Police warn: don't drive below speed limit

mjt57 · Senior Member

Grey Nomads Inconsiderate?

KFT · Guru

Hmmm, A "conga line"

One slow van at the front and everyone is stuck behind?

Seems they were all travelling too close to the vehicle ahead 60m is the minimum distance in a non road train area 200m in a road train area.

Perhaps some education and maybe even some enforcement by the HWP.

The situation as depicted by the author would be very frustrating.

Is this another reason to need an endorsement to tow something bigger than a box trailer? It would seem likely.

IMHO

Frank

Possum3 · Guru

I read the comments in the attached article, and it concerns me that many of the complainants seem to be unaware of the maximum limits for towing trailers/caravans I.E. 100 kph in most mainland States, 90 kph in Tas, and posted limit in NT.
Further posted limits are a maximum speed limit (in good conditions) not a speed requirement. Additionally, when there are speed advisory signs (many up to 40 kph below maximum limit), you must drive at the speed that is safe for the conditions and for your vehicle.
I will agree, that a pet peeve of mine is a conga line of vans travelling too close to allow unrestrained/bob-tailed vehicles to overtake with safety.

Santa · Guru

The report is rubbish.

Not the fault of grey nomads at all, it's mum, dad and kids escaping the city for the holiday break.

The road depicted is the notorious port Wakefield road over the Easter break, a nightmare on any holiday weekend.

The turn off to Ardrossan North of Wakefield has been responsible for a number of road deaths over the years, the reason being that the state govt of SA refuses to consider bypassing Port Wakefield, obviously business interests are more important than lives, every other small town on this stretch has been been bypassed by the freeway, Wakefield is the exception, it's a bottle neck, a bloody nightmare, the sooner highway One bypasses it the better off every one will be.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

I agree with Santa. I stupid story in a rag of a newspaper (if they print this sort of story - as in fairy story) obviously to fill space. A shame the writer (the term reporter is too good for her) gets paid for writing garbage like this.

Yes - some RV users do travel as a group and are too close to be able to overtake safely - but Ive only ever seen this maybe 2-3 times and flashing your headlights at the rear van or a polite request on the radio soon sorts out safe gaps to pass.

If we want to take about unsafe driving - RVers travelling too close together are at the bottom of a VERY large pile. Lets start with speeding, drunk and drug affected drivers blah blah.

Interesting to read the last 5-6 comments ( I left my rant on it) in the link Martin kindly put up

Young Simmo · Guru

When I was caravanning with my 1992 Troopy, I used to travel at 75 to 85 Ks for economy, safety and peace of mind. I would be happy to have this dumb piece of gear behind me if I could make her late for her Triple Bypass. I promise I wont tell people to drive slower, if they don't tell me to drive faster.

dazren · Guru

confuse In my observations of driving around 60 to 80 thousand klm's per year in the last 15 years of my working life, ! I would say that 90% of drivers sit slightly under or slightly over the posted limits, these limits are set for a number of reasons, including to keep the traffic flowing,

If people are not comfortable driving at or close to the set speed limits, then maybe it is time they questioned their own confidence and capabilities,as they create a danger to themselves and others,

Granted when towing some Vans and Tugs do have mechanical limitations, that in certain situations it is not possible to drive at or near posted limits, However any person that is driving or towing at well below the limits when the roads, weather, and driving conditions allow it and choose to drive well under the limit because it is more economical for them to do so, show complete disregard for all other motorists,

The speed limits and road networks are designed to allow all traffic to flow in a safe and orderly manner, So if anyone that thinks it is ''OK for Them'' to drive at 20 kph under the limit, and Impede the flow of traffic, just so they can save a few bob from their fuel bill, are a very self centred lot with a ''Stuff you Jack I'm All right '' Attitude. hmm

03_Troopy · Guru

dazren wrote:
In my observations of driving around 60 to 80 thousand klm's per year in the last 15 years of my working life, ! I would say that 90% of drivers sit slightly under or slightly over the posted limits, these limits are set for a number of reasons, including to keep the traffic flowing,
If people are not comfortable driving at or close to the set speed limits, then maybe it is time they questioned their own confidence and capabilities,as they create a danger to themselves and others,
Granted when towing some Vans and Tugs do have mechanical limitations, that in certain situations it is not possible to drive at or near posted limits, However any person that is driving or towing at well below the limits when the roads, weather, and driving conditions allow it and choose to drive well under the limit because it is more economical for them to do so, show complete disregard for all other motorists,
The speed limits and road networks are designed to allow all traffic to flow in a safe and orderly manner, So if anyone that thinks it is ''OK for Them'' to drive at 20 kph under the limit, and Impede the flow of traffic, just so they can save a few bob from their fuel bill, are a very self centred lot with a ''Stuff you Jack I'm All right '' Attitude.

