Thread: Hoon caught doing 170 in 100 zone.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

People would start to think when they were driving and have an awareness of what was going on around them. Perhaps they would even start to read the road and learn to make decisions rather than hitting the cruise, pumping the stereo and switching off until they arrive at their destination.... usually.

Exactly!!!

It wouldn't be that simple but it put into perspective where some of the problem may lie.

Stu

Originally Posted by 81stubee

In light of the evidence in the previous post's such as the area in which this occurred, I am incredibly dissapointed that this 78YO could be so STUPID, if he was going down the eastern freeway with no-one around I may be looking at it differently.

We are getting off topic now, but it really gets my dander up when people issue broad statements that speed and speed alone is the biggest Killer. There are so many other factors to be taken into consideration. Saying that he would of stopped 33% quicker if he had been going slower yada yada is all well and good on a straight road, but in reality, what was the cause of the crash. Was it the pot-hole that wasn't there last week, the bend in the road, the poor tyres on the car, the bad brakes, or the speed. If you take any ONE factor out of the equation the crash may not have happened. Hey if he had been going 0km/h he wouldn't of crashed at all. Oh and why am I allowed to do 65km/h through a 40km/h school zone and keep my license, but if I do 130km/h down the Hume Hwy (110 zone) I will have my car impounded, isn't that the wrong way round

The germans realised a long time ago that speed can be used in a safe and appropriate manner to get somewhere quickly and safely. So they upgraded there road network increased there driver training and enforced some appropriate safety measures such as:
- Autobahn's have an advisory 130km/h limit
- Extra Wide Lanes
- Slow vehicles must keep left without exception
- Trucks limited to 80km/h and left lane only
- Tailgate camera's (why can't we do this here)

Not to mention
- All vehicles must carry safety vests for there occupants
- All vehicles must carry a Fire Extinguisher and First Aid Kit
- In Bumper to Bumper traffic stick to the left of the lane, to allow emergency vehicle access
- If you run out of fuel they will throw the book at you as in there eyes it was avoidable

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine, and were discussing the psycology behind driving.

What would happen if you removed speedo's? Would you slow down or speed up

Stu

Whenever this subject comes up, people love to quote what happens on the Autobahn in Europe. I must admit that I have never been there. Do they have roads other than the Autobahn and if so what are the limits on those. We do not and are not likely for a long time to have roads encompassing this nation that are to the standard of the Autobahn, so why keep comparing them.

Originally Posted by jbarracl

Best you take a serious look at your sex life maybe ??

lets not........

as for cops using discretion, they can and often do, yes, they do have a job to do, but most of them recognise that if they spend thier time chasing minor things, major offences go unnoticed and therefore unpunished

what you say about being taught to drive on gravel roads has a point, i was taught to drive by a guy who's now pushing 80, he said i'd figure out the road rules and driving around town easy enough, but hearily encouraged spirited driving on bush mail runs, reckoned if i could learn the limits of the car on a relatively safe surface, i would learn not only when i was pushing the limit, but how to recover when it went to ****...... and to his credit, all the lunatic acts ive done has only ever ended with me coming to grief once...... came around a corner on a bush road way too fast (yes, i knew it wasnt a bright idea, but the over-run area was a good few hundred meters of grass....)

end result? nose first into the tabledrain, no damage apart from a slightly bruised ego..... and yes, i was alone

i'm with you on the issue of education, defensive driving will only get you so far, offensive driving courses will increase a drivers skills and ability for when things inevitibly go pear shaped

Originally Posted by JohnR

This is assuming it takes you a second to get you foot on the brake I'd be getting my reflexes tested if this was the case and if it isn't then the statistics are all wrong again!

hmmmm,

1.2 is the official calculated time from testing conducted between the TAC and Monash University ARC.

Originally Posted by jbarracl

Whenever this subject comes up, people love to quote what happens on the Autobahn in Europe. I must admit that I have never been there. Do they have roads other than the Autobahn and if so what are the limits on those. We do not and are not likely for a long time to have roads encompassing this nation that are to the standard of the Autobahn, so why keep comparing them.

Then swap Autobahn for NT highway pre 130km/h speed limit.

I'm all for sensible speed limits in built up areas, but it amazes me that in a country the size of Australia, you have ridiculously low limits on your major highways, which are in good condition, AFAIK.

Even in the UK, during quiet times, 100mph seems slow and you'll have people overtaking you despite the posted limit of 70mph. As long as there isn't a cop car around.

In South Africa, most of the ploice forces are now too broke to buy speed guns etc so on the good highways the speeds are pretty high but there hasn't been a corresponding increase in accidents.

In Germany, you'll often find cars sitting on their limiters at 155mph.......but the quality of driver training and discipline counters the possible dangers.

It's not speed per se that's dangerous - you just have to use your common sense and take into account the road and car condition, amount of traffic, weather etc.

Originally Posted by jbarracl

Whenever this subject comes up, people love to quote what happens on the Autobahn in Europe. I must admit that I have never been there. Do they have roads other than the Autobahn and if so what are the limits on those. We do not and are not likely for a long time to have roads encompassing this nation that are to the standard of the Autobahn, so why keep comparing them.

That's like saying, we will never have a high speed train between sydney/canberra/melbourne, so why look at the TGV Why can't we have High Speed Roads/Trains?

Do a google for driving in germany, i can't remember the website to quote but our Road Safety/Laws leave a lot to be desired.

I must say I have never been there, but have many friends who have. They have a different attitude to driving, and there are alternatives to driving. Don't get me wrong, I love this country and are greatful to those who defend it and our right to freedom, but our severe lack of Alternative transportation is disgraceful. This then pushes everyone to own at least one car and people that don't really want to drive have to even if they can't.

Originally Posted by JohnR

That is a really good question I like it a lot, I am going to ask a lot of people that and I run a speedo shop

I think I would drive much they way I do at the moment, fast around corners but steady in a straight line

We're talking instruments, not swimmers right?