Proposed new QLD laws for LHD vehicles???

[LG17]

Has anyone information about the proposed new laws in Qld - or is it all just hot air?

From what I've been told, legislation will be drafted that all new registrations will have to be RHD. If you currently own a LHD and either sell it or let the rego lapse, then it will have to be converted to RHD. It will be illegal to sell a LHD registered vehicle.

If you import a LHD it will have to be converted before you are able to register it.

[Angeldust]

can anyone shed more light?

[flappist]

Ring one of the importers, they will know what the true story is.

[2011G6E]

Would seem a bit odd after so many years of not allowing LHD cars to be registered, then seeing common sense and going to the LO2 (or whatever it's called) compliance system, then back to "the bad old days" again.

But then again, everyone probably knows my stance on letting LHD vehicles on the road, old or new...we're about the only country in the world that makes such a big issue out of which side the steering wheel is on, for some reason..

[Zedjay]

Do you mean old cars too or just late model?
There would be a lot of lo2 complianced. Would love to know how many

[XBROO]

I always buy aussie made cars or atleast right hand drives. I always ask my mate in his muzzy, how dose he see past a truck on a single lane Hwy.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by XBROO

I always buy aussie made cars or atleast right hand drives. I always ask my mate in his muzzy, how dose he see past a truck on a single lane Hwy.

The guy riding shotgun helps you drive.

[XBROO]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The guy riding shotgun helps you drive.

To bad if you're riding solo.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by XBROO

I always buy aussie made cars or atleast right hand drives. I always ask my mate in his muzzy, how dose he see past a truck on a single lane Hwy.

Well rather than do the standard sit right up their bums and stick your head out you might just hang back a bit a look from a smaller angle.

Drivers all over the rest of the world seem to be able to do this, I wonder why we can't?

It seems the nannyism is being ground in so far that everyone just assumes that they are physically incapable of doing anything unless there is a road sign or public servant that says they can......

[XBROO]

Originally Posted by flappist

Well rather than do the standard sit right up their bums and stick your head out you might just hang back a bit a look from a smaller angle.

Drivers all over the rest of the world seem to be able to do this, I wonder why we can't?

It seems the nannyism is being ground in so far that everyone just assumes that they are physically incapable of doing anything unless there is a road sign or public servant that says they can......

Flappist I think you're missing something here, if it was other countries with left hand drive, they would be on the opposite side of the road so it would be the same as here. Left hand drives, drive on the right and right hand drives on the left. Nothing I said was meant to be nannyism. I couldn't care if that law comes in or not as I'm not into American cars, I love Aussie Muscle or classic cars. And if you hang back far enough to see, then somebody in a rush will overtake you to take the space you left.

[LG17]

A bloke I know fairly well and is really into the hot rod and old hot car scene was telling me at Christmas - he was saying he is lucky because his rodded Anglia, big block Galaxie and '64 almost everyday driver Fairlane are all right hand drive.

He talked about values plummeting and the market being flooded before the laws come in.

Zedjay - all cars,old and new.

[SSD-85]

If its true, the is will indeed cause the US import market to dry up (with exception to those who can afford it). Here I was hoping theyd go the other way around & let post-88 vehicles be registered as LHD.

Oh well. Can do what many import mobs do & compliance it in WA.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by XBROO

Flappist I think you're missing something here, if it was other countries with left hand drive, they would be on the opposite side of the road so it would be the same as here. Left hand drives, drive on the right and right hand drives on the left. Nothing I said was meant to be nannyism. I couldn't care if that law comes in or not as I'm not into American cars, I love Aussie Muscle or classic cars. And if you hang back far enough to see, then somebody in a rush will overtake you to take the space you left.

You mean other countries like UK, most of Europe, Hong Kong and half the the Middle East and Africa where there have been mixtures of LHD and RHD vehicles for decades?

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by XBROO

I always buy aussie made cars or atleast right hand drives. I always ask my mate in his muzzy, how dose he see past a truck on a single lane Hwy.

