Thread: WEBBER CALLS FOR INCREASED SPEED LIMITS

Originally Posted by workingonit

Didn't need lessons when we got on the Autobahn in 1986! Yes,they did exist back then...

Our little car was flat chat at 140kph on the Autobahn, so it was the slow lane for us everywhere.

It was OK in daylight when the odd Merc or BMW sailed past near 200kph, towing caravans.

It was terrifying at night, no 'street lights', in the rain, at that speed. All you could see in the rear view was a 'milky way' of headlights, not knowing who was in your lane, catching, passing, car or truck! Some increase in road speeds in Austrlia maybe, on good roads, with low volume traffic, in the countryside, if your only hassle is the MinMin lights.

Although, maybe it would get speed out of the average car drivers system if each state did have a section of drag strip integrated into the public road system...say, for example, Broken Hill to Silverton...with motor bike club escorts.

I do think there is a need to 'consolidate' the number of different speed limits over short stretches of road - on a trip to NSW I'm sure I saw every increment of ten as a speed sign somewhere - and oh, here comes two houses in the countryside, down from 80 to 60 for 5 seconds, then back up to 80 for 20 seconds, oh, another house down to 60,,,and so on...and while concentrating on the bumper to bumper traffic, between two monster trucks, a sign flashes past, did you 'see that one dear' because I have no idea what speed I'm supposed to be doing now!



Coming off a mountain bike still hurts a lot at 20kmp...arrgghhh TREE!

One populous magazine cartoon suggested reduced speed could be achieved by removing seat belts, then putting a steel spike center of the steering wheel a couple of inches from the chest.

"Varying" Speed limits",....couldn't agree more. Our latest car has a "heads up" display, which prior to use, I thought was just a gimmick,,......but with varying speed limits it's really good, you can see your speed without the continual distraction of taking your eyes off the road to check your speedo.
Pickles.

Originally Posted by rick130

Just look at how the Germans teach people to drive vs how we do it.
They are even taken to the Autobahns and taught to drive at high speed, safely.
Oh, and it costs thousands of euros for the privilege to learn to drive.

And can anyone explain why some of the worst drivers on our roads seem to be a single occupant (Instructor) in a badged "Driving School" vehicle, & it seems as though these people think they can drive like turds once the learner driver has departed the car.

Stupid bastids, don't they realise in their stupidity, that the car is a sign written billboard advertising their supposed skills?

"Varying" Speed limits",....couldn't agree more. Our latest car has a "heads up" display, which prior to use, I thought was just a gimmick,,......but with varying speed limits it's really good, you can see your speed without the continual distraction of taking your eyes off the road to check your speedo.
Pickles

Ours didn't, but it did within 1 day from delivery. A inexpensive way ($60) to keep an eye on one's speed so as not to help fill Govt. coffers & suffer Demerits. Also has an audible warning that one is approaching the speed limit although one was fitted in the Mazda already.

I have fitted HUD's to all of my 4WD's and they are bloody awesome, I do find that at 100kph actual speed they read 3-5kph faster (103-105kph) which for me is a Good thing as I or anyone else driving these trucks hasn't had a speeding ticket since they have been fitted

Originally Posted by workingonit

Didn't need lessons when we got on the Autobahn in 1986! Yes,they did exist back then...

Our little car was flat chat at 140kph on the Autobahn, so it was the slow lane for us everywhere.

It was OK in daylight when the odd Merc or BMW sailed past near 200kph, towing caravans.

The first autobahn were built in the 1930's during one A.Hitler's reign as German supremo. Our main highways were still unsealed than. The Pacific highway between Sydney & Brisbane was not fully sealed until 1958 and the Putty Road out of Sydney was still partially unsealed in 1963.

You do notice that in France, Italy, Germany, UK that lane discipline on the highways is excellent. Far better than here. Slower vehicles stay in the outside lanes and only overtakers use the inside lanes. You get a long blast of horns and multiple flashes of headlights if you dawdle in the overtaking lane. In north of Italy I was doing around 160 (flat out in a borrowed bigga Fiata) and passing a caravan outfit doing 140 when in an instant something came out of the mist flashing and blowing horns at me and doing somewhere over 220 by my estimate. Past me and gone in an instant.

I seem to recall that the Autostrada speed limit is 130Kmh, as is Autoroutes and they have point to point radar.

Also Germany is now severely restricting Autobahn speed limits. They have always had AFAIR 80Kmh "Bei Nasse" which is often.
Rural 2 lanes in Germany are 80Kmh so be careful what you wish for. Trucks and buses are also limited to 80Kmh in Germany even on autobahns.

I can recall 249Kmh in a 325i near Munich once at night. I was loaned a 323i back in 1980 by BMW and loved hitting the speed limiter at 200 and I recall one great bike ride on an R100S along Bodensee and back to Munchen where I sat on 210 Kmh and my visor was hard up against my nose. I was still passed by a few Porsches.

However I also remember how much road it takes to slow down when a Turkish truck driver decides to overtake another truck on a 2 lane autobahn at less than 60kmh when you are doing 200. I ended up with the bonnet juuust underneath the tray of the truck but didn't touch.

