I'm just wondering why some people resolutely drive 10km/hr below speed limit.
The ones I have seen are not scared of speed, as they go from doing 50 in a 60 zone, to 85 in a 100 zone.
I understand that the limit is only the maximum limit, but I am still curious.
Doesn't bother me so much when its all straight lanes, but when there is a turning lane (with a green arrow) and I can't get into it because the person in front is coasting to their red light, that shits me. Of course, the turn is now red once I do reach it, and the straight traffic then gets a green light…
Yea that gets me annoyed too. I have a habit of going fast as I can on those Right turning lights, especially in some roads where is always a queue waiting. I reckon the fast u turn, the more cars flow outta the bottle neck.
All other times i'm a pretty happy cruiser.
I do this too. Saves fuel and is easier on your brakes. I don't understand why people are in such a rush to get to a red light. You have to stop buddy, there's no point in getting annoyed.
I've seen many drivers who drive 60 in a 70 zone in non peak traffic. After the 3rd 70 sign on the straight road, they finally go 70. So obviously they weren't paying attention to road signs previously. Inattentive drivers are dangerous.
Driving so much lower than the speed limit doesn't necessary mean you're being safe.
This… I have seen people driving at a safe 60 unless they pass the 3rd speed sign. Also, some people always driving a 40 in school zone, irrespective of the depicted time.
I just came back from driving in LA on holidays.
I couldn't believe how few speed limit signs they have. Even knowing what they look like and actively looking for them, I often went ages having no idea what speed I was supposed to be doing.
A lot of speedos are so different to each other. I've driven cars before that were close to 10% out, kinda annoying at 100kph
Thats the thing cars after 2006+ have had there speedo,s 5ks below but alot of people ain't aware of this so if your driving lets say 60 your really doing 55
My friend a courier driver didnt believe me so i told him to check and even he was surprised
I can confirm that's the case with my speedo. Waze tells me that im usually doing 5-8 under with my analogue speedo on or above the major increments.
I try to drive about 5km under just because I'm terrified of speed cameras. I know my speedo is tuned about 6kms under, so driving at the nominal speed limit leaves me where I want to be. I stick to the left obviously, but one thing I don't get is the opposite end of the spectrum- sometimes I see people doing at least 80 up and down bell street where the limit is 60. Contrary to what you'd think, many of the ones I've seen are older people- it looks like they just don't care about their speed at all! I guess it could be that they know exactly where the cameras are or something
Pretty much. That's why I never get a ticket when I do 70 in a 60 zone past a fixed speed camera twice a day.
I can confirm this as well, my fiance drives a 2014 Hyundai i30 and I used to drive a 2003 Nissan Pulsar. Sometimes we would leave the house at the same time and I would quickly overtake him on a 60km/h road despite both our speedos showing 60km/h. I suspect he was really doing about 55km/h, and having said that I always used to go a little bit over the speed on most roads (2-3km/h) and I never got a speeding fine.
I thought budgie smugglers are all pretty much the same?
Driving a car with 17"s that came with 14"s was fun. 😅
Just wanted to add that a lot of car manufacturers intentionally do this. I have no idea why but I've confirmed it with Volkswagen.
Not all people are aware of the road speeds if it is a strange area. the 50 / 60 situation can create uncertanty.
It would be a good idea to code speeds by painting the white lane markers, with red- 40kmh, yellow -50km, green 60km plus… at each tenth line. Hey presto, no hidden speed signs by bushes, but rats! will reduce the speed camera revenue!!.
You know what that's an excellent idea!
Which won't be implemented:
will reduce the speed camera revenue!!
it will create a shit load of jobs though, the amount of speed changes you can go though in a couple of clicks, painters would require a semi just to keep the all the different colours of paint that they need to swap over every few hundred meters on some roads.
Thats actually a good idea
I think the idea is ok, but to expensive to implement. We already have signs to tell us the limit.
Even easier in UK - they have national speed limits. One of 3 speeds unless otherwise signposted. Here, we have too many different speeds.
It's better for raising revenue that way.
Been driving here in the UK and Europe for 2 years, it's such an eye opener how much the Australian government and police force see drivers as walking ATM's.
Speed doesn't kill, the idiot behind the wheel does.
@ozeebee: Will be funny to see what ridiculous new laws they will create to fine people once self driving cars become common.
But officer I'm colourblind, I swear.
I'll still go 20
just write it on the road goddamn it……
The faster you drive, the more tiring…
The faster you drive, the more fun
Yep not good for tyres
More and more exhausting..
