Road works speed limit - what to do?

skimp on 31/01/2016 - 12:30

We were driving back to Sydney from the south coast when we encountered long sections of 50km/h and 60km/h road works speed limits. These are in place due to the construction of a new 4-lane highway bypassing Berry. The driver behind me (a red female P-plater) tailgated me all the way for about 15-20 minutes on the single lane road we were on (Princes Hwy), making my drive very stressful. Looking in the mirror I can see a long procession of cars bunching up quite tightly too (I was the lead car). The cars that were in front of me had shot off already, obviously not following the limit. I know there are times when road work limits aren't followed by drivers, but in this case work was clearly being carried out in the area. I am wondering how people gauge what speed to stick to in such a situation - by the sign posted speed, or by herd behaviour and do what people around are doing?

As it happens I eventually caught up to all the cars in front of me when we approached the next bottleneck area approaching Wollongong. I believe there's never much time lost following the speed limit, nor much gained breaking the limit during daytime driving. In this case I stayed on the good side of the law but it was stressful.

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Comments

  • nocure on 31/01/2016 - 12:33
    +156

    You did exactly the right thing…always follow the signed speed limits…don't worry about what other idiots are doing .

    • onetwothreefour on 31/01/2016 - 19:45
      +43

      Sometimes I feel like I am the only non-idiot on the road.

      • kima on 01/02/2016 - 07:20
        +3

        we all like to think that. 20 votes for above too but how many actually do that? i slow down and i am usually the only one i see do it, so yes it does make you question whether there is any point

        • Jesmond on 03/02/2016 - 21:10
          +1

          Agreed. So glad this post isn't another "I drove over the speed limit and now I have a fine. How should I try and get out of it."

      • srnoz on 03/02/2016 - 08:24

        Count me in… I'm a weekly non-idiot on the citylink for few weeks now! Once my wife tried to count how many over takes us and couldn't keep up. Happy to see that I'm not the only one.

      • bobbified on 03/02/2016 - 09:06
        +3

        I'll just leave this here: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/motr/when…

    • johnno07 on 01/02/2016 - 18:33
      +18

      don't worry about what other idiots are doing

      Terrible advice. My number one rule is "worry about what other idiots are doing". Just because they are in the wrong, doesn't mean you shouldn't get out of the way if you can. I.e just because cars are supposed to give way to pedestrians at a crossing, doesn't mean you should walk out onto the road with your eyes closed. Not worrying about other idiots will just end you up under a truck.

      • nocure on 01/02/2016 - 20:52
        -3

        just end you up under a truck.

        If you're always looking in the rear vision mirror and not watching ahead…yes ,a truck you will be under.

    • mily on 02/02/2016 - 09:38
      +4

      If there was a long que behind me in this case, I would find a wide section and pull over to let them go first, it won't be hard nor dangerous within a 50/60 km/h zone, and much less stressful.

      • johnno07 on 02/02/2016 - 23:53
        +2

        Que?

      • wozz on 04/02/2016 - 19:41

        Completely agreed, if possible, let the idiots go and do what they want. I know they're not in the right, but I personally hate being tailgated

      • nocure on 02/02/2016 - 21:14
        +6

        Roadworks zone …people just like us are putting their lives at risk to fix our roads…least you can do is slow down…not rocket science.

        • payton on 03/02/2016 - 15:38
          +9

          What grinds my gear is driving through a roadwork zone when the roadworkers have gone home and they 'forgot' to cover up the slow speed signs, so all of us were required to drive slow, for no good reason. The road was fully operational, there were no visible issues that warranted the need for drivers to slow down.

    • nikey2k27 on 03/02/2016 - 17:18

      follow speed limits sign there protect you and safe of worker on site as some who hard family member kill at road work site by car speed in road works zone. always follow the signed speed limits.

  • pointless martyr on 31/01/2016 - 12:42
    +30

    You were right to follow the posted limit.

    You were wrong to be very stressed out by a schoolgirl.

    • skimp on 31/01/2016 - 12:57
      +5

      Thanks. Problem was I was also imagining I was p'ing-off everyone behind the p-plater which added to my stress.

      • badwolfpart2 on 02/02/2016 - 09:41
        +3

        So what if they're pissed off? You're doing the speed limit. You aren't going 50k/hour for the joy of it.