They have lots of accidents on Autobahns but clear the debris quickly with helicopters if necessary. None of this close the road for hours to take minute measurements , then blame it all on speed anyway like here.

Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I seem to recall that the Autostrada speed limit is 130Kmh, as is Autoroutes and they have point to point radar.

Also Germany is now severely restricting Autobahn speed limits. They have always had AFAIR 80Kmh "Bei Nasse" which is often.
Rural 2 lanes in Germany are 80Kmh so be careful what you wish for. Trucks and buses are also limited to 80Kmh in Germany even on autobahns.

I can recall 249Kmh in a 325i near Munich once at night. I was loaned a 323i back in 1980 by BMW and loved hitting the speed limiter at 200 and I recall one great bike ride on an R100S along Bodensee and back to Munchen where I sat on 210 Kmh and my visor was hard up against my nose. I was still passed by a few Porsches.

However I also remember how much road it takes to slow down when a Turkish truck driver decides to overtake another truck on a 2 lane autobahn at less than 60kmh when you are doing 200. I ended up with the bonnet juuust underneath the tray of the truck but didn't touch.

They have lots of accidents on Autobahns but clear the debris quickly with helicopters if necessary. None of this close the road for hours to take minute measurements , then blame it all on speed anyway like here.

Regards Philip A

Been a while since I drove in Europe. Then the autobahnen, autostrada, routes national didn't have speed limits. The poms did on their (then few) motorways and rigidly enforced the limits. I remember in the same bigga Fiata doing 160 on the autostrada and being passed like rockets by two carabinieri with rifles across their backs on Guzzis


One can't help but notice the massive use of roundabouts in the UK and the way everyone uses them properly and merge into the gaps nicely without stopping or hesitating unlike the shambles here where some fly in and merge, others merge in slowly and nervously, and others stop and look.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

You do notice that in France, Italy, Germany, UK that lane discipline on the highways is excellent.

Did we go to the same Italy?

Two wide'ish lanes, one either way. Pull up to a light. Waiting, waiting. Motor bike pulls up on our left, going the same way. Yeah, alright. Then another car pulls up on our right, almost on the verge, going our way. Hmmm. Then two motor bikes pull up on the right of the car on our right. Can't get any worse. Car pulls up on the left of the motor bike on our left! If I've added up correctly that's six into one, pending.

We got used to the Italian way of driving and even started doing the same things, although you had to make observations first in each region to make sure the inconsistent driving behaviour was consistent, and not just localised. Wide lanes were a bonus in many places and must save a lot of Italian lives (hint to Australia). Well, it's only two lanes, mine going forward, and theirs coming the other way and a truck in front is blocking my rapid progress - off we go, pull out into the opposing traffic, blink your lights, the opposing traffic moves over, you pass the opposing traffic in their lane, then pull back into your own. First time we saw the manoeuvre we thought there would be a head on - then we realised everyone was doing it.

Foolishly drove around Nelson's Column in peak hour, but as you say, everyone simply points and nods their intended direction and everyone gets through, slowly.

Around the German/French border regions both sides looked the same, well maintained. Only when we got further into France did things start to resemble Australian dusty towns with pot holed roads. We joked the Germans sneaked over the border at night and tidied up the French side for aesthetic reasons.

Originally Posted by workingonit

Did we go to the same Italy?

Two wide'ish lanes, one either way. Pull up to a light. Waiting, waiting. Motor bike pulls up on our left, going the same way. Yeah, alright. Then another car pulls up on our right, almost on the verge, going our way. Hmmm. Then two motor bikes pull up on the right of the car on our right. Can't get any worse. Car pulls up on the left of the motor bike on our left! If I've added up correctly that's six into one, pending.

We got used to the Italian way of driving and even started doing the same things, although you had to make observations first in each region to make sure the inconsistent driving behaviour was consistent, and not just localised. Wide lanes were a bonus in many places and must save a lot of Italian lives (hint to Australia). Well, it's only two lanes, mine going forward, and theirs coming the other way and a truck in front is blocking my rapid progress - off we go, pull out into the opposing traffic, blink your lights, the opposing traffic moves over, you pass the opposing traffic in their lane, then pull back into your own. First time we saw the manoeuvre we thought there would be a head on - then we realised everyone was doing it.

Foolishly drove around Nelson's Column in peak hour, but as you say, everyone simply points and nods their intended direction and everyone gets through, slowly.

Around the German/French border regions both sides looked the same, well maintained. Only when we got further into France did things start to resemble Australian dusty towns with pot holed roads. We joked the Germans sneaked over the border at night and tidied up the French side for aesthetic reasons.

The wogs all drove like F1 drivers on the autostrada, flat stick. In town as soon as a light changed to green everybody blew their horn and gave the two finger signal out the window. Friends who did a three year contract in Saudi say the locals drive on both sides of the road in both directions in one way streets and add another lane or two up the middle. Park anywhere. Say the travel prayer and you don't need a seat belt and can race the train to the level crossing. Allah has the wheel. Traffic law only applies to foreigners.