Speeding Fine - to High Beam or Not?

lakes_8 on 26/08/2019 - 21:57
Last edited 27/08/2019 - 08:38 by 1 other user

Sunday night (approx. 10pm) driving through a 40km/h shopping strip main road which is slightly downhill. Notice a highway patrol parked on the side of the road on my side looking for speeding cars coming the opposite way (uphill). Saw a P-plater turn the corner and knew from the instant I saw them they would not be driving 40km/h, uphill on a Sunday night.

Look into my rear view mirror and the sirens are on. Clearly revenue raising given the time of day and the place they were trying to catch people.

Should I have high-beamed to let the driver know there was a cop there? Do you usually alert other drivers?

Automotive

Comments

    • funnysht on 28/08/2019 - 11:35
      +1

      Yep when im on the road i rather have ppl not speeding around and same vice versa

      • happirt on 28/08/2019 - 12:21

        only when you are on the road? as long as you are safe my friend that is what is most important.

  • dufflover on 27/08/2019 - 15:32

    heh I didn't even know hi-beaming for speed cameras and the like was even a thing. I only know/do the one where you've given way to pass through a 1-lane spot or something or signalling to go, etc.

    People would be better off if they flashed idiots clearly looking on their phone while moving more like it.

  • dlakers3peat on 27/08/2019 - 15:34
    +8

    I will do everything in my power to alert people of the police trying to entrap people with their blatant revenue raising. Not a single saftey measure that been put in place by the govt has help reduce the national road toll to an acceptable level, which be should be 0.

    • Porker on 27/08/2019 - 16:13
      +3

      Road trauma costs the tax payer billions each year. The reality is infringements do contribute at covering that cost, and if its not the wrong-doers that are paying/contributing to it then the funds have to come from somewhere. Do you have any suggestions on where the funds should come from?

      • brendanm on 27/08/2019 - 16:48
        +1

        Perhaps from fining people who actually have crashes, and not having the cops tell you to simply call your insurance. Unless someone is a mangled mess, the police don't charge anyone with dangerous or careless driving anywhere near as much as they should do.

      • burningrage on 27/08/2019 - 20:28

        Words straight coming out of authorities.

        Every trauma costs tax payers billions. Victim of crimes cause trauma too but there is no money to be make out of criminals.

        Easy to just after innocent drivers by keep lowering limits until they had no choice but to speed because its way too low. 30Kms in moreland council.

  • mubd1234 on 27/08/2019 - 15:56
    +8

    Victoria - the police/state authorities down there are definitely revenue raising with their secret cameras hidden in the bushes and in unmarked cars, combined with the 'for every 1km/h you're over the limit, a puppy dies' mentality of the TAC…then you see some stupidly high speed limits like Hoddle Street being a 70 zone despite it being located in a highly dense area with pedestrians and frequent intersections, with the sharp contrast of other similar streets being 30km/h zones.

    By contrast, in NSW, if you get caught, you must have missed the five huge signs preceding the speed camera and/or the extremely bright, fluorescent mobile speed camera car (I'm particularly aiming at the 'block the shot' numpties who have no idea how good we have it up here). Not only that, but NSW Highway Patrol generally don't bother with <20km/h speeding. Yet you still see people complaining about revenue raising here.

    • apptrack on 27/08/2019 - 16:05

      May change if NSW ever goes into a deficit…

  • bmerigan on 27/08/2019 - 16:29
    +1

    I always flash

  • TEER3X on 27/08/2019 - 16:36
    -1

    I usually don't flash if it's for the benefit of a p plater. They seem to have unlimited money since they're always speeding.

  • centrelink on 27/08/2019 - 17:01

    How about we all just install a speed tracker with gps in the car and once you go over the speed limit, it will print out a fine for you in the stop? That would be an aweeesome idea

  • zooter on 27/08/2019 - 17:11
    +2

    sorry buddy, without mspaint diagram, very hard to say what should be done in this situation

  • funnysht on 27/08/2019 - 17:12
    +1

    I sometimes flash for no reason

  • Caped Baldy on 27/08/2019 - 17:17

    Maybe just turn the headlights off and on.