      • wackedupwacko on 02/02/2016 - 19:16
        +4

        Having recently done some interstate driving (Syd -> Bris -> Syd) it may seem like everyone is bunched up and ready to overtake but reality is having hit 110+ for ages, driving at 60 feels very slow so you naturally tend to reduce the gap. People may get annoyed but its more at the road / speed limit than you for following it.

        It might be off putting, but I just had a laugh about it with my friend when I was in the situation and someone zoomed past only for me to catch up later. It was decidedly a lot less stressful than being caught between 2 trucks who played with their speeds on a 1 lane section, I was so confused at why they sped up / slowed down for seemingly no reason other than to mess with me.

      • Sheez on 04/02/2016 - 19:36

        Just think of yourself as a pace car, someone has to do it :)

    • Tombf2g on 03/02/2016 - 12:30
      +5

      As a motorcycle rider i'd rather get a ticket then have a schoolgirl run up the back of me, doesnt matter who is driving, all the same car killing me. I trust no one while riding a bike.

  • chumlee on 31/01/2016 - 12:43
    +1

    That's why God gave us a middle finger. Make sure drivers behind you see it.

  • oscargamer on 31/01/2016 - 12:43
    +35

    If the cars behind are stressing you, pull over and let the idiots zoom past. Stress gone.

      • RockyRaccoon on 31/01/2016 - 16:40
        +22

        Pride doesnt come into it, or shouldn't. Let them go, as I consider the following

        1. It's not my job to police the road.
        2. I let them go and consider them a radar magnet, they get caught and while the cop is writing out the ticket they dont look at me, as its not easy to maintain a fixed speed in these circumstances.

        Plus I dont have the stress of watching my speed or my back, which means a safer drive for me.

        • skimp on 01/02/2016 - 17:01
          +2

          You're right. I declared my 'pride' as a weakness, it doesn't belong behind the wheel.

        • doctordv8 on 01/02/2016 - 11:48
          +12

          I reply as if you are the one wanting to speed thru.

          No pedestrians? Are you insane? It is the ones you don't see that you kill speeding around. Ever driven country roads? Fact….see a roo, miss it and you will most likely cop the one you did not see following up behind. Goes for many animals on the road while you are speeding through.
          Did this perpetual insane slow just on purpose to hold you up only driving go on forever?
          Or maybe just a few k's? There there, wasn't that bad was it?

          What about remembering it is a privilege to have a license to drive, not a right? You need to let everyone drive on winding roads at a speed that is comfortable and safe for them also. A few minutes at a slower than the Max speed will not hurt you. There will always be something - junk on the roads, people, and learner drivers and vehicles turning, and road damage, and many other reasons why the Max speed is not achievable. Again, Max speed, is just that, the Maximum allowed in perfect conditions.

          I have held up traffic for a few k's before, but as I was turning very soon, we all just waited until I was off the road. See, we all have to slow down and be patient sometimes. Most drivers will try to pull out of the way, but that is dependent on the time involved, location, why they are going slow etc. If they don't, pull over yourself, and have a wee rest. Calm yourself down, and try again, hopefully that slow vehicle is gone.

          Do you slow down in blinding rain? Ever driven in slow or flooded roads? I am sure you have driven at some point at less than the Max posted speed, winding road or not, and if you remember back to your learning days, how many times did you ride the brakes on your first mountain winding scary as all hell to some people downhill blind cornered road.

          Are you in such a rush to kill? Is you lack of preparedness causing you to be late, hence the need for speed? do you not have any understanding of patience?

          If any of these scenarios relate to your speeding thru, you need to stop and think what you just said. You are dangerous, and you do not have the right to put other people in danger because of what you think is a proper speed. That self absorbed slow driver is doing quite legally what they are allowed to do by law, and withing their abilities.

        • bobbified on 01/02/2016 - 13:28
          +8

          @yoyomablue:

          No.. if the road is clear and there is nothing out of the ordinary that could pose an immediate danger, you can't drive 50m/hr on a 100km/h stretch.

          There's a specific rule against driving too slowly and it comes with a nice fine.

          Someone driving that slowly is a hazard to other road users!