I have had a few speeding fines for accidentally doing 3 kph over the limit.
I have realised it is much easier to just go under the speed limit that to try to be on the edge all the time. So what is the big deal if it takes a minute longer to get to your destination?
What is with all the anger on the roads? Some people just need to take a chill pill and relax a bit. It might improve other areas of your life as well
What is with all the anger on the roads?
this.
go to India and drive there. so crowded on the roads in cities. barely any traffic lights. lanes don't exist. hitting the horn every 30 seconds is required but the big difference is that when drivers hit the horn it is not an Australian "you f%cken c%ck sucking mother f@^ker sht eating c&t nugget, what the f@#k are you doing? you stupid piece of s&ithead. (profanity) die already!!!", but an Indian "hi, I'm here, please be aware, be careful, all cool, cheers"
Thats how it is in europe lol to get a licence pretty much have to know a lot more its like over 1000 pages part of the testing.
Like minor motor skills for a breakdown so forth lol im sure 3/4 of the australians dont even no how to change a tyre its alright thats why they have road side service
Also notice at night they flash each other with there high beams me thinking police around the corner friend tells me they just want to make sure your awake :)
To avoid the fines you used to get, I am guessing you drive about 2km/h under the speed limit right?
The discussion in this post is more targeted to drivers who go under by 10 km/h or more I'd say.
So what is the big deal if it takes a minute longer to get to your destination?
When enough drivers go 10 km/h slower, the resulting delay for everyone is longer than a minute and the obstruction of traffic could extend many kilometers on a busy motorway for example.
name checks out
Considering how in Victoria, if you go 10km/h under the speed limit during a drive test, you'd get a critical error. I'd say thats borderline "slow" in good conditions.
When driving straight, does not drive 10 km/h or more below the speed limit, unless road or tra c conditions (e.g. travelling on a wet or unsealed road, or in congested or slow tra c) make it unsafe to travel closer to the speed limit. (source: VicRoads Drive Test Criteria, S4.4, p13)
Never said I had a problem. I just go around them. Im honestly curious about their reasons tho. If 50 in a 60 zone is chill, is going 20 even more chill?
Not going anywhere in the first place, most chill.
My father drives a Prius and will often do 80 in a 100 zone just to get better fuel economy, but only if there are few cars around, never on a single lane road and where overtaking is easy. The thing is averaging 3.5L/100km anyway but that's not the point. The OzBargainer in him wants more.
Other people are morbidly fearful of getting a speeding fine. In states where driving 63km/h in a 60 zone can land you a huge fine (I'm looking at you, Victoria), some people are extra cautious. They can't afford a $300+ hit to save maybe 30 seconds on their trip.
The situation I don't get is a two lane road. Driver on the left is doing 50, driver on the right is going at 60 and pulls up along side the slower driver. He should easily overtake and stay within the speed limit? Nope. The right lane driver slows down and matches the speed at 50km/h. It's almost like people think there's safety in numbers, and if they don't overtake someone else they can't be speeding, so it's all good.
I've actually notice this happens in Melbourne quite a lot! Especially on the multi-lane roads that have slower than expected speed limits. You get these 2, 3 or 4 cars driving side by side at the same speed. There's no way to get around them and I don't want to tailgate. It's so damn frustrating.
I've been taught to avoid travelling side by side with another car (and avoid sitting in other people's blind spots) so that there's space beside me I can swerve into if I have to.
I've been taught to avoid travelling side by side with another car (and avoid sitting in other people's blind spots) so that there's space beside me I can swerve into if I have to.
Sounds good, but is that easy to maintain???
Sounds good, but is that easy to maintain???
At crawl speeds it's obviously not necessary because you can brake.
At normal driving speeds, it's not any more difficult than driving side by side.
The only difference is you'll be a few metres ahead or a few metres behind the car next to you.
what gives me the sh!ts is when it is two slow cars side by side with no one else around = making their own traffic congestion
I leave for work at 5am when there is very little traffic and it is surprising how many times it happens.
I do this all the time when the car behind me is speeding and tailgating me dangerously:0
waaay too many unhinged nutters out there to do that.
If the speed of the road is over 80km/h, they are not overtaking or turning right, then this is against the law.
In my case I am always travelling at the speed limit. Let's say I am travelling at 70 and the speed limit is 70. Am I doing anything wrong when I am travelling at 70 next to another car that is also travelling at 70 blocking the car behind that is trying to speed at 80?
