Speeding, a hypothetical

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

I don't think it's a set number, would it not be a percentage, like 5%?? 3km/h isn't much at 40-50 but doing 100 or 110 that 3km is a very lean margin for error...

I think its only 3km/h here in Victoria?

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Guys I know out here who have big vans towed by big fourbies say "Why not sit on the speed limit? If your van won't handle properly at that speed, then do something about it...if you're worried about fuel economy, why? You've already ruined your fuel economy by whacking a bloody great caravan on the back...what's a little more to sit on the speed limit and not pizz everyone off?"

If your van is that big you're probably better off with the 5th wheeler type as apparently they handle so much better than a normal trailer type one with the draw bar.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Guys I know out here who have big vans towed by big fourbies say "Why not sit on the speed limit? If your van won't handle properly at that speed, then do something about it...if you're worried about fuel economy, why? You've already ruined your fuel economy by whacking a bloody great caravan on the back...what's a little more to sit on the speed limit and not pizz everyone off?"

Seriously?

If you wish to see absolute hatred and a battle to the death do not look in any war zone nor parliament nor even a Ford vs Holden skirmish in your local McDonalds car park.

The ULTIMATE war is two grey nomads or OAPs fighting over the last can of baked beans with 3c off at a supermarket........

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Yes, my nephew is a service manager at a large truck sales and service depot, and he says that at least a couple of times a week a truck driver will ask quietly if there's a way around the speed limiter/governor thingy. My nephew always sends them on their way...it isn't worth losing their business over doing something that illegal.
He does say however that you just know as the guy walks out the door that he's going to find someone who'll be willing to do it for him.

You also notice you don't see "100 speed limited" signs on the back of trucks like you used to. Without naming names, a large carrying company that drives brown B doubles transporting fuel out this way has a bad habit of being able to magically overtake you when you're already doing 110...


The "indicator flash" is pretty well known amongst truckies...they do it themselves to let you know when it's safe to pass, and it's common courtesy if you in your car/caravan/fourbie are holding them up to give the guys in the semis a flash to go past. As you said, takes a while to accelerate in those big things, and the shorter time they're overtaking you the safer it will be.

If you're lugging a huge caravan or a big load, you're going slow anyway...so what's it going to matter if you slow down a little more now and then to let people safely pass you?

I know the carrying company that you are talking about mate as they are contractors where I work. The reason they overtake you is their engine has over 2000 nm of torque. Alot more than your falcon mate. And it is laughable that you even imply that they break the law.They have the same rules to abide by in the fuel industry as I do. They are so regulated it's not funny. Some of their vehicles are actually limited to 95. This poll is about what you would do not others.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by burnz

nothing to do with time lost!

frustration to other motorist make for bad decision,
constantly turning on/off the cruise control is a pet hate...

frustration is your issue, not the person in front of you. frustration does lead to poor decision making on the road, but the guilty person is the one that made the poor decision. all too often it is portrayed as though the one causing the frustration (providing no laws are being broken, ie, the example in post 1) is the guilty one.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Yes, my nephew is a service manager at a large truck sales and service depot, and he says that at least a couple of times a week a truck driver will ask quietly if there's a way around the speed limiter/governor thingy. My nephew always sends them on their way...it isn't worth losing their business over doing something that illegal.
He does say however that you just know as the guy walks out the door that he's going to find someone who'll be willing to do it for him.

You also notice you don't see "100 speed limited" signs on the back of trucks like you used to. Without naming names, a large carrying company that drives brown B doubles transporting fuel out this way has a bad habit of being able to magically overtake you when you're already doing 110...


The "indicator flash" is pretty well known amongst truckies...they do it themselves to let you know when it's safe to pass, and it's common courtesy if you in your car/caravan/fourbie are holding them up to give the guys in the semis a flash to go past. As you said, takes a while to accelerate in those big things, and the shorter time they're overtaking you the safer it will be.

If you're lugging a huge caravan or a big load, you're going slow anyway...so what's it going to matter if you slow down a little more now and then to let people safely pass you?

so full of it.. just throw in the pile of other misc bs...