        • bobbified on 01/02/2016 - 14:54
          +10

          @yoyomablue:

          there is no explicit definition in the relevant act of parliament as to what is 'driving too slowly'

          You might want to have a read of this:

          ROAD RULES 2014 - REG 125

          Unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians
          125 Unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians

          (1) A driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian.
          Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

          (2) For this rule, a driver does not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian only because:
          (a) the driver is stopped in traffic, or
          (b) the driver is driving more slowly than other vehicles (unless the driver is driving abnormally slowly in the circumstances).
          Example of a driver driving abnormally slowly : A driver driving at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour on a length of road to which a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour applies when there is no reason for the driver to drive at that speed on the length of road.

          (http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2014104…)

        • bobbified on 01/02/2016 - 16:22
          +4

          @yoyomablue:

          It is not a "percentage" of the speed limit as you put it.. it's whether you're "unreasonably" obstructing other drivers and pedestrians.

          If you really don't understand, have a read of this article from Victoria where the same rules apply, in particular, the quotes from State Highway Patrol Inspector Simon Humphrey about what's reasonable and what's not:

          http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/featherfoot-motor…

        • Tnetennba on 02/02/2016 - 03:38
          +12

          @yoyomablue: He literally provided perfectly good sources and you're still ignoring the fact of the matter. If you unreasonably drive well below the speed limit, it is an offence. You've well and truly lost the argument, I'd give up on it if I were you.

        • [Deactivated] on 02/02/2016 - 09:20
          +2

          @bobbified:
          20 under on a freeway? That's a honking.

          Getting overtaken from the left on a freeway? Thats a honking.

        • teasatotalling on 02/02/2016 - 09:32
          -8

          @brezzo: no it's typical of the majority of the population not understanding that a court ultimately defines words, to set precedent.
          What was also pertinent in the Herald Sun article, was "…but for most the charge was struck out or dismissed…" - exactly as I would have predicted, because it's so difficult to define due to inherent subjectivity.

        • Serapis on 02/02/2016 - 19:22
          +1

          @yoyomablue:

          You make no sense whatsoever

          1. Would never go to supreme court let alone high court, you'd be an idiot to spend so much time and money on legal fees vs the actual fine. You will most likely pay your own costs and will likely pay the state's costs if you lose. So it's mostly up to a single magistrate, not by a bench of judges. And magistrates can decide quite randomly in their decisions.

          2. Whether speeding or holding up traffic, the consequences are on the driver. If stated limit was 50km / hr, speeding WILL get you a fine whereas going too slow is a maybe. Doubt highway patrol will let you off with 'but there's no roadwork going on right now.' Has nothing to do with whether one is self absorbed, only which option is less risky for the driver.

      • wozz on 04/02/2016 - 19:44

        now that can be risky, I would always let them go.. For one thing, who knows what situation they're in.. And another, even if they have no good reason, consider that it's not your job to limit them - if they're that desperate, let them go. Holding tailgaters back when you could get out of the way (especially if you're not in a rush) is a good way to incite road rage (even if you're not doing anything wrong), which is usually best avoided considering the mentality of some people..

        This kind of applies to people who want to drive under the limit too - if you're not in a rush, and don't see the point in speeding, pull over and let them pass.

    • gomazz on 01/02/2016 - 21:01

      There will be a shipload of other cars to take their place in 5 minutes.

  • captobvious on 31/01/2016 - 12:47
    +5

    Road work speed limits are enforced.

    If only you had a Bond car, you could drop some spikes behind you. that will slow her down.

    • pointless martyr on 31/01/2016 - 12:52
      +5

      If only you had a delorean, you dont need roads

      • captobvious on 31/01/2016 - 12:53

        i fuxed my flux

        • pointless martyr on 31/01/2016 - 12:55
          +5

          Shucks, that sux - youll have a fork out big bux; thats the crux!

        • McFly on 01/02/2016 - 13:28
          +1

          I thinx I have a spare…

  • Davo1111 on 31/01/2016 - 16:37
    +2

    All you can do is keep in the left most lane and keep to the speed limit. If they want to overtake they'll find a way

    • CandyMan on 31/01/2016 - 19:20
      +1

      on the single lane road

      even the right lane will be left

      • Davo1111 on 31/01/2016 - 19:27

        yes, but there might be places where they can overtake, legally or illegally.

        • CandyMan on 31/01/2016 - 19:35
          +1

          I've drove through the road that the OP is referring to. it is the dumbest way to expand a major road - km's of narrow one slow lane roads.

  • altomic on 31/01/2016 - 20:37
    +3

    when people are tailgating me through reduced-speed-road-constructoin areas - I wind down the window and motion them to overtake. especially if it is single lane. stuff them.

