100/110 over long distances = carnage

[dylancox]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...-1225942519323

I do a fair bit of long distance driving myself and I've always thought 100/110 for hours on end, on our substandard interstate highways is deadly boredom and a disaster waiting to happen. Can we do anything about this? Considering the other 2 incidents that happened just hours earlier were not hoon-related at all, our authorities seriously need to be sacked if "..police would be out in force next weekend cracking down on motorists flouting the law..." is the solution.

[CAMS290]

As an ex interstate driver I have seen some shockers over the years.
A lot of the general public will work all day and then try and attempt to drive Adelaide to Melbourne or wherever after they finish work, they are already tired from their day at work and they are inexperienced in driving long distances.

Judging closing distances is A LOT harder at night, some people with their overloaded under powered 4 cylinder cars don't realise how long it takes to get past a B double doing 95kph.

Dual carriageway roads with Armco or wire barriers will go a long way to help avoid situations like the one at Beaufort, but our vast highway network means that it would be economically unviable to duplicate every major highway.

[jason71]

Unfortunately you don't have to be doing long distance to veer onto wrong side of the road.

I often follow people on the Northern Rd between Penrith and Narellan veering all over the place. They are often the ones doing 10k under the limit thinking they are "safe" drivers.

[The Stylist]

Originally Posted by dylancox

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...-1225942519323.

What a nasty accident, the worst FG G6E crash i've ever seen.

[2.8L Hilux]

Originally Posted by dylancox

our authorities seriously need to be sacked if "..police would be out in force next weekend cracking down on motorists flouting the law..." is the solution.

You are dead right mate.

[GORDZ]

we all agree 110 is too slow... try running for politics to debate the fact or give up beating the dead horse.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by GORDZ

we all agree 110 is too slow... try running for politics to debate the fact or give up beating the dead horse.

It would be fixed in a big hurry if politicians and public vegetables were banned from flying anywhere.

[Road_Warrior]

If you're going to be driving a long distance, like 500-600klm or more in a day or night, then you need to make sure you are adequately rested beforehand. End of story.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

If you're going to be driving a long distance, like 500-600klm or more in a day or night, then you need to make sure you are adequately rested beforehand. End of story.

You can be. But if you're get bored behind the wheel, you can still come to grief.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

If you're going to be driving a long distance, like 500-600klm or more in a day or night, then you need to make sure you are adequately rested beforehand. End of story.

Yes but time is a greater factor than distance.

600km @ 100km/h = 6 hours where 600km/h @ 150km/h = 4 hours.

I remember last trip up to Darwin.
Day 1 10 hrs, 1000km. (Hervey Bay to Longreach)
Day 2 9 hrs, 900km. (Longreach to Mt ISA)
Day 3 7 hrs, 1300km (Mt Isa to Mataranka)

Longer distance, MUCH less fatigue.

Not all roads or traffic conditions are the same.

High speed limits on almost existing any road on the east coast would be "interesting" to the point of almost chaotic as there are too many cars and FAR too many inexperienced drivers. Unfortunately cites hold very large numbers of drivers who have been licenses for many many years but have still not driven 100,000 km of a distance of more than a couple of hundred kilometres in a single run. There is a reason why there is a "black spot" about 3 hours in every direction from every capital city (except Hobart where 3 hours will just get you very wet ).

[barra265t]

What if the bloke was overtaking at the time, but doing 'the right thing' by sticking to the speed limit while overtaking. Poor bloke trying to obey the law but costing him his life and two others?

[joolz]

Originally Posted by barra265t

What if the bloke was overtaking at the time, but doing 'the right thing' by sticking to the speed limit while overtaking. Poor bloke trying to obey the law but costing him his life and two others?

On that note why is so the idiots on a 2 way Fwy will do 90-95 km/h and as soon as an over taking lane opens up..... Wham thay do 105km/h... Sucks so bad especially when vic cops patrol the main safe place to overtake is when you over take the idiots that simply cannot drive!!!

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by joolz

On that note why is so the idiots on a 2 way Fwy will do 90-95 km/h and as soon as an over taking lane opens up..... Wham thay do 105km/h... Sucks so bad especially when vic cops patrol the main safe place to overtake is when you over take the idiots that simply cannot drive!!!