Driving a LHD car on the LH side of the road isn't rocket science. You just need to think and be patient; you can't just stab-n-steer like most drivers do. If I'm stuck behind something (in my LHD AMC Javelin) I can't see around and traffic is banking up behind me typically I'll pull back far enough to let other drivers pass me, then Keep any eye out for another opportunity. If in doubt DON'T. Typically most LHD cars are special interest and driven limited Kms so being 5min late for a single journey doesn't lose much time over your driving career.

BTW I know a few guys with LHD cars with little cameras attached to RH mirror etc and have a screen to see down the RH side. Probably illegal, but useful.

If QLD goes back to RHD only, I'd be happy to sell my RHD '69 Javelin and RHD '70 Fury convertible ... Then I'll by some more LHD cars for rego down here in Vic

[Angeldust]

a friend bought a mustang a few years ago, and its been going a very slow resto. At the moment its still in bits, with the body painted and engine built but still in pieces. It hasn't been rego'd here ever as it was fresh of the boat etc.

This could be very bad news if there's any substance to it...

[XBROO]

Originally Posted by flappist

You mean other countries like UK, most of Europe, Hong Kong and half the the Middle East and Africa where there have been mixtures of LHD and RHD vehicles for decades?

Gees it must be fun in them countries. I thought a lot of Europe were right hand drives?

[jmack]

and thats why the roads are stuffed because the current crop of drivers want to drive and not think about what they are doing,the problem with the licensing system is just that they teach them how to get their license not how to drive,just have a look at the way these people walk around a shopping centre ,they drive the same.nothing wrong with left hand vehicles on our roads ,cant remember the last time i seen a left hand vehicle in an accident but plenty of right hand so cant be that dangerous

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by LG17

Has anyone information about the proposed new laws in Qld - or is it all just hot air?

From what I've been told, legislation will be drafted that all new registrations will have to be RHD. If you currently own a LHD and either sell it or let the rego lapse, then it will have to be converted to RHD. It will be illegal to sell a LHD registered vehicle.

If you import a LHD it will have to be converted before you are able to register it.

So who told you this?

[LG17]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

So who told you this?

Post #11

[irish2]

I drive a left hooker and overtaking is no worries. I simply creep over slightly, whilst staying in my own lane and can see past almost everything (as long as I'm not up their clacker).

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Don't worry kids, Gov Co will protect you!

This is a prototype released jointly by the QLD Police and Department of Transport and Main Roads.

In response to people continuing the trend of becoming statistics, a full body suit has been crafted which is both ergonomic, stylish and reduces the chance of injury by a full 90% below 60km/h.

In conjunction with the 3G GPS receiver placed firmly against your rectum to ensure speeding fines are emailed to you instantly, thus reducing paper wastage, it also sends a violent jolt of electricity through your body to ensure you are aware you have been 'stung', and alleviates any stress caused by 'not knowing' if you 'got done' by the soon to be defunct 'hidden speed camera vans'.

Be the envy of all your friends with this dashing new road safety device, simply slip it on and 45 minutes later you're ready to drive.

Children prototype shown, rectal speeding fine attachment installed to ensure vehicle monitoring but with 1/4 electricity to ensure audible screams alert the driver.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by XBROO

Gees it must be fun in them countries. I thought a lot of Europe were right hand drives?

My nephew who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, drives a pleasant little Renault that they bought brand new on holidays in Europe for a huge saving over the price of one in England. It's LHD, and there's no problem or question about registering or owning one...it's seen as perfectly normal. People take their English cars on holiday to the continent all the time and as soon as they leave the ferry/train they have to drive on the "wrong" side of the road, then swap back when they go home. It;s always been like that, so they see it as nothing to worry about.
Australia is unique in having huge restrictions on brand new LHD cars, to both protect our precious widdle car industry from the big bad world (imagine if overseas manufacturers like, for instance, Chrysler and Chev and Ford didn't have to engineer special models just for us...brand new sub-$30,000 Camaro, Mustang, or a $35,000 300C anyone?) and also to cater to drivers who have never had to face using some skill and thought when driving.
As said above, driver training here is mostly about teaching you to pass the test, rather than proper driving techniques, unless you go to a real intensive driver training school.

