Police slam 130km/h Hume Hwy stunt By WHEELS Magazine

[usernametaken]

I can't believe a policeman said it would be too slow!!

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by zipping

Strangely enough here in Vic the nanny state on last nights news they are planning to trial 30km/h zones in yarra which is Richmond and Collingwood.

I seen that on the news last night and a major section of road that was there target for this ridiculous speed and as they showed it there were people jay walking everywhere, pedestrians have a lot to answer for 1'stly before we look at reducing speeds this low.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by csv8

Don't agree..from the article "Speed is a significant contributor to one in three road traumas."
1 in 3 accidents is caused by speed.

Cant believe this piece of misinformation still gets peddled.

Speed is not a *cause* of 1 in 3 crashes, its only a *factor*.

What's the difference? Guy drives 70 in an 80 zone, has a crash. If the investigator concludes that the crash would not have occurred if he had been going even slower, speed is put down as a factor... despite the fact that the driver was not *speeding*.

The ATSB many years ago kept stats on crashes versus speed versus speed limits. If you accounted for the role of other contributors such as fatigue or DUI, speeding caused well below 10% (as low as 3% IIRC) of crashes.

Once the anti-speeding brigade started referencing said stats, said stats disappeared from the ATSB site .. make of that what you will....

[Fireblade]

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

I seen that on the news last night and a major section of road that was there target for this ridiculous speed and as they showed it there were people jay walking everywhere, pedestrians have a lot to answer for 1'stly before we look at reducing speeds this low.

They do need to police this a ******** more, here in Paky people Jay walk friggin metres away from a pedestrian crossing.

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by Fireblade

They do need to police this a ******** more, here in Paky people Jay walk friggin metres away from a pedestrian crossing.

I don't understand why the police/govco couldn't target jay walking more so then they do now as it would be such a great revenue raiser for them and it might even give us poor old behaved drivers a break, I mean they could plonk themselves at the side of a road (unmasked) while eating a yummy bagel from the local just behind them and fine away, they wouldn't need to move far at all, and it would elevate the need for another vehicle on the road thus creating green house gases etc, conjecture, they could keep the street's safe in the meantime and may even be able to take to a street sweeper in the middle to relieve some boredom...

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by arronm

With ridiculous high speed limits in those countries listed above, its amazing anyone from those places are still alive.

Probably find out there road toll is less than ours.

What we really need to stop is people texting while driving, now thats irresponsible.

Increasing the speed limit just means you need to be mindful of idiots texting at 130 klm/h instead of 100 or 110.
With increased speed comes increased responsibility. The Europeans have been doing it for ages and they have "learned" to drive at that speed and their road courtesy is far and away so much better than ours. Less road hogging and tailgating and last minute lane switching at speed. Allowing victorians to drive at 130 just means more work for panel beaters and the coroner. Yes, I am from Vic. We are the worst drivers in Aus i reckon. No patience, bully tactics and road rage central. Do you really want us driving at 130 klm into your state........lol

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Brazen

At least we don't have to deal with hitting 800kg elk and moose like in Europe and North America

No, but we have to deal with roos that can be six feet tall when they get on their legs, cows, bulls and many other forms of stock on thousands of kilometres of unfenced highways and roads. Wild (black) pigs that can rip the front axle out from under a Kenworth. Stray camels, emus, dingos, wombats and horses and one of the most deadly road hazards of all, the Asian Camry driver.

Oh, I forgot to mention wedge tail eagles on the Nullarbor. These scavengers eat so much road kill that they can’t get far of the ground when you approach and end up going straight through your windscreen. Fun hey.

[Fireblade]

Originally Posted by ESP

Increasing the speed limit just means you need to be mindful of idiots texting at 130 klm/h instead of 100 or 110.
With increased speed comes increased responsibility. The Europeans have been doing it for ages and they have "learned" to drive at that speed and their road courtesy is far and away so much better than ours. Less road hogging and tailgating and last minute lane switching at speed. Allowing victorians to drive at 130 just means more work for panel beaters and the coroner. Yes, I am from Vic. We are the worst drivers in Aus i reckon. No patience, bully tactics and road rage central. Do you really want us driving at 130 klm into your state........lol

Coming from SA the difference is way noticeable the other way, the Vic drivers are way more courteous and patient than drivers in SA.