[loony888]

Originally Posted by prydey

so, if you choose to just sit behind them and wait it out, how much time would you lose compared to if you had a clear run (although, hypothetically, you could no sooner get past one rolling roadblock and come upon another) to your destination?

not a lot of info is given (obviously to suit the OP argument), but for the previous 200km you've travelled 20km/h below the limit except for overtaking lanes (not told how many). so lets say you are down about 20min. the rest of the journey isn't real clear. for arguments sake, you stay behind the van convoy, not willing to risk your licence, and sit there for the remaining 30km. you would probably be down about 25-30 min overall, bearing in mind that once the the convoy gets to the so called 'twisty uphill bits' you will potentially be able to go 40-50km/h faster than them legally, which would take a substantially shorter stretch of road.

these topics come up all the time, and one trait i always push is patience. it really could save your life, for the sake of half an hour!! or even an hour!! i have been in situations where i've been stuck behind a line of b doubles and you just have to sit it out.

of course, it will never happen as everyone has to be somewhere yesterday.

so we're talking trucks now then?
well, not every truckie is a driving god in a jackie how and double pluggers! most are selfish, obnoxious lazy sods who hog the right hand lane on dual carriage ways for their own benefit at the expense of most other road users in lighter, faster, better equipped vehicles! selfish because they put other road users at risk who have to pass on the left in a dangerous manner purely because of the poor visibility truck drivers have down the LHS of their vehicle.
obnoxious because they hold this lane until the absolute last second possible then with one blink of the indicator they make for the exit they want on the left hand side of the motorway often three lanes away, and lazy because holding the bulk of traffic behind and controlling the road ahead means less downshifts and braking, which by the way is often hair raising because as they do hog the right hand lane if they do come across a car in front they leave no room for safe braking and tailgate.

Yes i have a MC and have experience driving heavy loads in peak hour traffic.

We should adopt european law that prohibits any vehicle with a RGVM above 5 tonnes from using the outside lane, ever, for any reason.

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

If you're lugging a huge caravan or a big load, you're going slow anyway...so what's it going to matter if you slow down a little more now and then to let people safely pass you?

IF your towing a load or big van and your goin slow, maybe the tow rig doesn't have enuf grunt for the job ......
My Nissan patrol petrol 6 pot, tho thirsty as hell, tows 3 tonne or more , sticking to any designated speed limit,where ever I go ....

People need to get the right tow rig for the job ....
Just because the maker says it can tow 3 tonne, doesn't mean theres enuf power when its needed ....
Not only enuf power, but a well set up tow rig ....
Sick of seeing cars pulling big vans and the rear bars scrapping on the ground, not set up properly

[prydey]

Originally Posted by loony888

Yes i have a MC

so you should understand then that it is possible to overtake and not break the law.

[Bushbasher]

Originally Posted by prydey

frustration is your issue, not the person in front of you. frustration does lead to poor decision making on the road, but the guilty person is the one that made the poor decision. all too often it is portrayed as though the one causing the frustration (providing no laws are being broken, ie, the example in post 1) is the guilty one.

So where's your boiling point then Prydey, because everyone has one? What pushes your buttons eh, or are you the one person in the world who stays calm and serene under all conditions, in all situations all the time no matter what? Some have higher levels of self control and some lower, it all depends on the day, the situation, how much of a hurry you're in, whether you've just burned up your buffer time being stuck for whatever reason and you're about to be late for that specialists appointment you've waited a year for and will go to the bottom of the list again, or a loved one is in trouble and you need to get to them pronto etc., etc., etc., you get the idea. At what point are you going to throw all your righteous, holier than thou principals out the window and finally blow up at the cokhead deliberately or ignorantly holding up traffic even though technically they're not breaking any law?

[pottery beige]

Pridey has no boiling point.. never mess with a man chasing world record late model Falcon fuel economy figures...

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Bushbasher

So where's your boiling point then Prydey, because everyone has one? What pushes your buttons eh, or are you the one person in the world who stays calm and serene under all conditions, in all situations all the time no matter what? Some have higher levels of self control and some lower, it all depends on the day, the situation, how much of a hurry you're in, whether you've just burned up your buffer time being stuck for whatever reason and you're about to be late for that specialists appointment you've waited a year for and will go to the bottom of the list again, or a loved one is in trouble and you need to get to them pronto etc., etc., etc., you get the idea. At what point are you going to throw all your righteous, holier than thou principals out the window and finally blow up at the cokhead deliberately or ignorantly holding up traffic even though technically they're not breaking any law?

i'm sorry you've lost me there. are you saying that if you get frustrated and make a poor decision that its someone else's fault?

this thread is about the scenario in post 1. i have voted. you are free to look, its a public poll.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

Pridey has no boiling point..

