Thread: Truck Driver Tailgating?,...in the "Nanny State"..Yeah right.

Originally Posted by Saitch

Yea, it's hard but I reckon a bad-day Plod could consider that, even if you were left of the far right lane but there was also a lane to your left, you are failing to keep left.
All the keep left rules posted here seem to only cover a double lane scenario not multiple, like the M1, Brissy to Gold Coast, or am I missing something in the context?

The keep to the left scenario is only valid for a single lane. There is a rule for that.
If you got a bad-day Plod, you could take it to court. How could you be charged with an offence that doesn't exist? That is why the rules are made.

Originally Posted by donh54

So, in the final analysis, it appears that many headstones should include the line; "But s/he had right of way!" or "S/he wasn't breaking the rules!"

I would hazard a guess that more people on the roads die, or are injured through ignorance and stupidity, than most other causes.

And driving with headphones on should be immediate licence suspension and car crushing!

What you or I think isn't the law. I think all trucks should be banned from freeways and all freight should be transported by rail using steam trains, coal fired, of course. I happen to like steam trains and think there should be more of them.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

You will probably find there is a disclaimer printed at the front of the handbook. There was in the one I looked up on line.

It's best to consult the rules. They're more comprehensive an the version that is used by the police and in the courts.

Mick, I agree. But then our law enforcement wonder why people misinterpret or miss understand actually road rules. This is what they are given and would believe to be gospel, when infact many sections do not reflect the entire road rule and even in some areas seem to contradict due to being excerpts.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Oh, and as to overtaking on the left which so many think is illegal:

Read Rule 141(1)(a)

So, it is quite ok on a multi lane road.

That was my belief, done it many times due to excessively slow vehicles in the right lane (ok if turning etc, but annoys me greatly on a freeway where there are no right turns).
I think most will find while they may have been told they have been ticketed for undertaking or overtaking on the left the ticket would likely state something like driving with undue care. I know a couple of people that have received tickets for this so called offence, but never saw the actual ticket to confirm.

Originally Posted by trout1105

I think that common sense and courtesy can be quite a different thing to the road laws/rules.
For instance it is Not illegal to tow a caravan at 70-80k's and choke up a highway and there is no "legal" obligation for the driver of the car towing the van to pull over and let the traffic go around But this happens quite often.
This is just one example of where common sense and courtesy comes into play, Unfortunately there are far too many self entitled jerks that can't or won't embrace the concept of using their common sense and being courteous to other road users.

On a highway you are correct on a freeway a bit different as you must not travel lower than 20kmph below the posted speed limit unless there are circumstances that prevent such as congestion, road works etc. Sometimes towing a caravan if you did you would spend more time pulling off than driving.

Geez glad you guys don't come up behind me.......I would do your head in. Although I seem to get along with all the other motorist.

Yesterday I drove from Gympie to Bracken Ridge in the right lane (2 to 3 to 4 lanes. 100+ kms. I sometime look in rear vision mirror and occasionally use indicators.

Although this thread is about tailgating, I nearly always keep mom three sec gap to the car in front and don't recall anybody tailgating me in the 100/110 zones, different story in the 80 zone around road works.

Originally Posted by CraigE

On a highway you are correct on a freeway a bit different as you must not travel lower than 20kmph below the posted speed limit unless there are circumstances that prevent such as congestion, road works etc. Sometimes towing a caravan if you did you would spend more time pulling off than driving.

20km/h below posted limit? Where is that rule? I've never heard of it.
I've given you the rules for both WA and Vic. Should be there then.
This one concerns me at I drive the Perentie and 101 at 80km/h in the 110km/h zone. The Inter much slower.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

20km/h below posted limit? Where is that rule? I've never heard of it.
I've given you the rules for both WA and Vic. Should be there then.
This one concerns me at I drive the Perentie and 101 at 80km/h in the 110km/h zone. The Inter much slower.

The below quote is direct from the WA Police website, but only for freeways (which are generally 100kmph), where the confusion comes into play. People think it is the same on all roads but apparently not. I have had several WA police tell me this applies on all roads.
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.