Interesting you mention that, a few weeks back I was coming home from work and I was stuck behind someone doing 60 in a 100 zone, there was a convieniently placed camera car in one of the only safe places to overtake in the 40km stretch of the road. When the slow driver saw this he slowed down to about 40, no fail, every time there is a camera car somewhere everyone goes even slower, same thing happened in Bulla, it jammed up 100m past the wildwood roundabout because there was a camera car on the side of the road and someone decided to crawl past it at 10km/h.

Me and quite a few others where stuck behind this guy for about 20km before he turned off, I just followed them because I didn't want to overtake on double lines, especially on this potholed, crappy excuse for a road, funny that there have been so many deaths on this road I'm talking about and it isn't considered a "black spot".

Originally Posted by flappist

Does anyone else find it confusing that only 30 years ago it was perfectly safe to:

Drive at a blood alcohol level of 0.799.

How the hell is that even possible? I'd assume you pretty much embalmed yourself if you got to that level, you'd pass out way before you could normally drink to that level unless you inserted a 2L bottle of whiskey into your anus so you keep taking in alcohol until you're dead.

[dallasv8]

used to do the 1000km trip regular between Mt Isa and Townsville no worries,just got to watch the triple road trains and skippies lol.

[TheInterceptor]

Ive just come back from Bywong (10km out of Canberra), drove there and back in about 7 hours round trip, about 543kms, since im a P1 im pretty speed restricted so my average speed was 95 (yep, im a hoon). I dont know how but it wasent overly boring, thinking the constant rain may have played a part..kept it a little interesting.
I firmly believe sleep is critical for operating at your best for longer.
As for 110 being to slow..well by the looks of the many incompetent drivers ive encountered today, it will still be utter carnage out there until people are educated.......

[barra265t]

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

Ive just come back from Bywong (10km out of Canberra), drove there and back in about 7 hours round trip, about 543kms, since im a P1 im pretty speed restricted so my average speed was 95 (yep, im a hoon). I dont know how but it wasent overly boring, thinking the constant rain may have played a part..kept it a little interesting.
I firmly believe sleep is critical for operating at your best for longer.
As for 110 being to slow..well by the looks of the many incompetent drivers ive encountered today, it will still be utter carnage out there until people are educated.......

What sort of car were you driving? I actually realised recently that driving a small rental 4 cylinder car can be quite entertaining at 90 km/h. The excessive road noise, engine noise and bumps make you feel like you're doing 130+ in a larger car, even though you're only doing 90km/h and everyone is passing you

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by barra265t

What sort of car were you driving? I actually realised recently that driving a small rental 4 cylinder car can be quite entertaining at 90 km/h. The excessive road noise, engine noise and bumps make you feel like you're doing 130+ in a larger car, even though you're only doing 90km/h and everyone is passing you

I was driving the AU. My god that car is made for the open road!
Definatly agree with smaller cars, they're quite crazy at speed, specially on tight mountain roads. Scary stuff.

[BPXR6T]

Tragic. Not too much further the western opens out into dual carriageway.

[Airmon]

Love the quotes at the end, the Police will be out in force to get people breaking the law.
So just note, that if you get too tired and veer into a truck killing everyone in the car you'll be getting a fine in the mail!!
As much as I think more Police on the road is a better alternative, they aren't going to be able to pick up fatigue that effectively, more driver reviver incentives would be better.

A road down here that has seen many, mostly fatigue related fatalaties is dropping from 100km/h to 90km/h because of recent deaths. The most recent of which occured in a road works when a truck veered onto the wrong side of the road. Dropping the speed limit 10km isn't going to help, its just going to make people more fatigued!

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Airmon

As much as I think more Police on the road is a better alternative, they aren't going to be able to pick up fatigue that effectively, more driver reviver incentives would be better.

Well I assume the government doesn't as they don't give any money for driver reviver. Its all volunteer and private donations....I guess you cant fine people when doing something that will help them on long trips.

[Mr Hardware]

whilst you have a decent proportion of the population driving cielos and tiidas there ain't gonna be a shift in the limit.

[UNR8D]

wow... just wow.

some people can do 1000k's in a day, I can do it easy, in fact ive done Brisbane to melb in a day more times than i care to count, and on most of my trips avg around 1000k's a day, others like my father are flat out getting from Brisbane to rocky... you just have to know your personal limits and drive accordingly.

