Rejoice - slow driver fined

The Belmont Bear · Guru

RE: Rejoice - slow driver fined

Eaglemax · Guru

The Belmont Bear wrote:
Australian design standards for speedos says that they cannot read slower than your actual speed but they can be up to 10% out the other way. In other words if you are doing an actual speed of 100kph the speedo is not allowed to read 99 or less but needs to read somewhere between 100 and 110 to meet the standard. Most manufacturers calibrate their speedos so that your actual speed is lower than your speedo reading - the last 3 cars I have owned have been around 5kph (5%) lower at 100kph. That means if l was travelling at 80kph by my speedo I would have an actual speed of only 76kph.
Cheers
Bb

Very true

A few years ago I purchased a new company car, a Proton Jumbuck ute.

So a few months later I got booked for 109kph in a 100 zone Murray Valley highway near Cowowa. I begged my case that my speedo read 102kph. Cop told me it was my problem and better get it checked. Fair enough.

So being mathematical I set about timing myself between kilometre posts then confirmed it with a mates GPS...yep it read 7kph less than actual speed. Tyre sizes checked etc.

So I rang the cops Sargeant and he told me I had choices- I could get it recalibrated or he could issue a certificate of unroadworthy. He went on to mention of the law and that the manufacturer was breaking said law by allowing the model's speedo to read low.

Blues Man · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
The Belmont Bear wrote:
Australian design standards for speedos says that they cannot read slower than your actual speed but they can be up to 10% out the other way. In other words if you are doing an actual speed of 100kph the speedo is not allowed to read 99 or less but needs to read somewhere between 100 and 110 to meet the standard. Most manufacturers calibrate their speedos so that your actual speed is lower than your speedo reading - the last 3 cars I have owned have been around 5kph (5%) lower at 100kph. That means if l was travelling at 80kph by my speedo I would have an actual speed of only 76kph.
Cheers
Bb
Very true

There you go ......Dammed if you do , and Dammed if you don't ..
A few years ago I purchased a new company car, a Proton Jumbuck ute.
So a few months later I got booked for 109kph in a 100 zone Murray Valley highway near Cowowa. I begged my case that my speedo read 102kph. Cop told me it was my problem and better get it checked. Fair enough.

So being mathematical I set about timing myself between kilometre posts then confirmed it with a mates GPS...yep it read 7kph less than actual speed. Tyre sizes checked etc.

So I rang the cops Sargeant and he told me I had choices- I could get it recalibrated or he could issue a certificate of unroadworthy. He went on to mention of the law and that the manufacturer was breaking said law by allowing the model's speedo to read low.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
The Belmont Bear wrote:
Australian design standards for speedos says that they cannot read slower than your actual speed but they can be up to 10% out the other way. In other words if you are doing an actual speed of 100kph the speedo is not allowed to read 99 or less but needs to read somewhere between 100 and 110 to meet the standard. Most manufacturers calibrate their speedos so that your actual speed is lower than your speedo reading - the last 3 cars I have owned have been around 5kph (5%) lower at 100kph. That means if l was travelling at 80kph by my speedo I would have an actual speed of only 76kph.
Cheers
Bb
Very true
A few years ago I purchased a new company car, a Proton Jumbuck ute.
So a few months later I got booked for 109kph in a 100 zone Murray Valley highway near Cowowa. I begged my case that my speedo read 102kph. Cop told me it was my problem and better get it checked. Fair enough.

So being mathematical I set about timing myself between kilometre posts then confirmed it with a mates GPS...yep it read 7kph less than actual speed. Tyre sizes checked etc.

So I rang the cops Sargeant and he told me I had choices- I could get it recalibrated or he could issue a certificate of unroadworthy. He went on to mention of the law and that the manufacturer was breaking said law by allowing the model's speedo to read low.

In your case Eaglemax if you were doing 102kph by your speedo and your actual speed was 109kph then your speedo did not meet the required Australian design specification and probably needed a recalibration. Your actual speed should always be less than your speedo reading and could be under by as much as 10% so in theory you should never get booked for speeding if you stick to the speed limit. You may get booked for going too slow if you happened to be travelling at the minimum speed which was more the point that I was making.

Cheers

BB

denmonkey · Senior Member

so where does the expectation for people to slow to 40km/h when passing emergency vehicles fit in ?

-- Edited by denmonkey on Thursday 17th of January 2019 10:09:52 AM

Hewy54 · Senior Member

denmonkey wrote:
so where does the expectation for people to slow to 40km/h when passing emergency vehicles fit in ?

-- Edited by denmonkey on Thursday 17th of January 2019 10:09:52 AM

Quite obviously. the limit past emergency vehicles is 40 kph, so I do not see the problem.

Eaglemax · Guru

Hewy54 wrote:
denmonkey wrote:
so where does the expectation for people to slow to 40km/h when passing emergency vehicles fit in ?