    I do find in the majority of times it to be revenue raising. I've spotted cops on the Iron Cove bridge and I get that people speed there but the relative risk of a collision is minimal.

  • love2buy on 27/08/2019 - 17:42

    Whats wrong with revenue raising? Money to keep australia safe needs to come from somewhere.

    • skimp on 27/08/2019 - 17:57
      +2

      Lots of objections to revenue raising on this post, but what are people against the revenue going to? If it's hospitals and schools then what's wrong with that?

      • cwongtech on 28/08/2019 - 00:50

        If it's hospitals and schools then what's wrong with that?

        Sure.. if they were able to attribute it to that.. What if it was funding the military?
        Call it a community donation of your choice, maybe.

        Or perhaps helicopter rides for the privileged?

  • sep1 on 27/08/2019 - 18:45

    High-beam will only notify one individual, posting it to Waze will notify a community. The trade-off is that you're risking a mobile use fine vs high-beam fine.

    • burningrage on 27/08/2019 - 20:23
      +1

      Not if you cradle it I think. Waze has a 2 tap quick reporting as far as i know

    • ranmalynx on 28/08/2019 - 11:15
      +1

      You can use Waze voice commands. "Ok Waze, Report police." Done

    • locknuts on 28/08/2019 - 12:04

      Get a car with Android Auto. I'll never have another car without it.

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 30/08/2019 - 11:08

        The new Android Auto update is schmick!

  • burningrage on 27/08/2019 - 20:23
    +1

    I do high beam whenever I see cops or mobile speed cameras.

    From the way I see it, its freedom of speech and so far I havent been booked over it.

    Be subtle about it though.

  • blehgg on 28/08/2019 - 09:02

    I never high beam - You guys have obviously never heard about those urban legends

  • WaterMark on 28/08/2019 - 09:32
    +2

    If you are in NSW, it is actually stated in legislation s218(1), s218-1(d), and s219 under the Road Rules Act (NSW) 2014

    s218(1): Using headlights on high-beam within 200 metres of car infront (same or oncoming traffic)
    s218-1(d): NSW rule: using lights on vehicles generally (flashing any headlight unless for emergency)
    s219: Lights not to be used to dazzle other road users

    Max penalty: 20 penalty units under each section

    Disclaimer: Not legal advice, please use discretion based on personal circumstances.

  • drezy on 28/08/2019 - 10:40
    +5

    No. If you speed and get caught that's on you.

  • pingualien on 28/08/2019 - 10:50
    +1

    you should speed up as well to let him know that the cops are there

  • locknuts on 28/08/2019 - 12:03
    +2

    I wouldn't high beam someone who was driving at a drastically different speed to other traffic on the road. They are driving dangerously.

  • DaiShan on 28/08/2019 - 12:09
    +6

    My friend once high beamed oncoming traffic to warn them about a hidden highway patrol car. It turned out he had high beamed an undercover cop - who then gave my friend a fine.

  • funnysht on 28/08/2019 - 12:19
    +5

    So basically you're saying risk getting fined demerit points yourself to help someone who doesnt give a shit about pedestrians and speeding.
    No thanks
    Rather get them fined so they remember not doing it ever

  • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2019 - 13:59
    +5

    Going fast is FUN. i do it frequently on racetracks and 1/4m drag strips, 160kmh-210kmh makes you want to open your eyes wide and you can feel your blood rushing.

    Speeding on public roads shared with many other people incl koalas and possums and sometimes snakes, NO THANKS. There are already too many govt taxes and rates that have to be paid.

    Having said that, i hate people who tailgate too close (except in heavy peak hour traffic, i hate those who leave a gap by a postcode to another car in front of them).

    So, for me personally, i wouldnt risk myself for someone else to escape the fine. It is optional and that driver chose the option to do so.

    Peace.

  • INVOICE on 28/08/2019 - 14:00
    +3

    I ALWAYS alert others - the entire argument for "speeding" fines is to improve road safety. If there is a cop hiding trying to catch people speeding, in theory he's at a dangerous part of the road. So if I alert someone, they will slow down and drive safely through that dangerous part of the road.

