Thread: 130km/h speed limits

My thoughts as a road worker.
130,would love to drive at that speed.
In reality,not many COUNTRY roads are up to it,and in the city nuffies arent up to steering it on their freways.
My pet hate is overtaking lanes.They build them in uphill locations to allow faster vehicles to pass slower vehicles.
Most MODERN trucks can now hold thier 100kmh uphil.Many roadusers scared of getting a speeding ticket dawdle past these roadtrains at 110kmh in an overtaking lane.They get past and maybe 2 others do,the rest dont and get annoyed.
I say rate and design overtaking lanes at the 130 or a bit more,and limit trucks/trailers/caravans etc to 80 in the same zone.In that way the maximum hi speed traffic gets maximum use of the EXPENSIVE to build overtaking lanes.
Andrew

Andrew - while your point is certainly valid in general, it is not so valid to the point of this thread which is about introducing 130kph speed limits on freeways not secondary roads. While these roads may have passing lanes every few or more kms - freeways do not need overtaking lanes as in theory they have enough lanes to not need specific overtaking lanes.

The issue on freeways is as mentioned is drivers not keeping left unless overtaking.

Originally Posted by garrycol

Andrew - while your point is certainly valid in general, it is not so valid to the point of this thread which is about introducing 130kph speed limits on freeways not secondary roads. While these roads may have passing lanes every few or more kms - freeways do not need overtaking lanes as in theory they have enough lanes to not need specific overtaking lanes.

The issue on freeways is as mentioned is drivers not keeping left unless overtaking.

My point was build the overtaking lanes to be safe at 130kmh speeds and reduce speeds for trucks/trailing vehicles in these areas.
130 on freeways,YOU ARE DREAMING,they aint safe at 100kmh with the nuffies I occasionaly encounter!!!!
Andrew

I get over to Europe at least a couple of times per year plus multiple trips into Asia.
The main sections of the Hume are good by world standards and 130kph would be as safe as the drivers using it allow.

If you look at the breadth of road design and condition that we (Australians) have included within a 100-110kph maximum band it (the posted limit) runs from seriously above to well below what a reasonable person would say is 'safe and appropriate'.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Many of us are old enough to remember the Derestriction signs in the southern states too.



Where the general speed limit of 60 MPH didn't apply. Usually on country gravel roads.

The last derestricted road out of Sydney was the Putty Road and in 1970 the speed limit signs went up. The derestriction signs in NSW meant the previous speed limit no longer applied and the driver was expected to drive at a safe speed in the prevailing circumstances. Police could and would, in the absence of a speed limit, charge drivers with driving at a dangerous speed or in a dangerous manner. The defence of "not so" was available to the defendant who was required to prove he/she was a competent experienced driver accustomed to driving at speed. Members of motor sporting clubs commonly employed competition experience as proof of competency.

I'd like to see a lot more 'Keep Left Unless Overtaking' signs on dual-lane divided roads. And I'd like to see drivers who block the overtaking lane at below the speed limit booked for dangerous driving.

I remember reading a story about a traffic cop in Chiang Mai who got so annoyed with the behaviour of a motorist that he pulled out his pistol and shot him dead on the spot. Now that's traffic enforcement!
Yes, it was a true story, reported in the media and the cop was charged with murder.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I'd like to see a lot more 'Keep Left Unless Overtaking' signs on dual-lane divided roads.

Big ones. With "THIS MEANS YOU, DUMMY!" outlined in flashing lights on the bottom. The frequent yellow "keep left..." signs on our local freeway might as well be printed in Swahili for all the good they do.

On the related subject of uneducatable morons:

Man arrested and weapons located at Marino - UPDATE - South Australia Police News

One of the tv stations did a phone in poll. 400,000 votes in 30minutes to raise speed limits.