-- Edited by denmonkey on Thursday 17th of January 2019 10:09:52 AM
Quite obviously. the limit past emergency vehicles is 40 kph, so I do not see the problem.

and an emergency vehicle is one with blue and red flashing lights only

Yuglamron · Guru

None of the reports published have been accurate enough to say he was causing a danger to other road users. One said "Clearly an danger to other road users" Such a subjective call and not accurate which should be the criteria.

Like most of us we drive "To the Conditions" I Hit a Roo earlier last year heading North on the Newel just South of Dubbo.Around 7:30 in the evening. I have never seen so many Roos along the highway so I had slowed to around 70Kph. Still managed to collect one which destroyed my Bumper Bar and headlights. I was in a 110 Kph zone. Should I have been fined for going too slow?

So every slow vehicle such as a Semi going up a hill is a travelling roadblock and should be fined for being way under the speed limit. My MH is slow up hills ,so I should be fined for going too slow.

Any road in Australia you will have big variations in speed between vehicles ,it's part and parcel of driving. Unless they can prove categorically that the guy was causing severe problems it seems that "The Opinion of the Police officer " is just that his opinion.

It will be interesting to see the outcome if the guy fights it in Court. All we have is some political claptrap in the paper without actual proofs.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Yuglamron, I believe this "offence" was on a particular freeway in WA. It is the road rule/law for that particular piece of road that there is a maximum limit of 100Kph and a minimum speed required of 80Kph. OH by the way, I believe the only vehicles allowed to use THAT freeway are cars, 4x4, utes and motorcycles. Trucks and all other "potentially slow moving" vehicles are not allowed.

If one is travelling below 80Kph on THAT freeway then one attracts the ire of the plod and therefore a fine. OH, and given all the "rejoicing" by all and sundry in WA it is obviously very much supported by WA drivers.

The spokesperson for the authorities stated -

"Depth perception at night decreases and other vehicles swerve to avoid running into the back of the slower vehicle, without checking the lane next to them is clear, and a crash occurs, the spokesperson said.

People get stuck behind the slow vehicle and cant change lanes due to vehicles doing the speed limit in the other lanes, those drivers decide to change lanes anyway due to frustration and it causes a crash."

I guess they have a fairly high accident rate on that freeway due to the fact that WA drivers are unable to adjust to other road users that might be travelling a bit too slow - and in particular are not able to judge distance and/or change lanes etc without causing a crash.

That notwithstanding, the law she's the law hmm . Travel at under 80kph on THAT freeway and ya gawn or have a high chance of being rear-ended or the cause of an accident. Well, ya gawn if plod sees ya anyway

Damned if I know how the rest of the drivers in Straya cope when encountering road users travelling at differing speeds.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 17th of January 2019 01:03:36 PM

miroku12g · Senior Member

In N.Z. at the moment, 100k is standard, if your doing 97k then your SLOW LOL

Dave

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

This only seems to be a problem in Australia that has some of the most impatient drivers in the world.
In Germany, for instance, ALL vehicles with a GVM of 3.5T or higher have a speed limit of 80kph at all times, and that includes on motorways with open speed limits and on single lane roads with 100kph speed limits.
Everyone there seems to be able to cope, but we can't????
Cheers,
Peter

Donk · Member

Hi Guys,
I think there might be a bit more to this story.
Common sense needs to prevail on this topic, if you are traveling under 80 in a 100 zone on a flat road "Why" ?
Is it an under powered tow vehicle or the road conditions ?
The cops will use their judgement in these situations, otherwise they could sit on the top of a step incline and book every truck, caravan and car that drops below 80 before the crest of a hill.
We travelled the Stuart highway with a 130km posted limit in 40 degree days at 85 to 90 km towing a 21 foot van, most of the trucks and cars were down to 100 to 110, so by rights we were 45km under the posted limit.
Plenty of police passed us and not a single issue.
So maybe there is a bit more to this story ?
If your rig setup can't tow at 90km then agreed, you should not be on a freeway and may need to evaluate your setup.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I posted a little earlier but ya probably missed it -

"I believe this "offence" was on a particular freeway in WA. It is the road rule/law for that particular piece of road that there is a maximum limit of 100Kph and a minimum speed required of 80Kph. OH by the way, I believe the only vehicles allowed to use THAT freeway are cars, 4x4, utes and motorcycles. Trucks and all other "potentially slow moving" vehicles are not allowed.
If one is travelling below 80Kph on THAT freeway then one attracts the ire of the plod and therefore a fine."

Cheers - John

Eaglemax · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
I posted a little earlier but ya probably missed it -
"I believe this "offence" was on a particular freeway in WA. It is the road rule/law for that particular piece of road that there is a maximum limit of 100Kph and a minimum speed required of 80Kph. OH by the way, I believe the only vehicles allowed to use THAT freeway are cars, 4x4, utes and motorcycles. Trucks and all other "potentially slow moving" vehicles are not allowed.
If one is travelling below 80Kph on THAT freeway then one attracts the ire of the plod and therefore a fine."
Cheers - John

That kind of takes away most of the hype of the thread John. lol. Then again, some readers of the article might just speed up a little when they are too slow.