If everyone is driving 70, then there is no need for anyone to overtake. Thus, the right lane should almost always be clear - this system would actually work well if people followed the rules, which they dont. So, in this case, see advice below:
If your in the right lane, then you should be overtaking or turning left, else move into the left lane.
If you are in the left lane doing 70 and another car in the right lane is doing less than 70 but not over taking or turning left, then you can also be courteous and either slow down or speed up to let the other car (over taking) go around the slow driver in the right lane. This does happen sometimes when an elderly driver moves into the right lane (completely stuffing the traffic flow) and doing 10-20km/h under the speed limit.
@faceman54: If you are travelling at the speed limit, there is no rule that you need to keep to the left lane unless it's the motorway with specified signage. As far as I am concerned if I am travelling at the speed limit and if someone is speeding over the speed limit behind me they do not have the right of way. It's another story if I am travelling way below the speed limit but I am not.
What you are saying is that speeding drivers over the speed limit should have the right lane to themselves.
@DarkOz: No, read the very first sentence as above. "If everyone is driving 70, then there is no need for anyone to overtake." - Specifically relating to not having people in the right lane to begin with.
WHOA!!!! What's this? "If you are travelling at the speed limit, there is no rule that you need to keep to the left lane unless it's the motorway with specified signage.". That's a serious misunderstanding of rules. Obviously you are one of the culprits of driving in the right lane needlessly.
On highways/freeways/motor ways, if it is a double lane road and 80km/h or above, you must keep left unless over taking, regardless of whether signage is present or not.
You should seriously learn road rules:
http://www.mynrma.com.au/blog/2015/07/11/do-you-keep-left-un…
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/safety-rules/road-rules/over…
https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/road/left/
The rule is pretty much universal in any state in Australia.
Read carefully what I wrote, and KEEP TO THE BLOODY LEFT!
@faceman54: I travel on Parramatta Road and and the Western Distributor everyday. I have never seen the rules that you are implying over the last 30 years. Everyone travels on all 2 or 3 lanes side by side. Sorry, I live in the real world and not in the virtual world that you live in.
@DarkOz: Pleading ignorance is not an admissible defence. Also, thanks for the Neg's on what is actual legislation.
Having not 'seen' these rules in 30 years? Implying? Police will pull you over for disobeying this rule. That being said, if you actually read the rule and understood it, then you would also understand why at times it is allowable to drive 2-3 cars side by side.
Have you not heard of the NRMA? or even more so the RMS?
Here's some more specific legislation relating to NSW and keeping left:
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/regulation/2014/758…
To make it easier for you:
Division 2 Keeping to the left
130 Keeping to the left on a multi-lane road
(1) This rule applies to a driver driving on a multi-lane road if:
(a) the speed limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the driver is driving is over 80 kilometres per hour, or
(b) a keep left unless overtaking sign applies to the length of road where the driver is driving.
Consider yourself educated, you can never plead ignorance to this rule now, thank you, yours truly.
@faceman54: Sorry I would never give way to speeding drivers who travels over the speed limit. That was what I was trying to say in the first place. I only blocked speeding drivers doing over the speed limit on normal roads at 70 or less.
@DarkOz: with what intention? Sounds like you're actively trying to provoke some rash behavior that may lead to an accident. That person you're blocking may have a real emergency.
Firstly you should learn road rules.
Secondly you should leave policing our roads up to police.
@DarkOz: FML how do you know who is speeding and who isn't and gives you the right to be judge and jury
People need to seriously;
A, Learn some manors.
B, Stop believing they can do what the hell they like and know everything.
C, Learn to live in a world with real people.
D, Realise the world doesn't revolve around them.
Anyone who isn't just trolling this thread for fun, and actually read some of the facts that have been put up would have realised by now their car is in all probability diving slower than the limit due to design laws and what is being displayed on the dash
So until the day we have instrumentation 100% correct you have no bloody clue, your just being a clown and contributing to the problem on the roads, and more likely to contribute to an accident because of your own ignorance
@iDroid: I always travel on the speed limit. For example 60 over 60 and 70 over 70. Mostly on Parramatta Road, The Western Distributor and The Hume Highway. There is always a boy racer trying to zip-zag through the traffic and sometimes without even indicating. The frequency this happens is no emergency. It's just the way some people drive everyday speeding not caring for others.
I don't do this to provoke others. I only nudge forward slight and travel side by side with another car at the speed limit so the speeding car can't zig-zag through.
Firstly I know the road rules. I am travelling 60 and 70 on 2-3 lanes and I do not have to keep left. I am not talking about on a motorway or freeway.
