People Driving 60 km/h in the Right Hand Lane on a 70-80 km/h Road

L[Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 09:10
Last edited 09/02/2019 - 13:32 by 1 other user

I drive about 45-50 minutes to my workplace every morning via Princes Highway in Melbourne.

Occasionally, I encounter people who drive at a speed of 60km/h on a 70-80 km/h road on the right lane for long period. It frustrates me because the freeway is always busy,and sometimes, it can be challenging to change to another lane and all I can do was to watch people overtaking the car in front of me whenever this happened. I am fine if the slow driver is an elderly, but i get pissed off whenever I see a youngster/adult (below 60 years old) driver driving this slow.

Do you normally drive below, above (assuming no speed camera) or exactly at the speed limit on a highway.

Poll Options

  • 0
    More than 10km/h below speed limit
  • 10
    5km/h Below speed limit
  • 117
    Exactly at speed limit
  • 32
    Above speed limit
Automotive

Comments

  • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 09:15
    +22

    There's a special place in hell reserved for people who do this.

    • CMH on 10/02/2019 - 00:01
      +4

      I like to play this game with people who hog the overtaking lane on freeways.

      1: overtake them
      2: start coasting
      3: see how long it takes before they move over
      4: accelerate back to speed limit
      5: if they go back to the overtaking lane (usually as soon as you start accelerating), repeat from step 2.
      6: …
      7: profit!

      • dust on 10/02/2019 - 09:33

        1: overtake them

        Using the left lane?

        • CMH on 10/02/2019 - 14:11
          +1

          Unfortunately.

          How else are you going to do so?

        • YellowDieselGolf on 14/02/2019 - 19:10

          Left lane: Why not?

    • anonymous01 on 10/02/2019 - 11:39
      -1

      Hijacking the top comment to point this out: Princess is a highway, not a freeway. No such rule of right lane applies because people can turn right onto other streets. Do you expect people to drive below limit in the left lane all the way and then go to right lane when they are turning right? That will cause more accidents and traffic chaos.

      • adhin on 10/02/2019 - 12:05

        *Princes Highway (Prince Edward VIII)

      • pegaxs on 10/02/2019 - 17:38
        +1

        No such rule of right lane applies because people can turn right onto other streets.

        You're kinda right (you can travel in the right lane) and kinda wrong (because not for the reason you stated). Problem is, I don’t know if OP is talking about Princess Highway in St Kilda, Princes Highway in Werribee or Princes Freeway (Melb to Geelong).

        But the law pertaining to staying to the left on multi lane roads is found… here, in Aust. Road Rule 130.

        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.

        So, It only applies if there is a sign or if the road is over 80km/h… BUT!!! it then goes on to say…

        (2) The driver must not drive in the right lane unless:

        And lists a whole heap of reasons, none of which are "because they just want to" or "because you have right turns." If you are utilising these right turns, then sure, but the mere fact that the right turns are there does not give anyone the right to travel in the right lane by virtue of their existence.

        So, Keep left on multi-lane roads unless, actually turning right, congestion, overtaking, avoidance or Rule 159 says they have to.

  • altomic on 08/02/2019 - 09:25
    +1

    Flash your lights and hit the horn.

    Take their rego and report to the police.

    Those people are a menace on the road.

    Those drivers should have been Hitlers only target demographic for the camps.

    • Ugly on 08/02/2019 - 11:25
      +4

      Careful - Unless there is an imminent risk of danger, you are the one breaking the law by hitting the horn

      As for reporting them to the police, for what exactly? It's a speed limit, not a mandatory speed. Unless they are causing a risk to othew drivers, while it may be frustrating, it's not illegal to drive at 10km/h under the limit. It's only an offence if they are driving "abnormally slow""

      NSW Road Rules -

      125 Unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians
      (1) A driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian.
      (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.

      • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 13:47
        +1

        I'm about 99% sure altomic was being tongue-in-cheek there, but in case there's any doubt - do not actually flash your lights or beep the horn just because people are driving slowly.

      • [Deactivated] on 09/02/2019 - 20:18

        Right lane is only for overtaking, not for driving!!! If i was a cop for 1 month in VIC, and work not for salary but ticket %, i would become a millionaire. The amount on bad drivers here is too high!!