10years ago i maybe, but these days, patience is key. i have plenty of it if i do say so myself. no where have i said i don't speed, in case people get the wrong idea and assume things that aren't there.

Originally Posted by pottery beige

never mess with a man chasing world record late model Falcon fuel economy figures...

i do tend to keep an eye on economy when on the open road i must admit. sub 8L/100km from a loaded falcon is pretty decent, but probably not a world record.

[paule11]

Today I sinned against the Draconian QLD rules .I was on the highway in the right hand lane behind a BMW z4 doing 84kph my wife said what speed are you doing . I told her she said its a 100km zone I then passed in the left lane getting in front of the bloke talking on his mobile. As I drove away looking in the mirror I saw both the cars behind me side by side as I was doing 105kph. 5 chances of killing there

[OCTANEBOSS]

Do those who choose scenario 4 use 4th gear, works well for me at the beeper

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

I would imagine the larger logistics companies that operate large fleets with audited Quality Management Systems would not want to risk the damage to their company by using trucks with the speed limiter removed. Plus their insurance and liability cover would be compromised in the event of an incident that would lead to 6 or 7 digit fines and payouts.

Lindsay Fox has gone further than that and wants the system he uses mandated Australia wide.
All trucks are GPS monitored and when a truck exceeds the speed limit, or the driver does not take the required break it brings up a warning on the computer.

[Falcon_Crazy]

Where possible i get on the CB. A lot of them are on Ch18. I ask nicely if they dont mind backing off due to the tail back behind them. Most, oblige without an issue. One old bloke in a modified old coach on the Princes Highway was very obliging and even pulled up on side of road (no overtaking lanes).

Same thing with trucks on our more remote roads where light inclines can leave tripples slowing. Jump on CB and ask. If ya dont have a CB, jut pull out a bit - light on, the truckies will normally ee ya and then indicate when clear to pass. ALWAYS remember to say thanks - indicate/CB or a wave - its not hard.

[Bushbasher]

Originally Posted by prydey

i'm sorry you've lost me there. are you saying that if you get frustrated and make a poor decision that its someone else's fault?

this thread is about the scenario in post 1. i have voted. you are free to look, its a public poll.

Ok, that last passage may have been a bit OTT, and no I'm certainly not saying making any poor decision is anyone elses fault but your own, but the vibe of all your posts in this thread comes across to me as though every decision other than sit back and wait or try to crawl past at the posted limit, is the wrong decision, so I just wonder, at what point do you not turn the other cheek and back off? How long will you let someone impose their will on you, be it deliberate or by ignorance, before you react in an assertive manner rather than passively sit back and allow them to dictate to you?

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

Australian Road Rules state that it is illegal to overtake any vehicle on the left hand side unless that vehicle has slowed down and is indicating it's intention to turn right.

It is also illegal to not use the left lane if the speed limit is 70kph or above.

[JAJH]

Originally Posted by loony888

We should adopt european law that prohibits any vehicle with a RGVM above 5 tonnes from using the outside lane, ever, for any reason.

I don't know if this is actually true or not but i would certainly support a law such as this. I don't want this to turn into a truckie bash but honestly some of the guys driving big rigs have something missing between their ears. How many times have we all seen trucks sitting in all three lanes at the lights or the semi hogging the right lane on the freeway? But worst and most dangerous of all is the rig sitting only a few feet from the vehicle in front doing 100-110kmh, presumably because he's on a deadline. Truckies have a greater responsibility than anyone else on the road simply due to their size and potential for causing carnage.

