – and roads minister Tim Pallas suggests that is precisely what Hamilton was on Friday night.
“Okay, I'll say it – he's a dhead,” he told radio station 3AW “I think what Mark Webber has done has been totally irresponsible, but he didn't display the behaviour that Lewis Hamilton did, and that put people lives at risk.”
“We've got probably one of the best road safety records in the world, but every day we're getting a fatal,” added top Victoria traffic officer Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay, who contended that Webber and Hamilton should act as better role models for young drivers who perhaps look up to them given their public profile. “I make no apology for our approach in targeting aggressive driving.
“I think there are probably a few Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber fans alive today because of our 'nanny-state' approach... I think Mark needs to take a bit of responsibility for the road safety message. I'd much prefer Mark to be talking about keeping the speeding and the hooning on the race track and being a bit sensible on our roads.”
Victoria Premier John Brumby has made a point of underlining that the rules are there for good reason to protect lives – what appears to sadly be at present a losing battle, and speaking to The Age, transport accident commission minister Tim Holding concurred, reasoning: “I don't think anyone who has lost a loved one because of road trauma would think Victoria's anti-hoon laws are too harsh.”
what planet is Tim Pallas on?
The Lewis Hamilton 'over-exuberant driving' row refuses to die down even now the Australian Grand Prix has been and gone, with Mark Webber springing to his McLaren-Mercedes rival's defence and Victoria roads minister Tim Pallas conversely labelling the former F1 World Champion 'a d
head'In an extraordinary twist, Lewis Hamiton has been labelled 'a d
head' for having 'put people's lives at risk' with the 'over-exuberant driving' that brought the former F1 World Champion to the attention of Australian police on Friday evening – as Red Bull Racing rival Mark Webber waded into the row by calling his homeland 'a nanny state'.Hamilton was stopped by police following free practice in Melbourne last week, for performing a smoky 'burn-out' in his new silver Mercedes sportscar not far from the city's Albert Park circuit [see separate story – click here]. The 25-year-old McLaren-Mercedes star was admonished for his driving – for which he later issued a public apology – and had his car temporarily impounded, and will likely later face a fine for his actions.
Webber, though – like many F1 fans – has argued that the whole incident has been blown entirely out of proportion and if anything is an indictment of the world that we live in today, and the New South Wales native revealed that since returning Down Under from Europe for his home grand prix, he had spent much of his time 'dodging the ridiculous speeding and parking [rules] and all the nanny-state country that we have here in Australia' that 'pisses him off'.
“It's a great country,” the 33-year-old conceded, according to Melbourne newspaper The Age, “but we've got to be responsible for our actions and it's certainly a bloody nanny-state when it comes to what we can do, as Lewis has found out very quickly. I think we've got to read an instruction booklet when we get out of bed as to what we can do and what we can't do, put a yellow vest on and all that sort of stuff. It's certainly changed since I left, and this isn't going to bring me back.”
However, Webber's comments have not been received well by the local authorities, particularly given the fact that an entire family was killed by a speeding car thief last week in his hometown of Queanbeyan near Canberra – and that five people were killed on Victoria roads over the weekend, meaning the annual death toll is currently on-course to be the highest it has been for five years, with 78 fatalities so far this year compared to 67 at the same stage in 2009.
The state government has recently launched a new road safety campaign bluntly entitled 'Don't be a d
head' – and roads minister Tim Pallas suggests that is precisely what Hamilton was on Friday night.“Okay, I'll say it – he's a d
head,” he told radio station 3AW “I think what Mark Webber has done has been totally irresponsible, but he didn't display the behaviour that Lewis Hamilton did, and that put people lives at risk.”“We've got probably one of the best road safety records in the world, but every day we're getting a fatal,” added top Victoria traffic officer Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay, who contended that Webber and Hamilton should act as better role models for young drivers who perhaps look up to them given their public profile. “I make no apology for our approach in targeting aggressive driving.
“I think there are probably a few Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber fans alive today because of our 'nanny-state' approach... I think Mark needs to take a bit of responsibility for the road safety message. I'd much prefer Mark to be talking about keeping the speeding and the hooning on the race track and being a bit sensible on our roads.”
Victoria Premier John Brumby has made a point of underlining that the rules are there for good reason to protect lives – what appears to sadly be at present a losing battle, and speaking to The Age, transport accident commission minister Tim Holding concurred, reasoning: “I don't think anyone who has lost a loved one because of road trauma would think Victoria's anti-hoon laws are too harsh.”
what planet is Tim Pallas on?
Edited by y2blade on Tuesday 30th March 07:59
Webber is, of course, spot on. Good for him saying so.
As for setting a role model I've got to say that a man who dedicates much of his life to staying in top condition, who works hard at his job and is not afraid to say what he honestly feels regardless of the criticism he will receive is, in my opinion, up there at the top.
It is Webber who shows that he has worked out his priorities.
The underlying theme of what he says is applicable world-wide. It seems remarkable that a large number of people support having what they can do limited at the whim of others. There is an undercliff walk the four miles or so from my village into Brighton. Over the last five years or so it has been closed on a more or less permnent basis because of the fear chalk might fall on someone.
Spin your wheels on a road, Hamilton, and someone to whom it would never have occurred to will go out and do exactly the same. No, honest.
The party that would get my vote at the next election would be the one that promises less government, less interference and admits that it doesn't know everything.
Webber's gone up in my estimation although not as a driver. No hope there.
As for setting a role model I've got to say that a man who dedicates much of his life to staying in top condition, who works hard at his job and is not afraid to say what he honestly feels regardless of the criticism he will receive is, in my opinion, up there at the top.
It is Webber who shows that he has worked out his priorities.