    I used to do traffic control and hate idiots who hoon through speed reduced areas.

  • kima on 01/02/2016 - 07:18
    +5

    learnt years ago to not get stressed by drivers who do that - go even slower so they back off or pull over and let them pass. at the end of the day if you get fined they are not going to pay it for you so who cares what they think? if people tell me what to wear or how to look i tell them the same thing - are you going to pay me to be your model? if not not then your not my boss because your not paying my wages so why should i care what you think i should do.

  • PlasticSpaceman on 01/02/2016 - 08:39
    +7

    One of my more memorable moments was when an idiot wanted me to go into the railway crossing when it wasn't clear on the other side. When there was room for me to go, I went - and they followed me. Of course there was only just enough room for my car and they were stuck in the middle and - yes - the boom gates started coming down. Seeing their expression made my day. They managed to squeeze their car off to one side and not get wiped by the commuter train but I suspect that's the last time they ever did that.

    Basically, there are idiots on the road. I also drove to/from Sydney over the break. It was annoying having to slow down at the roadworks, but you do have to slow down. This is because there are people working on the road (they could get hit by a car or by stones thrown up by them), and also it's the law. Most people stuck to the limit, but some ignored it. If someone is right up on your bumper, well let them stress out not you. You did the right thing. They on the other hand can deal with high blood pressure, and stones being thrown onto their windscreen.

    I've been known to go a little fast at times [ahem] but it's just dumb to speed in those areas. As an aside, this might not be the case in NSW but in Vic I've known speed cameras to be placed in those zones as well.

  • rollypollym on 01/02/2016 - 08:48
    +17

    Lead car= first fined! Ignore your rear view, they won't pay your fine!

  • Live Dimension on 01/02/2016 - 10:21

    About a year ago they were doing work on a 100km/hr road with some hills and a corner on it. The road sign speed was 100km/hr. They had completed the work and were not doing anything, but being a rural area the road had yet to be painted for several months now. Several times a week I'd drive back and forth on that road, sometimes doing the 60km/hr limit and sometimes doing 80km/hr. There really was no reason to keep it at 60km/hr

    One time I was doing 80km/hr and got a warning flash from an undercover cop car passing by. No audio alert and I did pull over to make sure but they never came/nothing came in the mail. I really suspect if I was doing 100km/hr they'd of done something, even though there was no one there, the road was fully sealed, and all that was missing was double white lines down the entire bit of road.

    You did the right thing.

    • Serapis on 02/02/2016 - 19:28
      +2

      Sometimes I suspect they set it so low so people do speed. And when they're caught, the fines go towards the completion of the road.

      Would be genius if that was their plan all along, a self finding public project.

      • jackary on 02/02/2016 - 23:33

        You sir have just blown my mind

  • doctordv8 on 01/02/2016 - 11:18
    +3

    Congratulations for holding your own. Peer pressure makes that a difficult thing to do, and you did the right thing, and I do the same as you. Roadworks and or working crew there working or not, we still have to slow down, as the road is not yet fit for normal full speed for reasons we might not see or understand.

    I also have a method that eliminates (mostly) the distraction of that tailgater in this situation. Set cruise to usual 40 or what ever is required, and tilt up the rear view mirror. If I need to I can still use side mirror to observe traffic but I don't have to put up with the evil eye. Besides what is the following car driver going to do, complain to the police?

    Yes road rage is a possibility, but that is still very rare and a rear facing camera is a great deterrent. As well, if in doubt for your safety, drive to the nearest police station or busy area. I know you are the one being put out, but sometimes it is the guys doing the right thing that are always making up for the idiots doing the wrong thing.

    I will never be putting myself or others in danger for speeding and will never get another ticket. I have never yet been booked while correctly using cruise control, but like an idiot in my younger days, well I did pay for a few Policeman's Balls(read - party).

    Please remember one often forgotten point always everyone, it is a safety issue first, not a money issue, why we obey road rules.

  • Ryanek on 01/02/2016 - 11:48
    +14

    If you have a tailgater, give your windshield a good clean and spray it with water. The spray off will hit their car and annoy them to no end.

    • kolorijo on 01/02/2016 - 13:39

      lol. might give it a try. cheers.

    • bobbified on 01/02/2016 - 14:16
      +3

      I'm not sure where you got your info from, but this is definitely not correct!

