The section of Highway 8 around  and over Pykes Reservoir  was neither truck nor caravan friendly - narrow,windy,rough and a lot of camber. 

The "Cherry Inn" on the hill on the West side of "The Marsh" was a great place for a feed and if really hungry the Myniong Pub for a steak.

The highway  bypassing both towns in early 70's   did not do these business's much good.

KB

When dad upgraded the A Model Ford to a Austin A40 he drove twice as fast as before but still well under todays limit. 

David

 

-- Edited by daffyfrancis on Wednesday 10th of January 2018 07:40:45 PM

Santa wrote:

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If you don't feel you can drive safely at or near the posted limit in a modern vehicle under good conditions I would suggest it's time to question whether you should be on the road at all.

Slow pokes are not only a hindrance to others they are also a major safety hazard.

From WA police "

Is there a minimum speed limit?

Traffic Road Rules Offences Hazard

Yes. If you are travelling on a Freeway you must travel no slower than 20km/hr below the speed limit unless there is traffic congestion or road conditions dictate." eg - 80Kph on 100Kph limit ... or 90Kph on 110Kph limit.

The quote below is from the UK, full article here https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/why-driving-too-slowly-is-dangerous

"driving too slowly or braking without good cause is an offence, coming under the scope of inconsiderate driving. This is defined as driving a vehicle on a road or in a public place without reasonable consideration for other people. In order to prove that you're guilty of this offence, prosecutors must show that another driver was actually inconvenienced by your driving. The reason its classed an offence is that a car that's travelling far below the speed of the vehicles around it can create a hazard for other road-users, as its unusual and unexpected. At the very least, a dawdling car causes concern as other motorists wonder what other unusual driving behaviour might be exhibited by the driver."

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Gday...

Yep ... fully understand what you are trying to impart Santa - that is WA road law ... OH and from the mother country which has no jurisdiction here.

A further view of 'minimum speed limit' - https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/4557/what-is-the-minimum-speed-limit

I would suggest that it is perfectly sensible, legal and generally accepted that vehicles towing a large trailer (caravan, boat trailer, farm trailer) can travel at 80kph-90kph on any road in Straya.

Of course, we can all get our collective knickers in a twisted knot because we get caught behind a slow moving vehicle - whether it be a caravan, truck, farm machinery, bus or horse and carriage. Understandable, but I reckon we should just get over it ... part of the driving experience for us ALL is to drive to the conditions ... and if one encounters a slow moving vehicle, get over it, wait till safe to pass and relax.

I agree, that when one is travelling at 80kph-90kph on the open road it is sensible, indeed safer, to not let the convoy get too long behind. Either slow down at those overtaking lanes (not speed up) and let the frothing throng hoot on past ... or even pull over at the next opportunity that is safe and let that same frothing throng hurtle to their destination.

How many of us have had some vehicle FINALLY pass us and rush off down the road and then we find we pull up beside them at the first set of lights in the next town.

I suggest we ALL pause and realise that it should be about the journey and not the destination ... for us mob on forums like this, geez, we are off enjoying the wide, brown, inviting land ... soak it all up and not sook it all up. 

Cheers - John

 

 

Hi SANTA. With respect I wish to shoot a few things down in flames on the quotes provided. I worked in a law profession all my life and these things come natural to me.

Re: If you don't feel you can drive safely at or near the posted limit in a modern vehicle under good conditions I would suggest it's time to question whether you should be on the road at all.

Slow pokes are not only a hindrance to others they are also a major safety hazard.

From WA police "

The quote above does not mention anywhere about any vehicle except "a modern vehicle under good conditions". This doesn't IMO include cars towing caravans, trucks, farming machinery. The single modern car in good conditions is a "slow poke" if they cant travel at "NEAR or at the speed limit". Furthermore in Victoria and maybe other states 3 kph over the limit you can be prosecuted. It is fair to assume that with any vehicle there are variables like tyre size, speedo error, cruise control up and down speeds etc...for some drivers to cruise on say 105 in a 110 zone or 95 in a 100 zone...for single MODERN cars not towing.

The following cars don't come under this category. - Non modern cars eg over 25 yo (classified vintage), cars towing any caravan, trucks, bicycles, etc. So that comment in that context from WA police person is right, there are no modern vehicles I know of that cant cruise at say 5kph below the limit in good conditions even a Suzuki Alto 1000 cc car can easily do that.

Re:

Is there a minimum speed limit?

Traffic Road Rules Offences Hazard

Yes. If you are travelling on a Freeway you must travel no slower than 20km/hr below the speed limit unless there is traffic congestion or road conditions dictate."