The underlying theme of what he says is applicable world-wide. It seems remarkable that a large number of people support having what they can do limited at the whim of others. There is an undercliff walk the four miles or so from my village into Brighton. Over the last five years or so it has been closed on a more or less permnent basis because of the fear chalk might fall on someone.
Spin your wheels on a road, Hamilton, and someone to whom it would never have occurred to will go out and do exactly the same. No, honest.
The party that would get my vote at the next election would be the one that promises less government, less interference and admits that it doesn't know everything.
Webber's gone up in my estimation although not as a driver. No hope there.
Derek Smith said:
Webber's gone up in my estimation although not as a driver. No hope there.
it's all in the understatement Derek...
anyway my tuppence, I was a bit dismayed at Hamilton's first thought which was the damage to his reputation. I would have thought it would enhance it, I like my racers a bit, you know... swash buckling, f
k you types... Webbers response would be far better coming from Hamilton and would probably have tacit suport from the majority... but modern politics isn't about pandering to the majority is it. Hmmm maybe Lew should have played the race card 
its just the usual poitical dogma and propoganda, road deaths have gone up or remain consistent in spite of the regulations, its just a pity that it happened as it has given the governors a bit more ammunition and free advertising for their policies. I suspect Hamilton will be fined heavily.
stockhatcher said:
Derek Smith said:
Webber's gone up in my estimation although not as a driver. No hope there.
it's all in the understatement Derek...
anyway my tuppence, I was a bit dismayed at Hamilton's first thought which was the damage to his reputation. I would have thought it would enhance it, I like my racers a bit, you know... swash buckling, f
k you types... Webbers response would be far better coming from Hamilton and would probably have tacit suport from the majority... but modern politics isn't about pandering to the majority is it. Hmmm maybe Lew should have played the race card its just the usual poitical dogma and propoganda, road deaths have gone up or remain consistent in spite of the regulations, its just a pity that it happened as it has given the governors a bit more ammunition and free advertising for their policies. I suspect Hamilton will be fined heavily.
Ed said:
If this year is on target to be a record high for casulaty / fatality stats despite all the draconian speed and nanny state enforcement in place...me thinks they may have the wrong end of the road safety stick stuck firmly in their mouths.
What I find astounding, is that Oz has had Draconion speeds for as long as I remember, so whats going on in the driving test to give new drivers the impression you can driver faster on the roads once issued with a licence? Or are they envious fom watching old movies or something?A bit like becoming a qualified surgon and then expecting to be able to juggle knives over a patient because its fun.
(and juggling is more fun than driving in Oz)
Another English sporting hero has just been done for drink driving.
That's the boy! He can certainly handle a a few so it wouldnt affect his driving, the limits are too low anyway.
He only wanted to get home bless him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/north_y...
That's the boy! He can certainly handle a a few so it wouldnt affect his driving, the limits are too low anyway.
He only wanted to get home bless him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/north_y...
It's no surprise that the Police Minister has used Lewis in his anti-speeding propaganda message. The Police just seem to do what they want with these propaganda messages and most of the time the media picks up on it and beats it up, pressuring the Government to turn it into legislation.
Car confiscated with presumption of guilt. You wouldn't even get that if you were caught drink driving.
The next worrying thing is that the other hoons and car enthusiasts are starting to idolise the people that break the road regulations (ie criminals in the law's eyes) because it's the only way they can fight back against police propaganda and ministers that want to pucker up to mums and families by increasing the penalties to disproportionate levels.
Car confiscated with presumption of guilt. You wouldn't even get that if you were caught drink driving.
The next worrying thing is that the other hoons and car enthusiasts are starting to idolise the people that break the road regulations (ie criminals in the law's eyes) because it's the only way they can fight back against police propaganda and ministers that want to pucker up to mums and families by increasing the penalties to disproportionate levels.
Funny thing is, the "Don't be a dhead" campaign has not been well received by the Australian public. People think it's a bit of a joke.
Check out the poll result: http://www.theage.com.au/polls/drive/roadsafety/20...
Yes = 24% and No = 76%
http://www.theage.com.au/national/road-safety-camp...
head" campaign has not been well received by the Australian public. People think it's a bit of a joke.Check out the poll result: http://www.theage.com.au/polls/drive/roadsafety/20...
Yes = 24% and No = 76%
http://www.theage.com.au/national/road-safety-camp...
Edited by Jungles on Tuesday 30th March 11:15
Mazda Baiter said:
stockhatcher said:
Derek Smith said:
Webber's gone up in my estimation although not as a driver. No hope there.
it's all in the understatement Derek...
anyway my tuppence, I was a bit dismayed at Hamilton's first thought which was the damage to his reputation. I would have thought it would enhance it, I like my racers a bit, you know... swash buckling, f
k you types... Webbers response would be far better coming from Hamilton and would probably have tacit suport from the majority... but modern politics isn't about pandering to the majority is it. Hmmm maybe Lew should have played the race card its just the usual poitical dogma and propoganda, road deaths have gone up or remain consistent in spite of the regulations, its just a pity that it happened as it has given the governors a bit more ammunition and free advertising for their policies. I suspect Hamilton will be fined heavily.
Jungles said:
Funny thing is, the "Don't be a dhead" campaign has not been well received by the Australian public. People think it's a bit of a joke.
Got to love the Australian way though; in the UK we'd have called it "please don't drive in an unpleasant manner as it may offend some sort of minority group and will kill the polar bear"head" campaign has not been well received by the Australian public. People think it's a bit of a joke.We've had quite a few road safety advertisements using colourful language. My personal favourite is the old "If you drink and drive, you're a bloody idiot" campaign. Back covers of some old road rules books used to be plastered with a picture of a guy with IDIOT written across his forehead. 
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