      The bit about being able to "drive safely" over the speed limit, I personally agree, because I think the speed limits are intentially set artificially low for the lowest common denominator..

      but the bit about speed limits accounting for that margin of error and not being fined for it is definitely not correct!

      • Lockieasy on 01/02/2016 - 18:20

        It's not financially viable for police to pull you over if you're in the first fine bracket (1-10km/h @ 1 demerit) when they could wait to pull over someone speeding more, which is why they generally don't bother.

        • Tnetennba on 02/02/2016 - 03:58
          +3

          I was curious as to your logic, and I can see where you are coming from.. so I looked into the official statistics from NSW Office of State Revenue, and discovered you are somewhat right, but it doesn't excuse speeding and police still pull over motorists under 10km/hr over the limit (I know quite a few people personally who have been done).

          In 2014/15 financial year, police in NSW pulled over 28,215 motorists travelling under 10km/hr over the speed limit.

          In the same financial year, they pulled over 127,004 motorists in the 10-20km/hr speeding range.

          20-30km/hr: 41,728 motorists

          30-40km/hr: 9,911 motorists

          45km/hr or over: 2,201 motorists for a total of 209,059 motorists.

          Now, that means that only 13.5% of speeding infringements issued were travelling under 10km/hr over the limit.. however 13.5% is still quite a significant proportion, and it doesn't validate speeding constantly slightly over the limit…

          It shows that they DO enforce the speed limit, even if it's quite low. You should NEVER think it is "safe" to drive 5-10km/hr over the limit and think you'll always get away with it.. there is a chance you'll get done, and this almost certainly increases in roadworks and school zones, since they are actively policed more than regular zones.

          Source (.xls file): http://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/node/963/attachment/latest?filenam…

          Also I didn't include the revenue actually raised by issuing these offences.. it would seem the under 10km/hr category only accounts for 5% of the revenue raised and the 10-20km/hr range brings in about half of all revenue from speeding offences, though this probably comes down to the dollar value usually given to each category.. I assume it goes up significantly over 20km/hr+.

        • Serapis on 02/02/2016 - 19:30

          @brezzo:

          Can vouch for NSW esp during long weekend. Will get a cop to walk out and stop your car for 2km over speed limit.

  • windrc on 01/02/2016 - 13:51

    my car has a detechable tow bar, leaving it on seems to have deterred the tailgaters

  • bobbified on 01/02/2016 - 13:54

    deleted - comment posted in the wrong place.

  • WT on 01/02/2016 - 14:50

    Inlaws live up the coast so we do a bit of freeway stuff.

    on the freeway from Hornsby to Newcastle there is about 5-10 mins difference sitting on 110 vs 120kph, there is about 15-20 mins of that in a 80/90klm zone.

    There isnt much point, especially if you get pulled over as that is extra time (and money)

    Night time there is a bit more difference since there is generally less chance getting stuck behind somoene sitting in the right lane doing the speed limit. Being dark its impossible to see cops before its too late so even more risk.

    I used to wait for someone doing 130+ and just sit 50m behind, cop busts them and is busy trying to pull out etc then to targeting me.

    Lastly, she could just be trying to slip stream you;-) P platers gotta be stingy with fuel

  • zond on 01/02/2016 - 15:51
    +3

    On a separate note, the slow traffic through Berry during holiday season always kills me!! This is so much repeatetive all the time, yet nobody does any thing about it. (If you can relate the traffic - is mainly because people are stopping at the town for a coffee/ foodie break and the road side parking stops all the vehicle behind…)

    I have tried to avoid Berry taking a long but faster route using the scenic drive through seven mile beach. It works and save considerable amount of pain, time and ofcourse these bloody tailgaters.

    Also I second the others - pulling over to let pass the other cars will give you heaps of mental peace - worth it while doing a long drive. Just wind out for a bit and get back to road when it is clear…

    • skimp on 01/02/2016 - 18:12
      +1

      I never would have thought it's quicker but you're right. Google Maps shows a 4min saving through your suggested route and it's only 1.3km longer.

      • chriskq on 01/02/2016 - 23:36

        Just checked maps too - Do you use the Belinda St turnoff?

        • zond on 02/02/2016 - 13:56
          +2

          Going from Sydney - I take exit on Fern street (towards Werri Beach - the beach itself is pretty nice. Once I went down to the sand in Werri beach with my car, its a wonderful view), pass through Gerrirong beach, keep going through crooked river road (you can also stop at Gerroa headland - it has a beautiful spot to wind out), pass through Coolangata using Bolong road and finally join Princess Highway just before the bridge.

