NT Speed limits?

[two]

Originally Posted by Big_Trev

OK, I give up, what would I know anyway. I have only worked as a post licence driver trainer for near on 20 years, training everything from B-Double drivers, Semi drivers, Company Car drivers, 4x4's and Emergency Service people to drive with lights and sirens.

Plus I have spent 13 years working as an Emergency Service volunteer responding to motor vehicle incidents to assist in the removal of people (both dead and alive).

So I wouldn't know anything, you blokes just have far too much knowledge and experience for me - have a nice argument. But mark my words, there will be a reduction in the NT road toll, come back and open up this thread in 4 years time and let me know the stats then, not 11 months into the change.



Cya :

All this experience and so blinkered to the facts. Why?

I love this one.


"Fatigue is not caused by going slow, this is one feild I can almost claim to be expert in, fatigue has to do with lack of sleep, physical tiredness, stress, boredom, personal issues."


So if you go slow you will not become bored, stressed or sleepy :

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by Green X

I drove down south to a friends farm on the weekend to do some shooting, from Perth jumped on the free way down to Mandurah now the road from Mandurah to Bunbury has not shortage of speed traps, 80% of the road is duel carriage way. Traffic was still all in big groups close together, People were afraid to go over 112km/h and when it reverted back to a single lain, just one truck banked cars up.

nobody wanted to risk going over 115km/h overtaking in case there was a speed camera hidden in the bush so at overtaking lanes mabey 4 cars got thou and overtaking on the dashed lines was just not worth it cause you couldn't get past safly without at lest doing 125km/h.

So what have we got, Cars banked up trailing at speed in close proximity to each other, Frustrated drives as they are being held up, a trip taking longer that it should and so on.

yep sounds like a Safe driving environment to me.

They'll have to invent a new "road safety" term for this. Maybe "revenue engineering"? The same applies on the north coast of NSW where the limited overtaking sections are fitted with speed cameras or radar traps. Funny thing is the frustration this induces would most likely increase the accident rate. Therefore they could claim that there is a high accident rate which justifies the speed restriction measures. And anybody who has an accident passing a truck at 10kph over the limit in such circumstances would be proof that "speeding kills." Clear as mud logic.
:

[steve.zissou]

I was sadened like everyone else when the NT restrictions came in however I have a different view on speeding to most.
I live in NSW and I don't have a big problem with the limits or cameras etc. -
because....... in australia you can drive as fast as you want (well upto 250kmh on a speed limmited car). My point being I drive as fast as I feel is safe. So how do I judge what is safe - my ability to slow down if I spy one of the boy's in blue as they could have been a kid playing on the side of the road or a granny in a 75' carona doing an illigal U turn.
So what I am saying is, if your not paying attention enough to slow down if there is a cop or camera you shouldn't be going that fast and if there is a blind corner or a tree that could be hiding a cop, well it could also be hiding a kid (or kangaroo for that matter) etc.

So what this means to me is that i almost always drive 20km over the limit but am wired like a cat thats drunk 10 exspresso's and slow down if my spidey senses go off and havn't been booked for many years and I have avoided many accidents because I was paying attention (if i was doing the speed limit and playing with the stereo I would not have been so lucky).

Often I drive much faster but on known roads (not the M4 in traffic)

So be happy and stay alert and pray they don't put speed limiters in cars

[flappist]

Originally Posted by jrckelley

I was sadened like everyone else when the NT restrictions came in however I have a different view on speeding to most.
I live in NSW and I don't have a big problem with the limits or cameras etc. -
because....... in australia you can drive as fast as you want (well upto 250kmh on a speed limmited car). My point being I drive as fast as I feel is safe. So how do I judge what is safe - my ability to slow down if I spy one of the boy's in blue as they could have been a kid playing on the side of the road or a granny in a 75' carona doing an illigal U turn.
So what I am saying is, if your not paying attention enough to slow down if there is a cop or camera you shouldn't be going that fast and if there is a blind corner or a tree that could be hiding a cop, well it could also be hiding a kid (or kangaroo for that matter) etc.

So what this means to me is that i almost always drive 20km over the limit but am wired like a cat thats drunk 10 exspresso's and slow down if my spidey senses go off and havn't been booked for many years and I have avoided many accidents because I was paying attention (if i was doing the speed limit and playing with the stereo I would not have been so lucky).

Often I drive much faster but on known roads (not the M4 in traffic)

So be happy and stay alert and pray they don't put speed limiters in cars

Very good thinking with only one exception. If you are doing 130 and a police car with a mobile radar comes over a small rise 3 km ahead of you, you are gone.
Plenty of time to stop, find your licence, get out have a stretch and try to think of an excuse.