Santa · Guru

Any person driving at 80 kph on a 110 kph limited road is little more than a rolling road block, they may well save a few bucks on fuel, however drivers traveling this slowly are a major cause of frustration to the majority of road users.

Time and time again we see these slow coaches dawdling along hugging the centre line making it very difficult to pass, we also have the slow movers straddling the guide line on the left in the mistaken belief that they are doing the right thing, we see these types constantly on the Moonta to Kadina road.

If you don't feel safe driving at, or near, the posted maximum perhaps it's time to question whether you should still be on the road. wink

-- Edited by Santa on Sunday 1st of November 2015 11:24:13 AM

KFT · Guru

Some quite assertive replies in this thread, not the kind of thoughts a considerate driver should have IMHO.

Speed limits are a maximum permitted speed NOT a target that must be attained.

If a driver wishes to travel at a speed other than the posted limit, then they should give consideration to other road users and try to get out of the way, is how I see this issue.

Some heavy lift cranes and heavy/oversize loaders are speed limited to 80 kmh is that an issue too?

We really do need to be less aggressive on the roads because this is one of the contributing factors to crashes, Impatience makes drivers take unnecessary risks.

We all need to share the road equally and sitting behind a slower vehicle for 10km is not going to make your journey that much longer anyway.

If you are desperately in a hurry then I would be thinking you have not given yourself sufficient time to arrive alive.

Just the humble opinion of a road crash rescue operator of 15 years who has seen many broken people who did not need to be broken.

frank

-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 31st of October 2015 03:28:35 PM

Young Simmo · Guru

The roads are there for millions of people, not just a hand full of greedy ones that think they can call the shots. I have done it my way almost 60 years, so I aint changing anything, the greedy ones can do that. It is like the Freeways in Perth, everybody wants to get some where 2 minutes earlier, for my money that is MENTAL. If the limit is 100 Ks and I do 100 ks, they want to do 103 Ks, I repeat MENTAL.

I am not pointing the finger at anybody but, If the hat fits,,,,,you know the rest.

Simmo.

ST391GQ · Senior Member

I tow at about 80-90 ....not for economy....but more for the longevity of my tug...as it has a smallish diesel ....and wont last long if I started flogging it uphill and down dale.

However....being a truckie....I have mirrors ..AND a UHF ...and I use them.

If the traffic is starting to build up behind them ...and if its all cars etc...I will let them pass as soon as I can ...and its safe.

If its a truck or semi....will let them know I know they are there....and will slow as soon as they pull out to pass.Its amazing how much they appreciate it (as I did when on the road in the semi)...and quite often will pass on info about conditions ahead...places to camp overnight ...coppers ...etc etc.However ...idiots who just hog the road and don't consider others are really just oxygen thieves...and really deserve the sharp end of an axe.

Cheers Keith

Jamjar · Senior Member

The one major thing that is wrong with the newspaper article is that the writer states that there was a conga line of caravans with no space between them so they could overtake one by one. How could they see that there were no spaces between all the vans from behind a caravan?

What's the likelihood of a string of vans ALL travelling nose to bum?

Also, how can they assume that the conga was made up of only older drivers? Unless they did overtake them all and peer into each window.

I often travel the Newell, from West Wyalong northbound and back, and I have certainly been stuck behind semis travelling far too close together and so have had to overtake both upon finding the gap between them too small for my Commodore to fit into. You just don't expect no gap between them. The cavaners on the other hand are usually well spaced.

