Ipods, Green cars and the nanny state

I know I said the next post would be positive. But meh, the following two articles from the World section made me grumpy enough to comment.
New York: crossing the street while listening to your ipod or talking on a mobile could cost you US $100. The draft bill is a response to a few people being killed or knocked over by traffic.

I'm sorry, WTF?! Why the hell should legislation be required to prohibit people crossing the road while listening to music? Ok so there have been a few deaths/injuries recently in Wellington for much the same reason. But surely there's this radical Western concept called 'free will'? If you choose to listen to music/talk on your mobile and then stupidly dont look while ambling in front of traffic, it's your fault? Sure its tough on the driver who hits you who wasn't doing anything wrong - and I do feel sorry for them - but at some point in your life you have to take ownership for your actions. And I don't think that walking across a road with your ipod is a huge one to take hold of.
Surely a more useful solution to the problem would be to tax or invoice the dickhead who got hit (if they were in the wrong) for costs to the State? Yeah sure the New York solution is pre-emptive, but its also going to hit a bunch of people who are paying attention while listening to music.

The other nanny state article that isn't quite as bad, is that the EU has decreed that cars need to tell drivers when to change gear, what speed to drive, and when to pump up their tyres. On the surface this sounds a bit more draconian than the ipod example. But in this case I'm more in favour. The better the driving of the car the lower the fuel consumption and less emissions to screw the environment with. And my understanding is that those people who are driving well this won't impact on them. Which sounds a more reasonable approach.

What is interesting is that this will apply to cars made in the Japan and the US, which begs the question - is this the time for the US to actually start making 'green' cars?

Oh well, perhaps the next post will be cheery :-)

I am listening to The Weakerthans 2000 album 'Left and Leaving' - its really good. But then again, I do like the quirky-ness of Canadian music...


Smoochies and stuff, me x