And YES they do work that far, I know, I actually own one.....

[steve.zissou]

3km for a radar - I was about to say that was pushing it but then thought I would check some police forums (love the internet) and there were cops on there saying how they can get a reading out to 5kms (no trees totally flat) however in reality they would wait until 2km at the earliest so they could confirm the car etc. but still that is a long way.

So all io can say is thats not fair acording to my system (if you can see for 3kms and it is totaly clear you should be able to bump up the speed) - but that being said - with my spidey sensis turned on I could guess a cop car at 2-3 kms on a flat road (ie new commodore or falcon = be worried - - and you "can" tell at those distances - I paractice with my brother on long trips - did some one say binoculars - maybe going to far there.
Also if you see a glint off to the side of the road 3kms ahead it could be a glass beer bottle or hidden radar - I dont take the chance.

ANyways - i'll stick with my system, most cops are good blokes (in my experience anyway) and if they clock me at 3km at 130 but I am doing 110 by 2km I cross my fingers they do the right thing

edit: Just thought i would add that although most cops are good blokes (in my experience, it is the little lady cops you have to watch out for - maybe i should stop wearing my "no fat chicks t shirt", that just seams to get them off side from the get go - even the ones that arn't big boned"

[Green X]

The old man has 2 good shirts

1. Pig Off Duty, with a picture of a Fat Pig Drinking Beer

2. Dog's in Blue> With a Picture of 2 Dog's in dark glasses walking along carrying battens.

You got to be-able to poke fun at your profession i say.

[kyro_02]

Originally Posted by jrckelley

my ability to slow down if I spy one of the boy's in blue

this is exactly what i do, i would go as fast as reasonable for me to be able to have time to brake when i see something fishy up ahead, like a sus car on the side of the road that could be a speed camera, or a cop car on an onramp that will get you from behind as you won't see him, he will see you.

that's the only problem i have, so sometimes i does get annoying slowing down then speeding up again all the time.

when you do it for so long it becomes a normal everyday thing you do without thinking about it, really.

not to forget, if they've done a 'dodgy' and not parked the camera car appropriately, or misuse of the laser gun, you have to prove it was not used properly and/or faulty.

so in as sense, it is risky speeding even though you know its not endangering anyone else, especially when you're the only one on the stretch of road!

my 'term' of speeding in this post was an appropriate speed above the 'posted' speed limit, as i believe in 'speed management'

[two]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

OK, I give up, what would I know anyway. I have only worked as a post licence driver trainer for near on 20 years, training everything from B-Double drivers, Semi drivers, Company Car drivers, 4x4's and Emergency Service people to drive with lights and sirens.

Plus I have spent 13 years working as an Emergency Service volunteer responding to motor vehicle incidents to assist in the removal of people (both dead and alive).

So I wouldn't know anything, you blokes just have far too much knowledge and experience for me - have a nice argument. But mark my words, there will be a reduction in the NT road toll, come back and open up this thread in 4 years time and let me know the stats then, not 11 months into the change.

Cya :

Sorry, I'm a year or two late, but it shows who had facts and those simply speculating.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by two

Sorry, I'm a year or two late, but it shows who had facts and those simply speculating.

Oooh bitchy

Some nice quotes reading over this blast from the past, including KeepLeft:

If you seek to continue to dumb populaces down in this subject, by the introduction of low speed limits on otherwise safe roads, or other measures, then expect disinterest in the driving task to amplify with expected negative outcome.

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

[B]So I wouldn't know anything, you blokes just have far too much knowledge and experience for me - have a nice argument. But mark my words, there will be a reduction in the NT road toll, come back and open up this thread in 4 years time and let me know the stats then, not 11 months into the change.



Cya :

How about 6 years then...

2007 - 57
2008 - 75
2009 - 31
2010 - 50
2011 - 45
2012 - 49
2013 - 31 (to date)

[sexyxe]

http://www.transport.nt.gov.au/safet...our-statistics

Has the 10 year trend in a PDF.

Appears that seatbelts and booze are the big contributors and deaths as an average haven't really changed. Guess that's why they are trialling the open limits again.

[Outbackjack]

The task farce that was pushed thru back in 2006 was hijacked by the left wing nannies that know what is best for everyone. The then Guv was told by many road safety advocates that the 130 kph limits would not do any good. In fact I wrote a submission that stated that from many years of driving in both speed restricted area's and the open area's of the NT that it was safer for traffic to separate them selves thru personal choices of speed travelled at. I never recieved a reply. Ol' Harold Scruby is trying to wash the blood off his hands by having a tantrum about the re-introduction of the open hiways... He was one of the left wing nannies that helped push the 130 limit onto a population that did not want it. The fact that he does not even live here does not seem to phase him. He is very keen to push his dogma onto all Australians. The last thing he wants to see in a reduction in road trauma by giving drivers the personal choice of cruise speed. What this trial will do will totally dis-credit him and his ilk.... Bring on February and watch the tyrants fall....

