VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA - It looks like the Aussies are taking lethal aim once again at Apple's iPod as they did earlier this year in a fear-based road safety print campaign designed to raise awareness for an untold number of teenagers dying from crossing the road while listening to their iPods. There were no statistics to back up the campaign, just proper funding and fist waving.
This time the hysteria bullhorn rests in the hands of Victoria's
leading road safety research centre calling for an urgent investigation
into the dangers of driving while listening to music via iPods and
other portable music devices requiring earphones. Of course the
'other portable music devices' are not singled out by name like the
iPod is. Without conclusive proof, I think it's reckless to denigrate
the iPod name like it's somehow not connected to one of the
world's most respected and wildly popular retail brands.
According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, Inspector
Dennis Watson, of Victoria Polices' traffic department, openly admitted
that it was difficult to determine how often music devices were a
factor in crashes because information was not collected from
accident sites. That's odd, because the road safety nerds, bent on
sucking off the government's teat believe an investigation into the
matter is urgent. They use the word urgent as if the fate of the planet
is hanging in the balance. It's nothing but hysterics masked as concern
for public safety. Somebody call Mulder and Skully, quick!
"Michael Lenné, of the Monash University Accident Research Centre said that while there was plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest it could be dangerous, there was no conclusive proof, making it virtually impossible to legislate or educate against the practice" according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
There might be a clown car of state government geezers in Australia gullible enough to swallow speculation that Apple's iPod is a candy colored death inducer on wheels, but that titty milk is not for me, mister wipe the dribble off your stubbled chin. If you're gonna legislate anything I suggest legislating driving while stupid in Australia. Stupidity is an equal opportunity employer, weather you're behind the wheel of a car, stapled to a chicken crossing the road or hiding behind the glare of cheap researcher safety glasses.
It's unfair to paint the iPod as being a
safety challenge to drivers without proper evidence
its the device that's at fault. iPods don't cause accidents, it's
stupid people driving cars that do those unthinkable things. Take the Big Gulps, the cell phones or even the nagging girlfriends out of cars
if necessary, not the iPods. Detractors should stop blaming Apple
innovation and start blaming driver retardation, forcing all highway
hacks to ride the short bus to work. Any shaved ape with an official VicRoads badge on could figure that much out. Problem solved.
Commenting on the hazards of teens crossing the road with iPods back in February of 2007, Australia's State Traffic Commander, Chief Superintendent John Hartley said; "You can't legislate stupidity - if people are stupid enough to do something that's so distracting they can't see cars coming, that's a problem they need to deal with." [link] Jonny boy happened to be spot on.
[via The Sydney Morning Herald] [iPod Nano Photo by Terry O'Fee]
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