I sit on 90 when towing the van, as my car is a 6 cylinder, a 2000 model, done 160000km and I want it to last. It's taken me a while to get used to driving slowly, as I'm a led foot when not towing. If I catch a glimpse in the mirror of someone behind me I pull over as far as I can so they get a clear view past me.

I think it gets down to what kind of driver you have always been and has nothing to do with age or whether towing something. There will always be those who are impatient and care nothing about others on the road, or elsewhere.

Re: driving slower than posted limits, yes they are upper limits and not expected. However, it peeves me when another car driver is doing 80 in 110, but more so when they do 20 in a 40 area. One expects and accepts that caravans and trucks travel more slowly.

J.

Radar · Guru

For the most once again a lot of crap.

I like to travel around 90ks with van on it makes for easy overtaking target. Radar.

dazren · Guru

Hmm ! confuse Roads, Road laws, and Number of people using the roads have changed dramatically, we All must change and adapt or else we are a danger to everyone,? If I still drove like I did 50 years ago I would be dead by now for sure hmm

If I was driving on the Freeway on or near to the posted speed limit of say 100 Kph, and some one wanted to pass me at 105 Kph, It would cause me no concern whatsoever, Because I have adapted my driving style to suit todays Roads and Laws, ! Hence I would be sitting in the 'Left' Lane as todays law states, that would leave the Right hand lane free for some one to scream past me doing 105 Kph smile

-- Edited by dazren on Saturday 31st of October 2015 06:11:27 PM

Snail · Senior Member

For folks that like to travel at 70 to 80 and hold up other road users, I wonder if they would like to be behind me at 15kph.

Snail

-- Edited by Snail on Saturday 31st of October 2015 06:45:19 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

From my observations, Australian drivers are possibly the most impatient in the world.
Even in Germany where autobahns allow speeds of 120kph to unlimited, all trucks and most other vehicles towing ANYTHING are limited to 80kph.
That limit also applies to secondary 2 lane roads where the general speed limit is 100kph and overtaking opportunities are rarer than they are in Australia.
NO ONE gets impatient and sitting in a queue behind a truck or motorhome for many kilometres is a regular event.

It is not slow drivers who create dangerous situations, it is the impatient ones who take unnecessary risks to save 30 seconds.
Get over it folks.

Cheers,
Peter

Desert Dweller · Guru

After more than 40,000kms of extensive travel over the past few years we've never struck a ''slow coach'' type RVer. We travel at a steady 90kph & everyone seems to overtake us!

Young Simmo · Guru

Spot on Peter_n_Margaret , Most people are happy with the way things are, it is only that 1% whose years are getting bigger, and their brains are getting smaller that bellyache.

Simmo.

JayDee · Guru

When I was a Knight of the Road... you know a Sales Rep travelling around Queensland and NSW, my pet hate was not the Caravan public, but other small vehicles with a huge load on board and travelling well below the speed limit.
Ok, safety must be no.1 priority when we are all sharing the road.
But it is always the bloody squeaky wheel that get the attention like opening article in this thread.
Jay&Dee

Casualkev · Senior Member

Unlike the reporter GN's are a fair bit smarter and stay put during peak school holiday periods!

Kev

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Hey Snail - great comment !!! hahaha. I admire folk like you who bike around this hot and arid country often by themselves.

The rest of us sit in our air conditioned vehicles and moan about other drivers...........

Bevandy2 · Senior Member

Sounds like some mindless journalist with nothing to write about rehashing the old argument of sharing the road.

For those who can't stand being held up, get off the road, you don't deserve to be there, and for those who hold up the traffic, have a care for those behind and pull over when able to do so safely.

What's so difficult about all that? Not rocket science, just consideration for others. A two way street.

HiAce98 · Veteran Member

KFT wrote:
Some quite assertive replies in this thread, not the kind of thoughts a considerate driver should have IMHO.

Speed limits are a maximum permitted speed NOT a target that must be attained.

If a driver wishes to travel at a speed other than the posted limit, then they should give consideration to other road users and try to get out of the way, is how I see this issue.

Some heavy lift cranes and heavy/oversize loaders are speed limited to 80 kmh is that an issue too?

We really do need to be less aggressive on the roads because this is one of the contributing factors to crashes, Impatience makes drivers take unnecessary risks.