[Cespenar]

Every time My wife and I go from Dubbo to Orange and back we strike several of these drivers who lack common sense and lack courtesy. Only 150 klm each way.
I wonder how many of these drivers you don't see in your travels, especially in 4 and 5 hundred klm trips.
Ditched my AU ghia yesterday and drove my daughter's Subo Forester today. Sat in 101 and several cars sat on my tail. Eventually passed me. Wellington to Dubbo is 110 limit. I sat on 112. passed them all as they didn't even do 110.
Gotta be careful. Subo doesn't have the grunt of the big 6.

[burnz]

Originally Posted by JAJH

I don't know if this is actually true or not but i would certainly support a law such as this. I don't want this to turn into a truckie bash but honestly some of the guys driving big rigs have something missing between their ears. How many times have we all seen trucks sitting in all three lanes at the lights or the semi hogging the right lane on the freeway? But worst and most dangerous of all is the rig sitting only a few feet from the vehicle in front doing 100-110kmh, presumably because he's on a deadline. Truckies have a greater responsibility than anyone else on the road simply due to their size and potential for causing carnage.

for most people; truckies cant use the left lane,
their are to many tree's, power poles in the gutter and shop awning over hang there.
same with low bridges, only some lane are lower then others.

[JC]

Go past them all, with hand on the horn as I go past each one. If I was the only car (ie no others behind me), I would then pull in front of the front one and slow them down to their previous speed of 80, then zoom off at the limit of 100.

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

Lindsay Fox has gone further than that and wants the system he uses mandated Australia wide.
All trucks are GPS monitored and when a truck exceeds the speed limit, or the driver does not take the required break it brings up a warning on the computer.

Linsay Fox isn't the only one, Bp already has the system as does Caltex.

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

i lol how grey elephant nomads insist on traveling nose to tail all in the name of **** Cheryl we just pulled 11mpg towing this house we were meant to leave behind... don't crack open that tin of 50c pieces yet..

no gaps further negating any chance of picking them off one by one safely.....

One reason why I like riding the motorbike on roads where I know this is a regular occurance .. you can usually still pick them off one-by-one.

[stace650]

I just flog past all of them in my big V8. No guilt, no regret.

And then I smile.

[TyLeR3397]

I have the right to go the speed limit, if you are stopping me from doing so, I will overtake you. Rather than being stuck in a congo line of cars, I will go over the limit to put a good distance between myself and the congo line. If a cop happens to pull me over and lecture me about how it's more dangerous to speed for a few seconds, I will gladly take a fine.

[Nanoraptor]

Originally Posted by prydey

these topics come up all the time, and one trait i always push is patience. it really could save your life, for the sake of half an hour!! or even an hour!! i have been in situations where i've been stuck behind a line of b doubles and you just have to sit it out.

I'm with prydey for the most part. A couple years ago I started work that requires 100km round trips along country highways. The occurrence of gits who'll do 85 when they have one lane and 100 with two is close to daily. They're common enough.

Five hundred trips later along the same road though, I've come to see that the placement of just about every overtaking lane is when the road pans out into a straight or grand sweeping bend that makes it easier to run up to full speed. I go with the flow now for the most part. If I'm on my own on the road I find myself naturally falling into the same pattern I criticised others for.

Still, the busted up white EF falcon wagon from a few weeks ago packed with hoarded who-knows-what that did 60 or under in single lanes and 120 in overtaking lanes was just taking the *$&#.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Nanoraptor

Five hundred trips later along the same road though, I've come to see that the placement of just about every overtaking lane is when the road pans out into a straight or grand sweeping bend that makes it easier to run up to full speed

this is the thing. obviously where overtaking lanes are the road naturally widens and generally drivers feel more comfortable than they did on the single lane sections. this is the main reason why you often have drivers who speed up in overtaking lanes. some are probably doing it subconsciously. most would definitely NOT be doing it intentionally like many think.

too many people take the actions of others personally.

[TheSneakiness]

As I've done yet another trip to northern NSW over the last weekend along our magnificent Pac Highway I would rather get the lard bus up over the nominated limit to get past the L platers stuck on 80km/h, the grey nomad brigade and the general "wherethefarqrwe" tribe members.

Rather that then lose my stack.

[joeyy17]

On overtaking lanes in country sides there should not be any police/highway patrol looking for speeding drivers but for major hold ups. There should only be safety cameras like they have in city freeway areas just incase people are being stupid/ use for evidence.