German V Australian Car Culture

[UNR8D]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

NOT ALWAYS SO.... From a purely physics standpoint that may be true, RE stopping distances, reaction times etc. But this woudl account for only the physical aspects of driving. Driving involves humans, so it is mental/psychological also. Higher speed limits on open highways in good condition OVERALL have been proven to result in less deaths. i.e. it is safer to drive faster.

Those familiar with the Bruce Highway in QLD know the stretch between Mackay and Rockhampton (110km/h mostly) to be one of the straightest, flatest best visiblitity roads around. Pretty good condition too. It is also one of the most borring. Unless you enjoy looking at tree after tree you won't get much enjoyment from that piece of road.

Driving along it with a fellow member here (AU3XSR) as passenger, he remarked (it was his first time on that piece of road), gee this is a breeze to drive on. 110km/h feels too slow, there isn't another soul out here.

Then he saw a sign saying 'this stretch of road is a blackspot', that people had died along this stretch. He asks...how the f.... do they do that, there isn't even anything to hit!!! Precisely, boredom. Single car accidents off a road, clearly lost concentration and just drive clean off the road at the first (slight) bend.

The germans have stats to prove that lowering open road speed limits COSTS more lives than it saves. FACT. Its about balancing the risk. Maybe we should all drive 10km/h slower. Or what about 40km/h everywhere. Or how about just walk. Gee that will make a drive between Brisbane the gold coast a bit longer.

The statement 'driving faster is more dangerous' is a simplistic cop out. Government worked out the otehr optoins for road safety were too hard to implement or police, and it costs rather than generates revenue. Too hard basket so we get 'speed speed speed'.

^^ couldnt have said it better.