We all need to share the road equally and sitting behind a slower vehicle for 10km is not going to make your journey that much longer anyway.

If you are desperately in a hurry then I would be thinking you have not given yourself sufficient time to arrive alive.

Just the humble opinion of a road crash rescue operator of 15 years who has seen many broken people who did not need to be broken.

frank

-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 31st of October 2015 03:28:35 PM

Hear hear!

The posted speed limits are not a minimum. I know that it can be a bit frustrating to be behind a slow vehicle, but get a life, if that's the worst frustration you've ever had try working for the ATO for 12 years.

I prefer to travel at around 90, so I try to avoid the highways, but if I can't I will always let others overtake when safe. However I'm not prepared to drive so fast that I can't afford to look at anything but the road just because someone should have left home 5 minutes earlier.

Most of the highways have overtaking lanes every 10km or so, which means if you have to do 90 instead of 110 for a whole 10km you may lose 1.2 minutes! On the other hand, if you try to pass when it's not safe you may get to your final destination years early.

-- Edited by HiAce98 on Sunday 1st of November 2015 12:56:05 AM

dorian · Guru

If you can't drive at the posted speed limit, then hand in your licence and stay home. Thank you for your consideration.

sandsmere · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
From my observations, Australian drivers are possibly the most impatient in the world.
Even in Germany where autobahns allow speeds of 120kph to unlimited, all trucks and most other vehicles towing ANYTHING are limited to 80kph.
That limit also applies to secondary 2 lane roads where the general speed limit is 100kph and overtaking opportunities are rarer than they are in Australia.
NO ONE gets impatient and sitting in a queue behind a truck or motorhome for many kilometres is a regular event.

It is not slow drivers who create dangerous situations, it is the impatient ones who take unnecessary risks to save 30 seconds.
Get over it folks.

Cheers,
Peter

This. ^^^^^^^

jonathan · Veteran Member

.. well said Brian .. totally agree !

I drive to conditions .. all of 'em that I can see ! .. even those impatient ones behind me who feel that need for speed ..

I'm not about to change .. it's nice to have a clean licence and driving record .. I was taught by Luffey's old man and if you don't know who I'm talking about, then I wouldn't ask !

.. being a defensive driver, one must be considerate of all around you .. You just never know which one will be that "nerd" that is so self-centered that they will extend their ego-driven capability beyond their capacity ..

wasn_me · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

It is not slow drivers who create dangerous situations, it is the impatient ones who take unnecessary risks to save 30 seconds.
Get over it folks.

Cheers,
Peter

Every long w'end & school holidays we hear about the fatal five in advertising programs. Drunk-drug driving, distractions, fatigue, speeding, seat belts.

We never hear about impatience. My guess is impatience would kill as many as any of the others.

My pet hate is when you drive on roads with intermittent passing lanes, & when you come to a passing lane, the clown behind will stay behind & leave it to the last minute to pass, causing you to have to take evasive action.

There are people on the road who have no idea how to pass safely.

Cheers Pete

-- Edited by wasn_me on Sunday 1st of November 2015 09:05:34 AM

hako · Guru

For the last 12 months we've towed at whatever the speed limit is so we can 'blend in' with the traffic flow - sure thing it uses more fuel but it is a lot safer. The added bonus is you get there quicker.
Before that we towed at 80-90 and were always worried about what was behind - all for a 10% fuel saving. Not worth the hassle in our opinion.

Good Luck.

Santa · Guru

dorian wrote:
If you can't drive at the posted speed limit, then hand in your licence and stay home. Thank you for your consideration.

Amen to the above.

Plenty of info on Google re the subject of driving below the speed limit, particularly on freeways.

The majority of drivers get the message and act appropriately, of course you get the odd troglodyte who reckon they know better and insist driving well below the posted limit is safer, police in SA will fine you for dawdling in the right hand lane of a duel lane highway, as they should.

Police warn: don't drive below speed limit
"THE officer in charge at Finch Hatton police Sergeant Lyndsay Judson has issued a statement telling drivers to not drive below marked speed signs

"What I have also noted is that there are a lot of every- day drivers adding to the slow traffic problem as they are driving at well under the posted speed limits"

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/slow-drivers-warned/2718044/