Secondly, I am not policing. I am simply exercising my rights. I have the right to travel on the right lane travelling on the speed limit without given way to speeding cars which is doing over the speed limit.
@Toons: How do I know who is speeding? Do I have to be Einstein to work this out when I am travelling on the speed limit and I see a car zip-zagging through doing 20km faster than I am?
A. I have very good manners. I am the proud holder of a NSW gold driver licence for over 2 decades.
B. I am only doing what I am legally allowed to do on the road. Tell me what am I doing wrong?
C. So real people speeds above the speed limit and I must learn to give way to them when in sight?
D. Exactly that. I do realise the world doesn't revolve around them so I don't make it easy for them to speed.
@DarkOz: So you're just being an arse for what reason? Do you think it's helping by blocking someone in who obviously is in a hurry (regardless of their reasoning). Let them through, let them do their thing and move on. You're being a bully and you feel all fuzzy and awesome because of it.
You're being an arse for no benefit other than your ego. I despise people like you. One day you'll do this to a thug who's having a really bad day and they'll likely punch you in the face or worse. You will stop your car one day, and they may decide to follow you for being such an arse. Consider that next time you're being so rude. Some people some days feel they don't have a lot to live for, you best hope you don't behave like that to them.
Good luck to you and I hope you can keep feeling so smug about blocking people in. Get over in the right lane and stop being so righteous and inconsiderate.
@DarkOz: Remember your learners? "Keep as left as practical at all times", it's one of the compulsory questions you must answer correctly. It's a pretty simple rule, try it sometime you'll be surprised at how well it works.
@DarkOz: Are you dense? Re-read all of my posts above.
Again, unless you are a Police Officer, you have no rights whatsoever to police people you think are breaking the law.
Also, you proved to us that you dont know the road rules. E.g. keeping left on lanes 80km/h and above.
A. I have very good manners. I am the proud holder of a NSW gold driver licence for over 2 decades.
Hahahah, keep believing that "I only nudge forward slight and travel side by side with another car at the speed limit so the speeding car can't zig-zag through." So that's your understanding of having good manners? You're being a bully and using your car as a shield.
C. So real people speeds above the speed limit and I must learn to give way to them when in sight?
Not being a d!ck about it is a good start. You intentionally block them in (your own words) - this is WAY worse than simply not giving way to them.. Again what's your point of doing this? What do you hope to achieve other than boosting your ego?
D. Exactly that. I do realise the world doesn't revolve around them so I don't make it easy for them to speed.
Why do you feel it's up to you to do this? If they're so bad, the cops will catch them and they will get dealt with in the correct manner. Antagonising drivers on the road will lead to increased rash behaviour, you're not helping with safety, you are decreasing it. What you're doing is nothing more than passive aggressive road rage. You're just as bad as the zig-zag driver (perhaps worse since your behaviour is just ego driven).
@DarkOz: Once again your failing to read and understand a comment, answers were there but your only interested in what was clearly stated above you.
If you are failing to comprehend this and tied to your comment's it's showing you have no spatial awareness either.
i'd be looking into what that gold really means would it give you a good discount on bus fare because you shouldn't be on the road with that attitude seen too many people involved in serious accidents for the same belief and ignorance you have that only you are right.
@iDroid: remember he hasn't seen these made up keep left rules for 30 years
the secondary reason for the keep left (greater visibility of the lane your moving into) part of the reason behind why those pesky engineers and designers made us drive on the left hand side of a road and put the steering wheel on the right.
@DarkOz: i can deal with a lot but stupidity isn't one of them thats the only thing you are proving in spades.
I don't do this to provoke others. I only nudge forward slight and travel side by side with another car at the speed limit so the speeding car can't zig-zag through.
So by your very own definition you nudge forward means in plain english, you are in fact speeding over the limit that you say you don't go over to catch a car in front of you. Only reason to be a pain which is clearly provoking.
you have defined other car as doing the correct speed limit. only way to catch is to speed by definition
so you admit to breaking the law yet your still adamant your right. (speeding admitted by you) you (deliberately hinder / obstruct traffic) on a regular basis.
one final thought though you do realise that the thing that makes this worse than the fact you don't get it, and contradict yourself. Your actions are pre-meditated you deliberately target certain people you have judged to be at wrong which makes you the bigger danger on the road.
I don't like stopping at red lights, so I drive slow, as well as save brake fluid. :)
I think you mean brake pads and rotors? But yeah, me too, I usually slow down early and coast a bit.