          While returning, same way.

          Do not attempt to cut corner for joining the highway in between, they all take you to Berry - and you are back to square 1. :-))

    • This Guy on 02/02/2016 - 09:56

      Unless you catch the train :p

  • tangcla on 01/02/2016 - 16:19

    Follow the speed limit.
    I learnt the hard way many years ago, doing 80km/h instead of the reduced 60km/h - and this was at 10pm at night when no roadworks were occurring.

    The P plater can overtake and speed at his own risk.

    • skimp on 02/02/2016 - 15:45

      I am guessing you were fined? Warning heeded thank you.

      • tangcla on 11/02/2016 - 14:00

        Yep, got my fine, lesson learnt!

  • momov3 on 01/02/2016 - 16:29

    As I recall correctly, some drivers who ignored the roadworks speed limits have been caught and fined, not sure if there was a policeman there with radar gun or what, but it has happened before. So better to be safe than sorry.

  • skimp on 01/02/2016 - 17:12
    +2

    Thanks to those affirming I was doing the right thing. Definitely pulling over next time to take the pressure off. Would have saved the stress which hangs around even long after the incident. Affects the conversation in the car, the wife, the kids… just not worth it.

  • dogboy on 01/02/2016 - 20:07

    The Traffic Camera Office (TCO) in Qld are currently rolling out Speed Cameras mounted on trailers that can be taken to Road Works sites to catch people speeding.

  • lanjiao on 01/02/2016 - 21:46

    Don't worry about it mate. I am like you and I will drive to the posted signs, and sometimes if I am behind I just use the front car as a gauge for how fast I can go. Basically if I am matching the car in front and we are both going 10 over in a speed zone, then the cops should pull over the car in front.

    • OzBestDeal on 03/02/2016 - 09:59

      I've been thinking like that for a while, but if you consider the situation where police start chasing as soon as they detect 2 cars speeding… guess who's easier to get caught? I bet the car behind will get caught, and the car in front is free (unless the police take photo of the number plate).

  • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2016 - 23:38
    -1

    I have to put up with this crap every day. We have a section of road which is 70km/h, QLD road laws state if the speed limit is OVER 90km/h you must keep left if not over taking, so the rule does not apply on this stretch of road.

    I commonly sit on the speed limit and will find myself in the right hand lane only to have people tailgate me, speed around me then cut me off, give me the finger, yell abuse…. you name it, it's happened.. sure if safe I'll switch to the left lane, but I don't believe I should have to change lanes because someone else wants to break the law by exceeding the speed limit.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/03/2016 - 08:00

      the down vote sums up peoples attitude towards the law, so thanks for confirming this for me.

      • mily on 11/03/2016 - 16:37

        No, I think downvoters were just concerning of your personal safety. It's pointless to block the right lane just because you are allowed, and trying to stop some idiots. If the left lane is full yeah you surely can use the right lane, however if you are able to give the way, why put yourself in a situation facing idiots and law breakers?

  • [Deactivated] on 02/02/2016 - 00:08

    Sticking to the speed limit is the way to go definitely but it's nice to keep left when possible

  • Buggles on 02/02/2016 - 02:31

    You did the right thing. It can be very intimidating, I agree, however, as others have said, no one else is going to pay your fine if you get a ticket.

    In Perth, just recently, a woman didn't follow the lower speed limit, when there was no road repair happening, but the signs were still left up. It was over the Xmas NewYear break and she got double demerit points and lost her license. She enquired about a special permit to drive, as she has school aged children, however, was informed that only those bastions of Society,, charged with driving whilst drunk, were eligible for such a permit.

    The traffic cop may have been justified, under the letter of the law, but certainly missed a golden opportunity to show some human decency over Christmas.

  • Kranbone on 02/02/2016 - 03:36

    I have an interesting view on this.

    Legally, you did the right thing however I always urge common sense and driving to the conditions. This goes to further a point that everyone is so obsessed with speed limits (especially true for the government). Laws and limits sometimes don't always take into account the environment, the vehicle and the driver behind it and because of this a broad and blanket rule is applied (ie, as a society we must walk as fast as our slowest person).