RIP to those involved and condolences to the family/s... tragic end to a road trip.

[dylancox]

Originally Posted by UNR8D

wow... just wow.

some people can do 1000k's in a day, I can do it easy, in fact ive done Brisbane to melb in a day more times than i care to count, and on most of my trips avg around 1000k's a day, others like my father are flat out getting from Brisbane to rocky... you just have to know your personal limits and drive accordingly.

RIP to those involved and condolences to the family/s... tragic end to a road trip.

Wow.. i thought Brisbane to Melbourne is around 1800km and you did that in a day? Took the backroads? or else you would have taken about 22 hours or something crazy like that

[UNR8D]

Originally Posted by dylancox

Wow.. i thought Brisbane to Melbourne is around 1800km and you did that in a day? Took the backroads? or else you would have taken about 22 hours or something crazy like that

17 hours 45 min there abouts from Broadmeadows to Clayfield in Brisbane, fuel stops = food and pee stops and nothing in between, travelling up the Newell or Newell/new England, will be longer now that some Muppet thought the Newell needs 100 limits as you could push it along at 115-120 with out too many issues as long as you slowed for towns along the way.

[drew`SEVNT5]

Originally Posted by UNR8D

17 hours 45 min there abouts from Broadmeadows to Clayfield in Brisbane, fuel stops = food and pee stops and nothing in between, travelling up the Newell or Newell/new England, will be longer now that some Muppet thought the Newell needs 100 limits as you could push it along at 115-120 with out too many issues as long as you slowed for towns along the way.

+1

Pakenham to Stanthorpe, straight up the Newell. 16hrs up, 15hrs back.

And only food/fuel & toilet stops along the way. Left 5pm (dst) Christmas Nite, arrived 9am (dst) boxing day

[brismike]

Originally Posted by dylancox

Wow.. i thought Brisbane to Melbourne is around 1800km and you did that in a day? Took the backroads? or else you would have taken about 22 hours or something crazy like that

I agree ... My TomTom calculates it as 1679kms and estimates it as an 18hr 46min non stop drive using fastest route. Surely you would have to stop for a pee and food somewhere lol?

I have done Bris to Mel a few times too and we always stopover at a motel in Dubbo which is about half way. Trying to do that distance in one day is almost guaranteed to kill you eventually.

[UNR8D]

Originally Posted by brismike

I agree ... My TomTom calculates it as 1679kms and estimates it as an 18hr 46min non stop drive using fastest route. Surely you would have to stop for a pee and food somewhere lol?

I have done Bris to Mel a few times too and we always stopover at a motel in Dubbo which is about half way. Trying to do that distance in one day is almost guaranteed to kill you eventually.

yes because tom tom is always correct :P

it will kill me will it?... WHY... id love to hear why I will die because I judge what im capable of and what I'm comfortable doing on a regular basis?... I didnt fall off the road or die while driving 3000+ ks a week driving limos... or doing 7000km in 7 days on my last road trip to melb via broken hill/silverton.....

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by UNR8D

yes because tom tom is always correct :P

It is only 1,600 odd km down the middle through Dubbo, Parkes, Sheparton etc.

Why will it kill you? Will is a strong word as it implies a definite. However, there have been many, many truck drivers, professionals, who have died falling asleep because they knew what they could do, they had done it many many times before, and knew their limits, until that point it hadnt killed them. Apparently everyone knows their limits, some arent lucky enough to have the chance to realise that is never true.

You only die once, therefore saying it never killed you before is really disingenuous. Its not like heartburn, a vindaloo never gave me heartburn before, you can always take a quickeaze when you find out this time you were wrong.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by brismike

I have done Bris to Mel a few times too and we always stopover at a motel in Dubbo which is about half way. Trying to do that distance in one day is almost guaranteed to kill you eventually.

Hmm, I'm not dead....yet.

Once upon a time when radar detectors were only in Mr Plod's dreams it was possible to drive a Truck from Melb to Bris in 18hrs (20 hrs if you didn't have one with an overdrive gearbox.)
These days we do it in 19hrs but use three drivers.

Back then it was also possible to do two trips a week. Yes you were knackered at the end of each week, but hell it was fun!

[prydey]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Hmm, I'm not dead....yet.

some of the roads out there will try to buck you into a tree long before fatigue sets in.