[Outbackjack]

Friend at a local hotel: "Bookings made by some over seas car manufacturers starting after February next year."

Good for the local economy....

[Keepleft]

ABC NT had an interview with NT's roads minister, Ian Faulks (ex NSW parliamentary STAYSAFE secretary), and the ever delightful Harold Scruby.

NT's trial of (//) - the plan, this weblink will open for you in Word or similar, its worth a study:-
http://www.transport.nt.gov.au/__dat...mit-trial.docx

ABC NT's 'Bush Telegraph' show, click on 'Listen Now' or 'Download'. You will hear Ian, Peter Styles (Minister), and spiteful Harold.
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/...-speed/5042856

Comments?

[new2ford]

Reluctant though I am to acknowledge Scruby, he does have a point on a technicality. Hardly any countries in the world have a speed limit over 100 on single carriageway per direction roads (we're not talking motorways here). Even Russia, which is directly comparable to Australia in distances, open countryside etc, has a limit of 90 (typical for Europe) - their regional governments have discretion to lift that to 110.

So talking about 130, let alone unlimited, on NT single carriageway roads is a bit of a world exception.

Having said that, I think every one should be considered on a case by case basis.

[EDManual]

The above is not true in this way: When there is no one coming the other way, a 2 way road is EXACTLY THE SAME as a dual carriage way. And thats the point of this is. A 2 way road is NOT more dangerous than a dual carriageway when there is low traffic which is the case.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by EDManual

The above is not true in this way: When there is no one coming the other way, a 2 way road is EXACTLY THE SAME as a dual carriage way. And thats the point of this is. A 2 way road is NOT more dangerous than a dual carriageway when there is low traffic which is the case.

Not exactly. How do you really know there's nobody coming the other way - say at 160 km/h? That's a closing speed that would very hard to respond to in time if you were on the wrong side of the road at the same speed at the time.

Get over to Germany and get a feel for what you can see, even on a dead straight road, when the other vehicle is doing 200 and you're doing 130. It's hard enough when you're going in the same direction and judging lane changes. I'd hate to be on the wrong side on single carriageway at such closing speeds.

On a dual carriageway you don't expect the possibility of someone coming the other way. I'm not siding with Scruby and I support the general intent, just pointing out something that needs to be considered. It's up to Territorians - they know their driving conditions better than Mr Scruby, or me.

[BroncosXR8]

Have you driven in the NT @new2ford?, viewing distances of 3km+ is the norm rather then the exception.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by BroncosXR8

Have you driven in the NT @new2ford?, viewing distances of 3km+ is the norm rather then the exception.

Yes I know. I just questioned the comment that equated a twoway single lane road with a dual carriageway.

[Outbackjack]

It is not unusual to have 5+ kilometers forward visability in the NT in most places. The exception to that is the road between Katherine and Darwin. I doubt if that road will ever see (//) ever again. During the summer months you can easily drive for an hour at a time and not see an on coming car. Its a different story during the winter (tourist) season...

I heard that the Lacsetter hwy has been raised to 130 from 110. Cant confirm this as it was relayed to me via mate of some blokes cousin....

I am rigging up a camera to the tank of my motorcycle (1400GTR) When it is legal I will take some footage of crusing at 200PKH so people can get a sort of feel for high speed cruising and how its not the big deal some people would have you believe.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

I am rigging up a camera to the tank of my motorcycle (1400GTR) When it is legal I will take some footage of crusing at 200PKH so people can get a sort of feel for high speed cruising and how its not the big deal some people would have you believe.

No it's not a big deal but if you're on the wrong side of the road overtaking and somebody's coming the other way at 200, the closing speed of 400 km/h may be!

Everybody driving with headlights on helps to estimate distances.

[Outbackjack]

Originally Posted by new2ford

No it's not a big deal but if you're on the wrong side of the road overtaking and somebody's coming the other way at 200, the closing speed of 400 km/h may be!

Everybody driving with headlights on helps to estimate distances.

There not too many people that drive up the wrong side of the road. Although some dazed tourists from Europe have been known to have a little wander up the right hand side of the road .....

[new2ford]

I'd better lay off now I'm just teasing. Don't worry I'm right behind you