      • smartazz104 on 09/02/2019 - 22:50

        Careful - Unless there is an imminent risk of danger, you are the one breaking the law by hitting the horn

        I bet you could count on one hand the number on times anyone has ever used the horn to warn of "imminent danger". The horn is a warning device, and in this case it is being used to warn everyone there is an oblivious driver on the road.

  • Clear on 08/02/2019 - 09:28
    +1

    A certain 2 lane highway always has people doing 90km in both lanes. There is a very very special place in hell reserved for those people.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 09:29

    Speeding kills!

    • inherentchoice on 08/02/2019 - 14:22

      If "every k over is a killer", arguably we would all be dead because more drivers have been at least one k over on more occasions than there are people in Australia?

      • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 14:54

        Think about the children!

      • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 14:58

        By that logic, is every k under conceiving babies (no - I don't think driving slow has ever done this) or raising the dead?

        • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 15:21
          +6

          You have to speed in reverse to raise the dead.

          Everyone knows this.

        • Ace Ventura on 08/02/2019 - 15:25
          +1

          Always drive right on the speed limit while conceiving babies, anything over or under may draw unwanted attention to your frivolities.

      • Bargain80 on 21/02/2019 - 17:21

        If "every k over is a killer", arguably we would all be dead because more drivers have been at least one k over on more occasions than there are people in Australia?

        Imagine if that's true. Thanos doesn't have to work hard to get the gauntlet

  • dylanando on 08/02/2019 - 09:31
    +4

    Douche bags who think they’re so great ‘brake checking’. Why not just get the hell out of the right lane?

  • myusername on 08/02/2019 - 09:46
    +6

    need a poll option for death penalty

  • 87percent on 08/02/2019 - 10:23

    geez man.. take a chill pill and relax

    • deveshwar0 on 08/02/2019 - 11:02
      +13

      If you want to relax, stay at home. Don't pitch a tent in the middle of the road.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 12:53

      Or chill pill and drive. No wonder some people are seem oblivious on the freeway.

  • inherentchoice on 08/02/2019 - 10:52
    +13

    First world problems.

    There's a reason why elderly people are slow drivers. Because all their peers who drive fast already died.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 12:15
      +3

      And here I thought it was age related illnesses.

    • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 14:14
      +3

      By literally definition, all our problems are first world problems. It takes zero effort to stay in the left lane if you're going to be slow.

  • deveshwar0 on 08/02/2019 - 11:00
    +8

    I don't have a problem with slow drivers. They can spend as much time on the road as they want. I have an issue when thier choice impacts me.
    You want to drive slow, go for it - Leave the right lane alone so that I can pass.
    And FFS, if you're going at the speed limit, move to the left lane when you're done overtaking.

  • swapsey on 08/02/2019 - 12:03
    +4

    Correct me if I am wrong but you only need to keep left unless overtaking if speed limit is above 80.

    • deveshwar0 on 08/02/2019 - 12:47
      -3

      80 or above. So it applies on 80.

      • tranter on 08/02/2019 - 14:57
        +1

        Above 80 in Victoria, not 80 or above. Also in NSW.

        • hunterhalo on 10/02/2019 - 10:59

          Which means you cna drive on most right lane on westgate fwy, especially on the bridge at exact 80? Because i have seen a lot of people honking each other and tried to overtake for doing 80. Cuz as far as i know above 80 is difference than 80 and above

          • tranter on 10/02/2019 - 12:39
            -1

            @hunterhalo: That's right. If everyone stayed to the left in those circumstances there would be more congestion. Most of the people whinging about 'slow' drivers are in fact those that regularly speed.

            People just need to plan their trips better. If they realised how little time they actually save by going just that little bit faster they would wonder what all the fuss is about.

            • CMH on 10/02/2019 - 14:12

              @tranter: Most people don't realise their Speedo reads 5% lower or thereabouts.

              So all those "speeders" doing 5 over are actually doing the speed limit, and they themselves are hogging the right lane doing 5 below.

    • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 14:12
      +1

      There are very few things you need to do in society. I personally don't recommend that as a guide for how you should act though.

  • dcep on 08/02/2019 - 12:16

    get a cree 3000 lumen flashlight and flash them once from behind

  • HardlyCharly on 08/02/2019 - 12:48
    +5

    Lol you think that's bad, try driving on rural single lane highways like where I grew up, you have to wait for an overtaking lane, and when it finally comes, 50/50 chance they'll speed up just for that section of road so you have to be ready to gun it. Honestly I'm more annoyed by people who brake for every slight bend on a suburban road going 50km/h, as if their car will tip over when turning the wheel 20 degrees.