    If you think that alerting others is wrong, then the only logical conclusion I can draw is that you don't care about safety, all you care about is following the rules and trying to enforce those rules on others as well. You don't care why we have those rules, you don't care about safety, you just care about following rules. Which is pretty pathetic IMO.

    • Ughhh on 28/08/2019 - 16:22

      Do you 'alert' dodgy drivers when there's no cops hiding too?

  • shaiguy on 28/08/2019 - 16:48
    +9

    From https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/speeding/index.html#

    Biggest killer on our roads

    Speeding remains the leading behavioural factor in death and injuries on our roads, contributing to about 40 per cent of road fatalities. Statistics from speed-related crashes from 2013 to 2017 showed:
    •About 740 people were killed
    •More than 19,000 people were injured
    •About 1500 people were seriously injured each year (average for 2013 to 2017 only).

    There is a reason why it is 40km/h. Talk to someone who has been injured by a speeding care or someone who's family member was killed by speeding. Better that they get caught and hopefully change their ways before they do serious damage and then have to.

    For the record I know someone who's parents got killed by a speeding P-plater when he was quite young.

    • blackfrancis75 on 28/08/2019 - 21:19
      +1

      I wish I could upvote this 1000 times

    • funnysht on 29/08/2019 - 13:49

      Exactly those speeding 5-10km/hr soon be speeding 20-30km/hr.

  • rdomain on 28/08/2019 - 17:23
    +2

    I usually high beam unless the approaching driver is actually driving stupidly fast/reckless because then they deserve to get caught. If the cops are being sly with their revenue raising, then we should be allowed to be sly to help drivers avoid fines if they happen to be rolling slightly over the speed limit.

  • krisspy on 28/08/2019 - 18:49
    +1

    Why would you risk it? P plater needs to learn a lesson in not speeding. How would you like me going faster than the limit around your house? Let alone a school or a blind spot on top of a hill?

  • bobolo on 28/08/2019 - 18:52
    -3

    Not high beaming is un-Australian. Period.

    its impossible not to speed in Australia. The speeds change so drastically and so often (sometimes 110kph to 40kph). Then there are hills, overtaking etc which makes speeding unrealistic

    Personally I already include speeding fines as part of the cost of running a car. Like rego, insurance, petrol, I expect to get a couple of speeding fines every year. Meh. Cost of driving. And in all honesty, sometimes the fine is worth it considering the amount of time on the road etc.

  • Tuftsdude on 28/08/2019 - 18:52

    Having photobia, most car headlights feel like they're on high, especially white ones and hurt my eyes. But whenever someone flashes to tell me there's a speed trap ahead it's always appreciated and I'd do the same when I remember. Blatant revenue raising with every fine taking a huge hit on most people financially. Our speed limits are too low. And I'm willing to bet most fatal crashes people would be under the influence of something. I'd have a safe driver speeding any day over a slow driver holding up people on the right lane in the freeway, causing traffic, road rage and near misses.

  • jinny7 on 28/08/2019 - 19:23

    I too, like to high beam those speeding fines.

  • yk300 on 28/08/2019 - 19:59
    +2

    no. It is still baffling to me how people speed for no good reason.

  • BuyStuffNow on 28/08/2019 - 21:21
    +1

    Modern cars with advanced safety and braking systems don't need to drive at the same speed as the olden day cars to be safe yet the speed limits never seem to go up. Try driving an old car with no power steering and drum brakes at 100km then compare it to a even a modern small hatch like Toyota Yaris. I'd feel way more comfortable driving 140km on a highway in a modern car than 100km in a 60s era car.

    • Cheapo Moose on 29/08/2019 - 15:20
      +1

      Of course every driver out there is driving a "…modern car with advanced safety and braking systems…".

      Just what we need. Raise the highway limit to 140 and watch every mouth-breather with their hotted up shitboxes smashing down the highways like a bull in a china shop.

  • Payne on 29/08/2019 - 09:59
    +1

    I don't warn people. All that does is make them complacent. It teaches them that they can speed if they know there are no speed cameras around and nobody flashes them.