[dl86]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BKdbxX1pDw

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

, wombats and horses and one of the most deadly road hazards of all, the Asian Camry driver.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

I seen that on the news last night and a major section of road that was there target for this ridiculous speed and as they showed it there were people jay walking everywhere, pedestrians have a lot to answer for 1'stly before we look at reducing speeds this low.

Walking to trade school in Melbourne from Southern Cross Station, there is jay walking happening absolutely everywhere in Melbourne.

I don't understand why people are in such a rush they cant wait the extra 15 seconds to wait for the green man to cross, rather run across the road, into the middle and wait etc.

[uniacidz]

I personally like the idea, but dont think its a good one for our roads.

[Charliewool]

A bloody VOLVO???? (who cares)
Much prefer the XY Phase 111 version with Mel Nichols driving back in 1971.. Fantastic read for those that haven't read before............

http://www.lastinterceptor.com/lasti...encesbot5.html

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by nothin suss

I'm sure the reporter was capable of handling the vehicle and the 130kph speed he was doing. It's the other motorists not expecting his closing speed that is the drama.
I'd love an increased speed limit but Aussies just weren't brought up and trained to do those speeds or anticipate others doing them. It'd be quite dangerous.

Agree with this. One danger is that slower drivers don't stay in the left lane here in Aus, and don't look when they decide to pull out and overtake. Many drivers drive along happily with their minds in neutral, unlike in the UK where this driver came from.

I fully agree that driving at 130 kph is safer for the vehicle doing that speed where the road can handle that speed, because there is far less likelihood of that driver falling asleep. But there are other factors that also need to be considered. Including the kangaroos etc. as Full Noise mentioned.

[sprint347dave]

Whats the extra braking distance from 110 to 130,,20/25 metres ??? just so we can let skippy and all his mates know

[utilise_bc]

I think that the speed zones on major interstate roads needs to be increased. The short of it is that we have some of the fastest (not condoning that we should speed) production cars in the world and some of the lowest speed limits. I have travelled through the NT and comfortably sat at the 130 speed limit. I think that the thing is, the state bodies need to be selective in which roads they increase the speed limit on as we do have large distances to cover and although our cars are certainly capable, the condition of our roads are often the limiting factor.
We need to cut the travel times by selectively increasing speed limits on major road systems in Australia. I think it has been shown that by reducing the speed factor it does not necessarily reduce any accidents and this was shown when the newell highway was reduced to 100km/hr from Goondiwindi to Narrabri and then increased back to 110km/hr.

[redxm]

yep. 4 cyl camry with a 20ft van at 130. that'd work

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by redxm

yep. 4 cyl camry with a 20ft van at 130. that'd work

Or they could stay in the left hand lane, that would work pretty fantastically.

[MercurySilver]

yeah changing it up to 130 should cause untold deaths and carnage on the road

a bit like the dopey tourists that are doing 50kmh in a 90kmh zone just around a bend in my neck of the woods staring out the window wondering if they should go into that winery or not
no indicators nothing
and they wonder why these idiots die on my local roads many times a year
the answer and solution, drop the speed limit
which they did from 100 to 90
guess what??
no reduction in deaths on the exact same road
numerous times a year on the way to work there is a detour because some tourist clown is not paying attention and is not looking at the road
and the number of women i see texting on the same winding roads that are a 90m limit is unbelievable
yeah
130kmh on the hume will cause untold damage and loss of life
not

[bangm001]

Think we would all love the higher speeds, but the roads I drove on recently in Europe with speeds of 130km/hr were ALOT better, smoother, no bends, no pot holes etc than any of the 110km/hr roads here in SA. I say build better roads first, then increase the speed limits.

