Speed limits different for different drivers and other thoughts.

I've often wondered why our speed limits are relatively slow.
Our motorways seem no worse than European ones from first hand experience.
Roo's generally aren't as big a horses, cows, or reindeer - although it seems they do get on the road more frequently.
The country is blimmin ENORMOUS!

So, does anyone know the actual, definitive, scientifically proven reason 100kph was chosen, and 110kph for a very small %? And why it's never been increased? Seriously, I really would like to know.

And why in the name of whatever deity you choose, do soooo many people believe it's OK to join the motorway at a significantly slower speed than the traffic already on the motorway?
I consider myself lucky if I can join over 80kph - as in, there's no-one in front of me so I can merge safely.
Just this morning I had some red P muppet joining the M1 in front of me at less than 60kph, with HGV's coming up behind. Apparently she thought I was her shield, or something!
If I had a dash cam I would have reported her. And the criminally negligent examiner who passed her!

Oh and by the way, in the situation where there's a dotted line & you're joining the main carriageway, you MUST give way. Apparently most joining drivers think they have right of way at any merge and don't even bother to check their mirrors, never mind look round.
Also worth teaching to these amateurs & incompetents - if you're travelling below the speed limit by any amount, stay in the LEFT lanes!
Speed UP when overtaking - especially large vehicles that can be knocked around by side winds.
Lanes in tunnels are not normally narrower than the ones outside - you do not need to drive more slowly.

I've been doing quite a bit more rural driving recently, and have been astonished at the number of slow drivers who insist on driving in the few-&-far-between overtaking lanes!

And don't get me started on mis-aligned headlights! To any of you with lifted vehicles, if you haven't had your lights realigned, please, please do so!?

As for those who claim you'll only be a few minutes later travelling slower, as per an earlier post in this thread - if I can do an average speed of 60 instead of 50, that's half an hour saved on each end of a 200k journey, for e.g. That's an extra hour to do a better job, or an extra hour with my family. Move to an admittedly unrealistic 80kph average, and that saves an hour and a half each way. Not to mention the reduction in stress. So please, just get out of my way? I really appreciate it when people do, and make a point of waving or blinking (or both) thank you. Why is that unusual, by the way? Why, in a nation which prides itself on being friendly, do we not acknowledge each other on the roads?

Whew! I needed that! Can you tell? ;)

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Whew! I needed that! Can you tell? ;)

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Do you need a Hug [bigrolf]

No matter what the speed limit is set at there will always be ignorant, unthinking and crazy drivers on the roads.
You can't fix STUPID unfortunately [thumbsupbig]

All very good points. By the way 80 KpH average is what I count on Sydney to Brisbane and that's without pushing the limit a great deal.
If a driver thinks it's fine to travel at 5 to 10 Ks below the limit and speed is not important then surely, pulling over for a minute or two to let 20 or so vehicles pass, would be no skin off their nose. These people who don't are just self righteous arseholes. How can they possibly determine the wants, needs, and motives of all those traveling behind?

Trout, yes I do.

But I need a fast, well armed & armoured APC more! ;)

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Originally Posted by Ratel10mm

Trout, yes I do.

But I need a fast, well armed & armoured APC more! ;)

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HeHe
Didn't you take up the M60 mounted behind the L/hand headlight option when you bought your truck [biggrin]

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Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

All very good points. By the way 80 KpH average is what I count on Sydney to Brisbane and that's without pushing the limit a great deal.
If a driver thinks it's fine to travel at 5 to 10 Ks below the limit and speed is not important then surely, pulling over for a minute or two to let 20 or so vehicles pass, would be no skin off their nose. These people who don't are just self righteous arseholes. How can they possibly determine the wants, needs, and motives of all those traveling behind?

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"Pull Over"?...We ALWAYS do. Doesn't have to be 20 or so vehicles either,....if we're obviously holding someone up,..anyone,....we just slow down, move over & let'em go. It's nice when you get acknowledgement, but unfortunately there's many times when ya don't.
Pickles.

[QUOT
Whew! I needed that! Can you tell? ;)[/QUOTE]

In a perfect world !!!! . [bigsmile]

Be good if all the things you mentioned happened as a matter of course , but alas it dosn,t . I guess the only thing you can do is live with it or shift to nirvana , where ever that is .

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Originally Posted by Ratel10mm

.. ... ... ...
As for those who claim you'll only be a few minutes later travelling slower, as per an earlier post in this thread - if I can do an average speed of 60 instead of 50, that's half an hour saved on each end of a 200k journey, for e.g. That's an extra hour to do a better job, or an extra hour with my family. Move to an admittedly unrealistic 80kph average, and that saves an hour and a half each way. Not to mention the reduction in stress. So please, just get out of my way? I really appreciate it when people do, and make a point of waving or blinking (or both) thank you. Why is that unusual, by the way? Why, in a nation which prides itself on being friendly, do we not acknowledge each other on the roads?

Whew! I needed that! Can you tell? ;)

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I don't remember anyone claiming that you'll only be a few minutes later if you travel more slowly, so I wonder if you are referring to my post back on page 1.

Of course your calculations are correct if you travel the entire trip at a slower speed. My point was that what normally happens is that you spend most of the trip at your normal speed and the few kilometres you have to drop below that speed only have a small impact on your overall average.

If you are held up for the entire trip, it will cost you a lot of time, but it is much more likely that you will only be held up for a small part of the trip, your average will only drop a little bit and the additional time will be quite short.

Your comment about acknowledging the courtesy of other drivers reminded me of my experience in Tasmania a year or two ago. Several times I made it easy for a driver near me to change lanes and almost every one of them gave some indication that they appreciated my courtesy. Only one driver failed to do that. That driver was a young female. That seemed to confirm what I think I read recently about young female drivers becoming more assertive or aggressive.

I have also had a large number of cyclists recently indicate their appreciation of the fact that when I overtake them, I give them much more than the minimum required gap. There are still some considerate motorists and cyclists on the road. :)

It is interesting about losing time.
With city driving, you can end up losing a LOT of time. Slow drivers seem to take great pride in the fact they don't speed, supposedly being safe, taking off at a snails pace, probably to try and conserve fuel, slowing down coming up to green lights,,, even though they've just only changed to green. Not quite to sure how they think they could come even close to being safe, some of them,,,, so they'll hold you up doing 65 in an 80 zone, in the right hand lane, then blow a red light,,,, meanwhile those of us who can actually quite confidently drive, do the right thing and stop.
Frustrating at best.

I was referencing your post, yes.

And also all the Sunday drivers that've spouted that in the past - including my mother!

Hope I didn't cause offence.

I take your point, however our roads are slowly getting like the UK's - overcrowded, with the majority unable to drive well.
So over any distance, I am finding that actually I am often being held up for a significant part - or even the entirely of - my trip.