Thread: Does anyone ever obey the speed limit

Considering over 65% of the world drive on the right it's hardly an American thing!

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

I thought that was a national road rule. You can't pass in Vic unless both lanes are clear either.

Just checked the Vic road rules and it's the same as NSW. You just have to check that the "road ahead is clear", and it's safe, and so on. Likewise, South Australia only says the road must be clear ahead on a "single lane road". So unless the requirement for both oncoming lanes to be clear is buried somewhere in the source legislation, I think this one of those tomato-tomato rules. Most people seem to just assume that you need both oncoming lanes to be totally clear.

Oncoming vehicles must not move into the centre oncoming lane if they themselves aren't overtaking. Also, there is no logical reason for an oncoming vehicle to randomly pull into the centre lane if they can clearly see you coming. There is no increased risk of collision over passing an oncoming vehicle on a standard two-way road.

Originally Posted by solmanic

Also, there is no logical reason

most people dont follow the road rules, let alone logic.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

I thought that was a national road rule. You can't pass in Vic unless both lanes are clear either.

I have never heard of this rule. Not saying that it isn't just I never new it.

Having said this, if Solmanic is correct in post No. 123 it would explain why I have not heard it, as it might not exist.

Originally Posted by solmanic

In NSW the rule just says "if the road ahead is clear" which is ambiguous as if there is only a car in the far left oncoming lane, and they by law have to stay in that left lane (since they are not overtaking), then the road ahead is clear.

National road rules? Pffh! I say we should change to driving on the other side of the road here in Queensland since everything else we do up here is trying so hard to be American.

You may well be right.
The only reason I thought it was the same was because just out of Albury before the duel lane freeway was done, there used to be a sign saying that you couldn't overtake,,, yet it was a broken white line ????

Originally Posted by solmanic

Just checked the Vic road rules and it's the same as NSW. You just have to check that the "road ahead is clear", and it's safe, and so on. Likewise, South Australia only says the road must be clear ahead on a "single lane road". So unless the requirement for both oncoming lanes to be clear is buried somewhere in the source legislation, I think this one of those tomato-tomato rules. Most people seem to just assume that you need both oncoming lanes to be totally clear.

Oncoming vehicles must not move into the centre oncoming lane if they themselves aren't overtaking. Also, there is no logical reason for an oncoming vehicle to randomly pull into the centre lane if they can clearly see you coming. There is no increased risk of collision over passing an oncoming vehicle on a standard two-way road.

In South Australia, they have bloody great signs stating that it is OK to overtake using an opposing overtaking lane "ONLY WHEN BOTH OPPOSING LANES ARE CLEAR".

Here in WA we're allowed to use an opposing overtaking lane, provide it is clear and you don't cross an unbroken white line to do so.

Originally Posted by BMKal

In South Australia, they have bloody great signs stating that it is OK to overtake using an opposing overtaking lane "ONLY WHEN BOTH OPPOSING LANES ARE CLEAR".

I know the sign you mean now - I just found one on Google streetview. It must be a location specific thing as it's not a blanket rule according to the legislation. The sign doesn't even appear in the list of standard or commonly used road signs for SA.

Interestingly, scooting along the road in streetview I found another location with the same line marking and no sign. Go figure.

Although I agree sometimes that practice is ridiculous, there have been many many occasions in my life driving in Qld (I've only moved to the ACT in the last 2 years) where extreme sudden downpours have made visibility damn near impossible.

In those, infrequent but very real, circumstances I think it may be better to pull over than to try creeping along at slow speed on a major roadway only to risk some non-attentive idiot speeding into your rear and killing someone.

Oops, sorry… forgot to include the quote from several posts back, about people stopping in Qld when it rains