Be interesting to see what happens to prices if this is something the government here is considering...there's been an explosion in the number of Mustangs for one since the LO2 compliance came in. The price dropped remarkably and even I considered buying one a few years back. I could have got a six cylinder mid to late sixties one, LHD and registered in QLD, for under $20,000 for one that was a big tired in the paint.

[Cambo351]

Originally Posted by XBROO

Gees it must be fun in them countries. I thought a lot of Europe were right hand drives?

Only UK and Malta, rest is LHD & drive on the right.

My X-Type daily driver is LHD, my XJR weekend special is RHD. Done a lot of miles with it here the continent on the right side of the road. It's a bit of a pain, but you get used to it.

I find if you want to see past something in front on a 2 lane road, drift over to the right (into the gutter a little) & look around from the right side.

Bigger problem is multi-storey carparks, can't pull the ticket out of the machine if you are on your own...

And if i'm honest, waiting at a junction it's a little more difficult to see what's coming from your left. (would be the opposite problem in a LHD car in Oz, hard to see what's coming from your right).

But, in 99% of driving conditions, it makes absolutely no difference if you're driving RHD or LHD.

[OzJavelin]

Try this in Australia and imagine the carnage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagen_H

Dagen H (H day), today mostly called "Högertrafikomläggningen" ("The right-hand traffic diversion"), was the day, 3 September 1967, on which traffic in Sweden switched from driving on the left-hand side of the road to the right.

[last fairlane]

Hi all
Back in 1997 the Mrs and me went to the UK for a holiday
we borrowed a Fiat Strada RHD hatch
anyway we went over to France which meant we were driving
on the wrong side of the car and the road
drove off the ferry and up the freeway no probs
driving along a country road we came to a roundabout
not thinking looked right and entered nearly had a crash as you had to give way to the left
being a passenger is scary though

does anyone remember about 25 years ago QLD was going to drive on the right side of the road Joh hated federal Labor with a passion
this was about the time of Joh for PM campaign

[XBROO]

Ok interesting thanks for the info fellas. Like I said I don't have a problem with left hand drives over here. I'm in the car scene and used to run a car club and a few members have LHD cars. I always hang **** on them like 'Gees your missus is a good reverser as she didn't even turn around to look'. But they drive them perfectly well and there's never been a problem with them cruising around with us.

I don't think Australia would be educated enough to handle alot of left hand drive over here, as there's enough confusment with the road rules as there is. I suppose if you grew up over europe then that's how you would learn, so it would be second nature so to speak.

[gtxb67]

can someone please explain to me why a group of drivers that
a) will forget to pay their rego if there are no windscreen stickers and
b) will be involved in mass accidents because an old rule regarding amber lights has been brought to our attention

will be able to drive a lhd car in a rhd country
the law makers have this one about right - while any one who is qualified to drive a car should be able to cope with an lhd car . . . . . most cannot

[350125GO]

My Galaxie is LHD - have had no issues. Takes a drive or two to get used to but after that no issues whatsoever. Overtaking as others have said you just lay back until you can see. Who cares if others overtake you during this time, the car has to be older than 25+ years so its a classic anyway?

[Outbackjack]

LHD drive vehicles are common place in the NT. They can be rego'd with very little effort. Most are SOFA vehicles. I didn't take much notice nor did I care if some cars were LHD, until I was driving behind one on the highway. He was trying to overtake a truck. It is a very dangerous thing to do when you are sitting on the left hand side of the car. He had to move a long way into the oncoming lane to see if it was clear to over take... That alone should give the law makers something to think about.

[Kryton]

8hr business day to day - how about someone makes a few phone calls and finds out for sure - unless you just want to keep going on someones say so.