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11-01-2008, 01:57pm
totally agree with you.
Its interesting to see what has happened in the NT. The last place in Australia that had an open speed limit has now had a 130km/hr speed limit imposed. With the speed limit in place, the road toll has already been 25% higher than the year before when the limit did not exist. Some very good reasons why: (I have condensed some info from a site here)
Fatigue crashes are vastly increased – people will still try to do ‘big kilometres†per day and may need to cover these distances. There will be many more crashes at night – as more will have to drive into the night to reach destinations.
Driving at night is a lot more dangerous than during the day. Driving at night requires much more concentration as there is reduced visibility and the possibility of large animals being on the road. A driver who is fatigued is more susceptible to having an accident with another vehicle or an animal. This means that fatigued drivers present a danger to other drivers and themselves.
Set a limit and people will drive to it – no matter what the conditions. If the limit is 130, people will try to do 130. With no limit, people will read the conditions and the capability of their vehicle, and drive to those conditions. Therefore, speed limits should not be set unless the upper limit is OK for the whole stretch – If the limit is 110km/h, people do try to sit on 110 without thinking – no matter what the conditions. Where the limit is open, people will drive to what they can do – safely.
Increase difficulty in overtaking dangerous traffic build-up.
We all know how annoying this is. Getting stuck behind a truck & looking for an opportunity to pass. On my bike, I absolutely flaw it pass anything, there is far less danger of the vehicle coming into my lane, & the acceleration of my vehicle gets me away from potential danger faster. But with a speed limit we need to hold a constant steady speed going past massive trucks that most likely cannot see you! craziness!
Increased traffic congestion behind road trains and trucks as vehicles will bank up, increasing frustration, fatigue and the likelihood and severity of accidents. This also results in longer traveling times caused by delays and congestion when stuck behind trucks.
Road rage will no doubt increase due to fatigue, frustration and longer traveling times caused by passing trucks and other slower moving vehicles.
Another point is that federal legislation allows vehicle manufacturers in Australia to have a 10% variance in the speedometer.
Many people will, and do in other States & Territories, get speeding penalties when they believe they are obeying the law.
If you have already been fined for speeds of 142km/h in a 130 km/h zone, then this is already below the 10% error permitted in your motor vehicle speedometer calibration!
Also, your speedometer will vary as your tyres wear? Effectively your rolling diameter will change as your tyres wear or if you alter the size of your tyres.
There are too many inconsistencies across the board in my opinion.
A look at the effect of speed camera's other enforcement shows how ineffective they really are http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/01/136.asp
Arrr, thats enough reading for the moment
Its interesting to see what has happened in the NT. The last place in Australia that had an open speed limit has now had a 130km/hr speed limit imposed. With the speed limit in place, the road toll has already been 25% higher than the year before when the limit did not exist. Some very good reasons why: (I have condensed some info from a site here)
Fatigue crashes are vastly increased – people will still try to do ‘big kilometres†per day and may need to cover these distances. There will be many more crashes at night – as more will have to drive into the night to reach destinations.
Driving at night is a lot more dangerous than during the day. Driving at night requires much more concentration as there is reduced visibility and the possibility of large animals being on the road. A driver who is fatigued is more susceptible to having an accident with another vehicle or an animal. This means that fatigued drivers present a danger to other drivers and themselves.
Set a limit and people will drive to it – no matter what the conditions. If the limit is 130, people will try to do 130. With no limit, people will read the conditions and the capability of their vehicle, and drive to those conditions. Therefore, speed limits should not be set unless the upper limit is OK for the whole stretch – If the limit is 110km/h, people do try to sit on 110 without thinking – no matter what the conditions. Where the limit is open, people will drive to what they can do – safely.
Increase difficulty in overtaking dangerous traffic build-up.
We all know how annoying this is. Getting stuck behind a truck & looking for an opportunity to pass. On my bike, I absolutely flaw it pass anything, there is far less danger of the vehicle coming into my lane, & the acceleration of my vehicle gets me away from potential danger faster. But with a speed limit we need to hold a constant steady speed going past massive trucks that most likely cannot see you! craziness!
Increased traffic congestion behind road trains and trucks as vehicles will bank up, increasing frustration, fatigue and the likelihood and severity of accidents. This also results in longer traveling times caused by delays and congestion when stuck behind trucks.
Road rage will no doubt increase due to fatigue, frustration and longer traveling times caused by passing trucks and other slower moving vehicles.
Another point is that federal legislation allows vehicle manufacturers in Australia to have a 10% variance in the speedometer.
Many people will, and do in other States & Territories, get speeding penalties when they believe they are obeying the law.
If you have already been fined for speeds of 142km/h in a 130 km/h zone, then this is already below the 10% error permitted in your motor vehicle speedometer calibration!
Also, your speedometer will vary as your tyres wear? Effectively your rolling diameter will change as your tyres wear or if you alter the size of your tyres.
There are too many inconsistencies across the board in my opinion.
A look at the effect of speed camera's other enforcement shows how ineffective they really are http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/01/136.asp
Arrr, thats enough reading for the moment