[tweeked]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

what about road freight, they will still be only allowed 100 KPH, what is to be done with these increasing mobile road blocks.

folks will follow a heavy vehicle for many miles before passing, then some will simply sit alongside. this I know from being behind the wheel of that heavy vehicle
.

This will not be an issue. It is only proposed for roads that would be dual carriageway.

[RedHotGT]

Well, Wheels certainly have hit the target dead centre...

They've got their name on all the news channels...
They've got their editor on the radio...
They've got everyone talking on Facebook / Twitter / Forums...

Whether the content is true/false or otherwise isn't all that important....

The outcome they were trying to achieve has been met!!

[BHDOGS]

Like all there car reviews then ******** aslong as it gets people talking

[AndyXR6T]

I love the idea of 130km roads but it will never happen. There are too many other factors that need to change.
P platers will cry that their limits are too slow, old people won't accept the change.
Too many speed cameras will need re-programming, too many highways will need new signage, too many new licences will have to be re-issued with new limits printed on them (millions of dollars right there).
Then what I think is the worst thing of all, keep left unless overtaking (NSW). This causes so much road rage on a daily basis as is. Imagine when you are sitting in the right hand lane and a little old Asian lady (no offence or racism intended) is sitting in front doing 90 thinking she's doing a good job... All the while you could be doing 130, getting angrier. Then the swerving and the beeping happens, then when she finally changes lanes you floor it and crash into something because you are automatically trying to go an extra 40kmph

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by tweeked

This will not be an issue. It is only proposed for roads that would be dual carriageway.

Like overtaking lanes where dawdlers speed up so you can't pass and then slowdown again.

[cobramania]

Maybe the pollies & police should start taking note, that the community is over the speed kills mantra & masking revenue raising as other things.

After all this isn't about making 2 lane roads/highways in the country/regional areas 130kph, it's about the nations main freeways. Most parts of the newer freeways could easily handle it.
Worried about slow drivers blocking or not keeping left, well how about getting some Highway patrols out there policing it, then those numpties might get the hint.

Drive up or down the M1 (F3) between Sydney & Newcastle & most people sit on 120 or there about now, many drivers, drive at times around the 130kph mark on that road now too.

It's all about driving to the road/weather conditions, your cars capabilities & your own driving capability, it's when you go over one or more of those, people get into trouble & accidents occur, if you can't safely drive at 130kph on the freeway (for whatever reason), drive to YOUR capabilities & stay in the left lane.

As has been mentioned everyones talking about it, & that online petition has climbed to around 10 & half thousand already, in just over a day

[MAD]

It's not just about raising to 130, it's also sensible application of limits.

The Monash for example, during peak hour there's no chance you could ever travel higher than about 45km/h anyway, but on weekends, and in other light conditions it should be more than capable of a 110 km/h limit.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by redxm

yep. 4 cyl camry with a 20ft van at 130. that'd work

I don't think you get it. A speed limit is the limit. The camry will be doing 90km/h regardless. The higher limit allows you to get around quicker, and be tootling along by yourself again.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by MAD

It's not just about raising to 130, it's also sensible application of limits.

The Monash for example, during peak hour there's no chance you could ever travel higher than about 45km/h anyway, but on weekends, and in other light conditions it should be more than capable of a 110 km/h limit.

Exactly. The number of times people argue with me that "there is too much traffic to be going faster anyway" I have to remind them that there other parts of the day that are not peak hour. Being on a empty highway with 3 lanes of cars all sitting on 95km/h side by side is tedious.

The other thing they should look at is turning off certain traffic lights late at night. Sitting at red turn arrows and waiting for the whole 3-4 minute sequence to play out before driving off on an empty road is ridiculous.

[K_Man]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

A bloody VOLVO???? (who cares)
Much prefer the XY Phase 111 version with Mel Nichols driving back in 1971.. Fantastic read for those that haven't read before............

http://www.lastinterceptor.com/lasti...encesbot5.html

Wonder if there will be a 'Volvo down the Hume' pic in the next wheels