Thanks. That is what I meant. :)
Often it means I get ahead of the other cars that brake late, because they have more accelerating to do but I'm rolling over the line at 35 km/h exactly as the light turns green. Then even in traffic this means all the cars in my lane behind me are moving faster on average than the other lane.
I think you mean brake pads and rotors?
A real OzBargainer knows that as your pads and rotors become thinner your brake pistons become more displaced and consequently your brake fluid level drops and eventually will need topping up ($$)!!
Fair point. Even so, the pads and rotors are a lot more $$$ than some $8 brake fluid from Kmart, unless you're talking about paying a mechanic for labour to flush the system, that will cost about $100.
@Scrooge McDuck: you also shouldn't sit on your brakes at lights while stopped especially if you know it's not going to change instantly.
Hard habit to break out of but increases effectiveness of your brakes over a longer period, for that day you need to jam them on in a hurry.
And hold up anyone wanting to turn.. Selfish.
To let the idiots pass. Really simple
window lickers got to to get around somehow
I honestly would say anyone doing 10ks and under should get a fine same way as doing over 10ks depending on weather.
Also on the freeway anyone get caught in the overtaking lane while not overtaking should get a on the spot $1000 fine im sure that will stop them
Agreed - 10km/h or more under the limit is an obstruction and should be fined. If people are not capable/confident enough of driving at the speed, then they should not be on the road at all. In other countries this is a thing.
Your second point is already a thing. It is against the law to drive on any road in the right hand lane (for a certain distance) when over the speed of 80km/h, unless overtaking or turning off (to the right).
Drive to the conditions, for example raining after a dry spell, snow, a low Sun on a wet road, ice, high Cross wind, fog the list goes on yet morons think they're great drivers when in fact they're just average.
Finally someone that talks real sense.
A family friend (middle age, not elderly) won't drive above a certain speed at all. Can go 60 on a 60 road but will never go above 100 on a 110 freeway. They say that is as fast as they are comfortable going. It doesn't sound so ridiculous, why make yourself uncomfortable? But it can definitely cause problems going that slow when everyone else is driving at the limit or above. It's downright dangerous at that point really.
The fastest your family friend will go is 60, even on a 110 freeway???
Dont mind them going slow on a freeway as long as they stick to the left lane even on a single lane but what gets me as soon as they hit a double lane they intend to speed up
Some things the Romans had right.
Chariots with spiked wheels for example, if you happen be along someone that is giving you the s***ts then you may wish to gently guide your cart into their wooden wheel spokes.
I wouldn't say I am a slow driver, but I definitely am not in a hurry to get anywhere. I wouldn't accelerate or change lanes like there is no tomorrow. I wouldn't accelerate when the lights are just about to go red.
But seriously though, why is everyone in a hurry these days?
I agree. Is it a city thing?
Because I have to work 50 hours a week and house prices are so expensive I have a huge commute and barely have time to take a shit let alone drive around under the speed limit.
The issue is more tradie utes at 6am (just up after the night's before skin full) all doing 20 kph over the limit as they are late to get to site.
No, time wise that only lasts a brief hour or so.
The issue is more people driving 10-20km/h under the speed limit at any time of the day. The hours this occurs is much greater than the brief hour in the morning of the tradie surge.
The reason why the elderly drive slowly, is because their peers who drive faster have all died off. I guess it's like natural selection?
The elderly scare me. You see them get out of their cars and need walking frames etc.
If they are not physically fit, then they should only be driving electric wheel chairs.
Also big chance that their alertness is not sharp.
How many accidents/deaths from them hitting the accelerator rather than the brake etc.?
90 to 100 year old drivers are the worst- very unsafe.
But on the other hand:
"He also found that young people were more dangerous for other road users, with older ones putting only themselves at risk. “If you look at older people’s crashes, where there’s been a fatality, it’s usually the older driver that’s killed, not anyone else. With younger people it’s more variable,” said King."
https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/07/29/road-test-are-the-very-…
with older ones putting only themselves at risk
I'm not sure about that - there was period last year where every week or two, I'd turn on the news and there'll be a story on an elderly driver crashing their car into a shop or something - by accidently stepping on the wrong peddle.
But, on the other hand, they're probably not texting when driving.
That's because in Asia/India, people drive at their own speed and convenience with barely a care factor for anyone else on the road. The slow drivers drive slow, the faster drivers overtake with no fear of being a contributor to revenue raising. They bring the same mindset over which fits the stereotypes perfectly.