    • deveshwar0 on 08/02/2019 - 12:54
      +1

      I can relate to that.
      I absolutely hate it when people accelerate as you try to overtake them. Makes it too dangerous and you either have to exceed the speed limit or be content with following them again at the reduced speed. ***holes.
      The braking I appoint to inexperience, so that is somewhat acceptable.

      • HardlyCharly on 08/02/2019 - 13:15

        I had a guy a few weeks ago just floor his SUV to close the gap a car made in front of him so that I couldn't get in, even though I was literally in a turning lane and slowing down and had nothing to do with that lane. Just insane morons.

        I find it hard to believe these people who are old enough to be driving $40k cars lack experience haha. I know it's a very minor thing, but it just feels so much more avoidable and unnecessary, fair enough some people don't feel comfortable driving fast on a highway, but turning the wheel slightly without slowing down from an already low speed is too much? That's just a waste of energy putting their foot on the brake..

        • djmm on 10/02/2019 - 12:59

          I close the gap when people drive fast trying to overtake from left.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 20:00
        +1

        It really is particularly bizarre behaviour isn't it.

    • playswithfire on 10/02/2019 - 08:44
      +1

      Two names for those people - passholes, or kidney stones.

      I hate them.

  • jjjaar on 08/02/2019 - 12:49
    +4

    It’s a limit, not a target.

    That being said, I drive at the limit (where the road allows, obviously I’m not taking tight roundabouts at 60km/hr).

    • bobbified on 08/02/2019 - 13:10
      +2

      It’s a limit, not a target.

      Judging from how the speed limits are set to the lowest common denominator, I disagree that it's not a target. It's set in a way that very little discretion is left to the drivers themselves (if they want to get anywhere!). Of course, "for their own safety"!

      When I was doing my driving test, I was told that under normal conditions (for eg, good visibility and dry roads), I should be driving at or just under the speed limit. And thinking about it minimally, I don't see any reason not to do that.

      • HardlyCharly on 08/02/2019 - 13:23

        I was told the same thing, and to speed up or slow down to the limit by the time you reach the sign when it changes. As the majority of vehicles become more modern overall and safer, with better braking distances and the proliferation of driver assistance systems, the limits should theoretically increase. Good luck trying to get that to happen though. I am completely against speeding, as any intelligent non-douchebag person is, but I definitely do think that the limits should be increased along with the progression of the vehicles we drive. It was on Top Gear they did a test, the UK speed limits are based on stopping distances, so they got a cheap entry level modern car and did the test, and it stopped in less than half the distance the speed limits were based on. It's all out of date.

        • chriise on 10/02/2019 - 10:03
          +2

          You were taught to speed up to the limit before you reach the sign? Sounds (technically) illegal..

      • tranter on 08/02/2019 - 14:35
        +1

        The rules in my state say it's a limit, not a target. You'll probably find that it's similar in other states. There was also police officer on here (Victorian I think) who did a great AMA and said the same thing.

        The thing with road conditions is they are constantly changing (night/day/lighting conditions/visibility/amount of traffic/condition of surface/rain, etc), so a speed limit is just that. It doesn't mean it's the ideal speed and safest speed to travel at all times.

        • bobbified on 08/02/2019 - 15:10

          It is a "limit" in every state by strict definition.
          All I'm saying is that they've set it so low that most people will be driving at that speed without much effort or thought. Given this, everyone will be constantly staring at their speedos to try and stay at or under that limit. So in a way, the limit is the "target".

          • tranter on 08/02/2019 - 16:58

            @bobbified: It's a limit by definition, law and practical enforcement. If it was a target there would be provision in law to penalise drivers who didn't consider it as such.

            From memory there is provision in some states when the driver is considered to be driving too slow that it is dangerous.

    • Clear on 08/02/2019 - 15:11
      +1

      It’s a limit, not a target.

      In my driving tests 6-8 years ago I was marked down for driving too slow under the limit. They specifically said driving to the conditions is fine, e.g. slowing down during wet conditions, but if you're doing 90km in a 110km zone for example (which this forum post is about), then that's not okay.

      • tranter on 08/02/2019 - 16:30

        but if you're doing 90km in a 110km zone for example (which this forum post is about), then that's not okay.