    I really don't get why it's so hard for people to do the speed limit. It's the simplest possible road rule. All you have to do is make the number on the sign on the side of the road match the number on your speedo. How hard is that?

    • whooah1979 on 29/08/2019 - 10:30
      +1

      They can't multitask.

  • gumbo45c on 29/08/2019 - 12:33

    I've been saved by high beamers, and so i pass it on in kind. Its not just for speeding either, RBTs, road hazards of other sorts.

    • Drewbo on 29/08/2019 - 18:28

      You flash for RBT's? Irresponsible.

  • Skramit on 29/08/2019 - 13:12
    +2

    I like these threads. There's always two clear polar opposite responses:

    1) Yes I do, because f*** the government!
    and
    2) Of course not because its the rules and speeding is bad.

    I bet a demographic sampling of both response groups would not yield any surprising results.

  • diddy50 on 29/08/2019 - 14:53
    -3

    It's unAustralian to NOT flash your high beams for a speed camera!

    • diddy50 on 29/08/2019 - 14:56
      +1

      But in all seriousness, the Vic Police commissioner (Ken Lay?) was on 3aw radio recently and said publicly they would not fine anyone who flashed their high beams to warn other drivers of a road side speed camera, as it means they will slow down, which achieves safer roads.

      Exactly what they want, slower drivers and safer roads.

  • Cheapo Moose on 29/08/2019 - 15:15
    +1

    Speeding fines aren't revenue raising.

    They're a tax on the stupid.

    Don't speed…. Don't get fined….. Not that hard is it?

    • pegaxs on 30/08/2019 - 10:07

      Hahaha. You hit the nail on the head.

  • leyton01 on 30/08/2019 - 01:21

    I've been fined for flashing other drivers to warn them about a radar. They had cops at the next intersection.

    Fined for using my high beams in a blackspot area (sounds like a made up rule even if there are real rules that would cover the "offence"). It was around midday on a bright sunny Qld day.

    Was a few years ago before they accepted payment online so it was a pain to go into traffic authority to pay the fine. $30, no points.

  • goraygo on 30/08/2019 - 05:28
    +2

    Definitely would High Beam and appreciate being high beamed. :)

    This morning I was driving at 60 zone and saw a oncoming car flashed me and cars travelling in my direction, I was speeding and just driving responsibly. But that made me check my speed. I was doing 63km/hr.

    I slowed back down to 60 and a minute later saw a police car hidden in a townhouse driveway entrance with a laser gun.

    Don’t care what people say but I felt a sense of community. People on the road care for each other’s. Especially with all the road rages out there it is a nice change.

    So hell yeah, I am flashing others when there is an opportunity.

    • whooah1979 on 30/08/2019 - 06:17
      -2

      Speeding responsibly is a popular excuse when being pulled over by the police.

      • goraygo on 30/08/2019 - 11:07
        -1

        You twisted my words around. I did not say “Speeding Responsibly”. I said I was driving “responsibly” aka no intention to speed.

        Oh I have a typo: “ I meant I wasn’t speeding”

        If you keep your eyes on speedo instead of the road 100% of the time, you are creating more danger on the road than driving reasonably.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2019 - 08:02

    Rule1: Never high beam an L or P,
    Rule 2: Use your discretion for everyone else

  • BartholemewH on 30/08/2019 - 10:19
    +1

    I flash oncoming traffic for HWP speed traps and camera cars. I've always done it and I'll always do it. Only ever out of town in 100+ zones. I always flash oncoming traffic when driving in front of a HWP. Never been even close to being fined for it. If you get caught in town or particularly in a school zone then that's on you.

  • jabaw00kie on 30/08/2019 - 23:34
    +3

    Nope. you're not responsible for covering up for other people's mistakes/ intentional speeding

    • Bad Company on 03/09/2019 - 13:59

      Not just that. By covering up other people's decision to not following rules, you're making it unfair for the people who do.

      And no, the "going over the speed limit a little in the middle of nowhere doesn't hurt anybody" argument does not apply. If it were indeed in the middle of nowhere, you'd spot the police from a long long distance away. The fact that there was a chance of getting caught means it was not safe.

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