The quote below is from the UK, full article here www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/why-driving-too-slowly-is-dangerous

"driving too slowly or braking without good cause is an offence, coming under the scope of inconsiderate driving. This is defined as driving a vehicle on a road or in a public place without reasonable consideration for other people. In order to prove that you're guilty of this offence, prosecutors must show that another driver was actually inconvenienced by your driving. The reason its classed an offence is that a car thats travelling far below the speed of the vehicles around it can create a hazard for other road-users, as its unusual and unexpected. At the very least, a dawdling car causes concern as other motorists wonder what other unusual driving behaviour might be exhibited by the driver."

"Without good cause".....yet again there are holes in that. No policeperson will book you for towing a caravan at 80kph in a 110 zone if you explain good cause. The most obvious cause is that you are indeed towing a trailer/van weighing near the weight of your tug!. You might have a head wind, be down on power as you chose the petrol version not the diesel etc. It would not put you under the "inconsiderate umbrella"....eg " without reasonable consideration for other people". Also to prosecute another vehicle must be inconvenienced. Would a magistrate consider a 10 minute slow pace an inconvenience? likely no, but 30 minutes on a minor road could be considered inconvenience. Re: "a dawdling car"...yet again its talking about a single car not a towing rig.

John (rockylizard) has the attitude correct and most of us aspire to that responsible considerate goal. My objection is to the road users suggesting that you SHOULD travel at the speed limit and if you don't then YOU HOLD ME UP! or MY TRUCKING SCHEDULE IS RUINED!.

We toured the lap in 2016 as members know in our i30 Hyundai and van 750kg atm. Although a manual diesel the car did not have a 1:1 4th gear. In fact 4th and fifth were both indirect gears. This meant that the cars gearbox might be under a little stress. This along with the engine feeling comfortable towing at 85-90kph we stayed on the speed spectrum. We only had 2-3 irritated drivers all road trains. This was because I couldn't pull over or speed up at that time (hills) but it seems road trail prime movers can do 100kph over Mt Everest such is their power. But overall drivers were thankful for our efforts and mutual waves abounded.

We drive "to the conditions at the time" - and as a lot of the roads we travel throughout Oz are sub standard for the posted speed limit - we would often be travelling at 20k UNDER the posted limit.

Have had several trucks call on the UHF - "Get up to speed" - as said above, the posted speed limit is just that a SPEED LIMIT! NOT the recommended speed for the area, but the maximum you should drive at - if you are on some of the roads with say 100kph posted, but the road is narrow, roughly edged, with a drop off - to drive TO THE CONDITIONS you should not be doing 100kph - more likely 85-90 to be safe.

We have no problems with trucks and drivers, and will call them through when it is safe, they are working, we are not in any particular hurry, so we let them go on their way. Most times will get a "blink-blink" thank you.

I don't think any of us appreciate the drivers - cars, caravans, motorhomes, trucks etc., who come up behind and sit on your backside, trying to get you to go faster. Maybe they need to slow down - as we often pass them siting in petrol stations filling up.

As always, this sort of thing is an interesting discussion.

Forgetting that this is about towing speed, how many areas of discussion/life are like this.

That is, you are not allowed to impose your right to do something legal on me. Oh, but I can impose my right not to do that legal thing on you!

Deserves some consideration I suggest!

Santa wrote:

---

If you don't feel you can drive safely at or near the posted limit in a modern vehicle under good conditions I would suggest it's time to question whether you should be on the road at all.

Slow pokes are not only a hindrance to others they are also a major safety hazard.

From WA police "

Is there a minimum speed limit?

Traffic Road Rules Offences Hazard

Yes. If you are travelling on a Freeway you must travel no slower than 20km/hr below the speed limit unless there is traffic congestion or road conditions dictate."

The quote below is from the UK, full article here https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/using/why-driving-too-slowly-is-dangerous

"driving too slowly or braking without good cause is an offence, coming under the scope of inconsiderate driving. This is defined as driving a vehicle on a road or in a public place without reasonable consideration for other people. In order to prove that you're guilty of this offence, prosecutors must show that another driver was actually inconvenienced by your driving. The reason its classed an offence is that a car thats travelling far below the speed of the vehicles around it can create a hazard for other road-users, as its unusual and unexpected. At the very least, a dawdling car causes concern as other motorists wonder what other unusual driving behaviour might be exhibited by the driver."

-- Edited by Santa on Thursday 11th of January 2018 11:08:12 AM

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if my fading memory is still in tact doesn't the uk motorways have speed limits posted in each lane ie a stretch of 3 lane motorway may have 80 kph lane an 90 kph lane and a 100 kph lane an cameras everywhere to check for compliance . not that it applies here we have the keep left unless overtakeing signs which most people think doesn't apply to them