        The OP mentioned in the post 'on the right lane for long period'.

        Definitely not ok in your scenario because by law you have to move to the left lane in 110km/h zone.

        • Clear on 08/02/2019 - 16:39

          Yes that's right.

    • daiwai on 10/02/2019 - 19:56

      Have anyone seen this news earlier this year in WA?

      "Cops fine driver for going too slow and people rejoice"
      https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/on-th…

      Or this news in 2017 - "Another Perth driver fined for driving too slow in the right-hand lane"
      https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/anothe…

      Apparently in WA there is a minium speed limit which driver cannot driver slower than 20km/hr below the speed limit unless there is traffic congestion or road conditions dictate while on a freeway.
      https://www.police.wa.gov.au/FAQ?faq=Is-there-a-minimum-spee…

      • Bargain80 on 12/02/2019 - 15:48

        driving significantly slower than speed limit can also cause congestion because it impacts the traffic flow.

  • swapsey on 08/02/2019 - 13:21
    -2

    I wonder if drivers who like to go under the speed limit get annoyed by the hoons trying to drive 10 or more over the limit?

    • smartazz104 on 09/02/2019 - 23:10
      +2

      Drivers going under the limit are not aware of any other driver on the road; they're in their own little bubble, oblivious to anything else around them.

      • swapsey on 10/02/2019 - 10:41

        You should get a job as a mind reader.

        • CMH on 10/02/2019 - 14:14
          +1

          Anyone can read those minds: they're blank anyway or filled with unicorns and rainbows…

          • swapsey on 10/02/2019 - 14:32

            @CMH: But can they read their own minds ….

  • tranter on 08/02/2019 - 14:28

    I usually drive a bit under the speed limit to give me a bit of leeway in case my speed creeps up. Nothing like 20 under though. I usually plan my trips well so I'm not in a rush anyway.

    The real menace on the roads are the speedsters, tailgaters and the impatient, not those obeying the law and going a bit under.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 14:59
      +3

      The real menace are the people who find themselves less than comfortable behind the wheel and do not seek courses or invest time to figure out what's their actual weakness is.

      Or the ones that get into accidents but it's never that they are a bad driver but the roads are too fast or entirely not their fault.

      Or those that brake mid corner, have their cruise control on wet roads, think that stability control is for lemurs, oblivious to worn out tires/brakes, seated so far back they don't really have any steering control, busted bulbs…

      • tranter on 08/02/2019 - 16:09

        I agree with that.

        Still, there are too many overconfident drivers as well.

  • Cheeper on 08/02/2019 - 14:48
    +6

    What about the entitled brats that tailgate because they can't do their 30 over… Boo hoo hoo…

  • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 20:13

    Someone once posed an interesting acronym to me many years ago…
    'CARSS'… 'Citizens Against Ridiculously Slow Speed Limits'.
    It wasn't perfect, but had some merit IMO. Some limits really do seem ridiculously slow sometimes.
    I don't believe I've ever seen one posted to high. Would like to hear if others have though. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion!
    Back in around 86' there was some sort of initiative (?) in NSW wherein many vehicles were sporting 'Australia's Worst Driver' stickers such as…

    Hogs the right lane…
    Takes forever to get into an exiting lane…

    There were a few other statements on said stickers but can't quite remember if I've even quoted the ones I've posted exactly as they were.
    Maybe someone with a better memory could?
    I always thought these stickers were a good idea. No idea who or how the thing got started. Maybe it's time to rebirth it!
    I wouldn't imagine any state roads authority would wish to have anything to do with it though. Can of worms sort of thing.

  • Architectonic on 08/02/2019 - 22:24
    +1

    There is nothing wrong with doing 20km/h under the limit, so long as you pull over and let people pass. Anyone going well under the limit is not in a hurry and should have no problem letting people pass………

  • whooah1979 on 09/02/2019 - 20:24

    workplace every morning via Princes Highway in Melbourne.

    Is there no congestion when you drive to work?

    • smartazz104 on 09/02/2019 - 23:11
      +2

      Yeah, caused by at least one car going under the limit…

  • Levathian on 10/02/2019 - 00:33
    +2

    My beef is when you're on a side street trying to turn onto a major busy road (the type where gaps are rare) and the last car in a batch is really really slow so the gap essentially disappears as the next wave catches up. It's just rude.

