And he'd be right. They are so annoying and often, to the untrained eye at least, completely pointless.
They take a $100 job and make it a $1000 job.
So why is this till happening?
Why are there still cones everywhere, when the government says NZTA's code of practice for traffic management rick assessment - is no longer being used? Obsolete?
Well, the problem is many councils are apparently still using this code of practice as their north star.
As a response, the government's now threatening local council funding.
They have to threaten funding to get these council to change their ways.
What this shows us is just how far and deep the overly cautious, safety-at-any-cost mentality has set in.
And also, it shows you how scared they are of worksafe coming in a going them if somebody gets hurt or injured.
You have to make sure people are safe, especially when working with dangers.
But you can't keep everybody safe from harm in all places, at all times and for any reason.
Fencing every waterway is impractical. So is covering every street in road cones.
We need to find a sensible middle ground and make sure the officials told to carry out the changes, actually do so.
Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.
3 comments:
We have Cone Nazis who threatened to close down works unless the excessive cones were not exactly spaced apart.
Don't try and tell me that safety is critical down to a few feet of cone spacing!
Do these people go home at the end of the day satisfied with their day's work and contribution to a better society ?
What a rort !
This is not about safety - it has long ago turned into a profitable industry on its own. And something to be asked at the incoming local elections.
With the quiet smooth flat ride, effortless power controls, and driver seated far from the windows and outside reality, and a myriad in car displays and distractions, the modern driver in a typical modern car needs far more to attract their attention than in years past. All the make work also contributes to the god of GDP. Setting up in a productive small business is onerous. So a myriad simple repetitive make work regulatory based tasks requiring no imagination or initiative are very attractive; cone shepherding, checking rentals for compliance, ditto scaffolding, temporary power wire insulation etc.
Councils are fearful of court cases with the huge cost of their own and legal staff. Loading otheres with enormous costs to minimise Council legal involvement is very expensive in the full picture.
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