Mamil · Senior Member

rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
I posted a little earlier but ya probably missed it -
"I believe this "offence" was on a particular freeway in WA. It is the road rule/law for that particular piece of road that there is a maximum limit of 100Kph and a minimum speed required of 80Kph. OH by the way, I believe the only vehicles allowed to use THAT freeway are cars, 4x4, utes and motorcycles. Trucks and all other "potentially slow moving" vehicles are not allowed.
If one is travelling below 80Kph on THAT freeway then one attracts the ire of the plod and therefore a fine."
Cheers - John

As far as I'm aware there is nothing special about that section of the Mitchell Freeway. I've travelled it many times, including a number of times towing my caravan, and there are no special signs, and plenty of heavy vehicles. What makes you think there are special rules for that stretch of freeway?

-- Edited by Mamil on Friday 18th of January 2019 08:11:46 PM

-- Edited by Mamil on Friday 18th of January 2019 08:13:04 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Mamil wrote:
rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
I posted a little earlier but ya probably missed it -
"I believe this "offence" was on a particular freeway in WA. It is the road rule/law for that particular piece of road that there is a maximum limit of 100Kph and a minimum speed required of 80Kph. OH by the way, I believe the only vehicles allowed to use THAT freeway are cars, 4x4, utes and motorcycles. Trucks and all other "potentially slow moving" vehicles are not allowed.
If one is travelling below 80Kph on THAT freeway then one attracts the ire of the plod and therefore a fine."
Cheers - John
As far as I'm aware there is nothing special about that section of the Mitchell Freeway. I've travelled it many times, including a number of times towing my caravan, and there are no special signs, and plenty of heavy vehicles. What makes you think there are special rules for that stretch of freeway?

Gday...

This might help

https://www.slp.wa.gov.au/statutes/regs.nsf/c730e0b0cac4b4f8c82573ed001ddf4f/49243df719300861482569930032b42c?OpenDocument

Cheers - John

Mamil · Senior Member

rockylizard wrote:
Mamil wrote:
rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
I posted a little earlier but ya probably missed it -
"I believe this "offence" was on a particular freeway in WA. It is the road rule/law for that particular piece of road that there is a maximum limit of 100Kph and a minimum speed required of 80Kph. OH by the way, I believe the only vehicles allowed to use THAT freeway are cars, 4x4, utes and motorcycles. Trucks and all other "potentially slow moving" vehicles are not allowed.
If one is travelling below 80Kph on THAT freeway then one attracts the ire of the plod and therefore a fine."
Cheers - John
As far as I'm aware there is nothing special about that section of the Mitchell Freeway. I've travelled it many times, including a number of times towing my caravan, and there are no special signs, and plenty of heavy vehicles. What makes you think there are special rules for that stretch of freeway?
Gday...
This might help
https://www.slp.wa.gov.au/statutes/regs.nsf/c730e0b0cac4b4f8c82573ed001ddf4f/49243df719300861482569930032b42c?OpenDocument
Cheers - John

Precisely, all freeways in Western Australia are subject to the same rules, but you said "I believe this "offence" was on a particular freeway in WA. It is the road rule/law for that particular piece of road that there is a maximum limit of 100Kph and a minimum speed required of 80Kph. OH by the way, I believe the only vehicles allowed to use THAT freeway are cars, 4x4, utes and motorcycles. Trucks and all other "potentially slow moving" vehicles are not allowed."

I'm afraid you are wrong on both counts. There are no special/different rules for "that particular piece of road", it is subject to exactly the same rules as all other freeways in WA. The rules for freeways are different to other classes of road though - is this what you meant?Secondly you are incorrect that trucks aren't allowed to use a freeway, only oversized loads, tractors, mopeds, bicycles, animals, and pedestrians are banned.

By the way, even on freeways there are exceptions to the rule -" If the speed limit is 100km/h, you are not allowed to travel slower than 80km/h (unless the road, weather, visibility, traffic and other conditions require you to travel slower)" so that effectively covers what others have been saying about weather conditions, roos etc.

-- Edited by Mamil on Friday 18th of January 2019 08:52:54 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Well, there ya go Mamil hmm ... got it wrong again ... at least I am consistent.

cheers - John

Mamil · Senior Member

It can be confusing. I think the important points here are that the "20kph rule" only applies to Freeways, which are only in and around Perth metro, with the notable exception of the Forrest highway down to Bunbury. It doesn't apply to other classes of roads like open country roads. Secondly, even on freeways there are exceptions when "the road, weather, visibility, and other conditions require you to travel slower."