    What else is on my shitlist.. Umm people who slow down for green lights so they get through and you miss it, people who are the first car at a set of lights but are too busy texting to see the light change so someone else behind misses the cycle, people who don't indicate at roundabouts (or at all), people who tailgate in heavy traffic.. And of course people who hog the RHL on freeways.

    • Bargain80 on 12/02/2019 - 15:59

      Yes, I really hate those drivers who slow to react on green light.
      Many times you can see a big gap between the cars that could have been filled up with 2-3 cars and could have cleared the lane.

      • cille745 on 14/02/2019 - 13:49

        Some people drive manuals and it may take them an extra moment to get moving, but not 2-3 gap fulls

  • ledifni on 10/02/2019 - 09:33
    +1

    For those who drive at speed limit. Which one do you follow, dashboard speedo or gps speedo?

    I found out some cars may have a tolerance of up to 10%. Perhaps their dash indicates 100k/h but gps is more or less 94k/h.

    • Sira on 10/02/2019 - 10:04

      I'm sorry I would agree at much higher speeds, but if you can't see a difference of 10kms/h while you are driving down a road at 80kms/h then hand in your license, the cars literally cruise past.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2019 - 09:47

    Is it acceptable to honk when this happens?

  • Kranbone on 10/02/2019 - 09:51
    +2

    I once drove 51 in a 50 zone. EVERYONE DIED!!

  • swapsey on 10/02/2019 - 10:45

    I have noticed that more and more women are speeding trough the lanes to get somewhere fast. Used to be predominantly men. Wonder if this is byproduct of women taking on more masculine roles in society. Impatience is spreading.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2019 - 11:46

    Yeah, that's the maximum limit not the speed you are meant to go.

    • smartazz104 on 10/02/2019 - 17:10
      +1

      The maximum limit has been chosen to cater to the lowest common denominator driving the most basic of cars suitable for the road conditions. If a person can't handle that and has to go 10-20 under, what does that say about them?

  • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2019 - 12:09
    +1

    If it is a faster speed limit zone, one where you must stay left unless overtaking, I often tend to pull over if there is a ute or truck or suv etc behind me that wants to get through, the car behind me then tailgates the offending party, they move over out of fear of getting hit into, then I will pull back in behind the large ute or suv and continue to overtake as required.
    I will never tailgate personally , I always tend to leave much more of a 'safe stopping distance' than other people, but tailgating seems effective in the situations where they are in overtaking only lanes.
    OP's example I believe it is legal to go 60km/hr is 70 zone.
    Quite illegal however, and there's signs up everywhere, telling you you're doing the wrong thing though, in the 100-110 zones. So I will flash lights at them (most of time works) and sometimes (rarely) use horn.
    In instances where it is unlawful to be in right lane when not overtaking, I honestly believe lives would be saved by greater enforcement. There must be accidents caused by poeple sitting in overtaking lane, and others doing difficult maneuvers to get round them.

  • burningrage on 10/02/2019 - 12:43

    I am reluctant to answer this because it can be used as a survey which gets into politicians which then justifies them to screw drivers again.

  • dufflover on 10/02/2019 - 13:02

    Only just yesterday saw a learner driver change to the right hand hand lane of a not-busy 3-lane, 80km/h stretch of road. Not much traffic, no turns coming up for quite a while. Didn't see the demographic of the driver or supervisor (wasn't a driving school car though).
    Still, if that's how people are being taught to drive that's not going to help the situation.

    • smartazz104 on 10/02/2019 - 17:11

      Bad habits are passed down.

  • goegge on 12/02/2019 - 21:22

    I hope you don't have to drive down the great ocean road where they reduced the speed limit in certain areas from 80 to 20

  • cille745 on 14/02/2019 - 13:45

    Always expect people in modern cars to do less than the speed limit. Not sure of the exact figure, but speedos in modern cars are actually around 8% faster than the actual speed of the car. Their speedo may say 100, but in reality they are only going 91-92.

    • lltravel on 17/02/2019 - 14:13

      what a load of garbage. Do you just make this shit up or what?

      • cille745 on 17/02/2019 - 23:07

        No, its well documented. Speedo's are usually correct within a 5% margin. The law states that a speedo can never show the speed less than what the car is going, but is able to be up to 10% + 4km/h higher, so in order to account for the 5% accuracy they tend to place the speedo speed higher than what the car is actually going
        Why would I make this up?

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