    • Live Dimension on 02/02/2016 - 09:21

      This is how it should be applied, and it would be safer as well. Plenty of studies and tests show that restrictive speed limits and oppressive adhesion to that speed limit actually costs lives.

      There is a sort of unspoken "xyz over the limit" is okay in states that differ by the amount. Most sit around 3-5km/hr, one of them is around 8. I think it was NSW or Victory is only 2km/hr.

      Most people would be okay with speed limits if they were a little more reasonable and if there was a set guideline, ie, going up to 5km/hr over the limit is okay. However 6km/hr would be an automatic fine with no exceptions, except in extreme circumstances (no, being late wouldn't be one of them).

      True, we'd get a lot of people going near 5km/hr over the limit, but we currently get that now as i ti s and it would reduce a LOT of friction among drivers.

      There would be the issue of safe overtaking, but generally speaking if everyone is doing the speed limit there is no need to overtake in the first place.

  • tassiemays on 02/02/2016 - 08:32
    +2

    The others are wrong and driving like that out of frustration. Why???? Because 9 out of 10 times works speed signs are left out when works have finished or through risk management nanniesm they are spread out way too long and unreasonably disrupt traffic flows with non-sensible speeds.

    • teasatotalling on 02/02/2016 - 09:38
      +1

      Bingo. Spot on.
      That is why I totally ignore them when there is no work occurring.
      And, as someone pointed out & most don't realise, speed limits are for the lowest capable denominator.

      • Powershopz on 02/02/2016 - 12:36

        Keep up that attitude and you'll eventually lose your license.

        Yes it's frustrating and annoying but it's the law and any excuses won't hold up in court if you get caught.

        • teasatotalling on 02/02/2016 - 12:39
          -1

          Not really. I've been speeding for 6 years without a single fine.
          I'm very attentive to my surroundings…

        • Powershopz on 02/02/2016 - 12:43
          +2

          @yoyomablue:

          Congratulations on being a proud (profanity). Putting other people's lives at risk is well worth your smug satisfaction for breaking the law. It doesn't matter how attentive you are to your surrounding, accidents do happen. It may be completely the other cars fault but if your traveling faster it increases the severity of the accident.

        • bobbified on 02/02/2016 - 21:05
          +1

          Whilst I don't agree with yoyomablue where I totally ignore the law, I do have to say that there is one thing on my priority list that I hold much much higher than the law.

          That thing is called "self-preservation". If the law is putting me as an individual or the people with me in a car at risk, there is no way in hell I'm going to "obey" that law. I would much rather lose my licence than my life or that of anyone in the car with me.

          In the OP's situation, if there was a huge truck tailgating me, I would not hesitate to break the speed limit to find a place to pull over and let the truck pass.
          If I didn't and for whatever reason, I was required to do an emergency brake, there's a pretty good chance that the tailgating truck behind would roll right over me.

          No amount of law books thrown against the truck driver would be enough to bring myself or anyone else in the car, back to life.

          Another example would be the creation of bike lanes next to a line of parked cars. I don't ride a bicycle myself, but I dare say that it's obvious that this is an accident waiting to happen. There is a law against drivers opening their door and catching a cyclist, but what can the fine do to bring the cyclist who's been doored into the path of a car, back to life? The existence of that law might seem to, but it does not protect the cyclist - the cyclist needs to take measures to protect himself.

          The law is not always right, so it's up to each individual to weigh up whether their reason for breaking that law is worth risking the penalties.

        • teasatotalling on 03/02/2016 - 05:51
          -1

          @Powershopz: Doing 120 on the Hume Highway. So life threatening. All those pedestrians to dodge….

  • Donaldhump on 02/02/2016 - 10:31

    you did what the law stipulated by sticking to the speed limit, if someone behind you is ignorant to the fact they believe the don't need to abide by them, then they can further break the law and drive on the grass on the inside of you.

    P.S. Its natural for P platers to drive like idiots, they haven't had they first crash yet, we have all been there, and driven like fools when we were 18

    i love in qld how the highway goes to 60km an hour for periods for roadworks that stopped 2 months earlier.

  • WT on 02/02/2016 - 13:37

    One thing to keep in mind is that even though you have a lot of people behind you, maybe only 1 of those people want to speed. They are just doing the same as you, sitting on the road works speed limit.

    All it takes is a couple of bends taken slower by the lead car and the cars following to maintain the speed limit.

    it doesnt always mean they are itching to get past you

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