Is Speed Enforcement in Australia Absurd?

Lspeedingftw on 21/03/2023 - 17:39
Last edited 21/03/2023 - 17:53 by 1 other user

Just recently got back from a trip to California, USA and one thing I noticed is that despite the speed limit being technically 65 mph on the freeways, most drivers did around 80-85 mph, even straight past cops and they didn't care one bit. Whereas in Australia, doing such speeds would usually result in a heavy fine and licence suspension in some states.

Every year more and more hidden speed cameras are being used in Australia, yet the road toll is around the same. Other countries, for instance the UK, has a road toll substantially lower than ours, despite it being common (haven't driven there but from friends who have driven there) it's also common to do 80-85 mph in the 70 mph motorways. Australian governments and police are hell bent on speed being the biggest killer in road accidents, when we only need to look at our European counterparts to see it's not the case.

Automotive

Comments

  • kaleidoscope on 22/03/2023 - 22:02

    Why stop there at speeding, lets open up rifle stores at every corner junction too. đź’Ş

    Rules are there for a reason.

  • MementoMori on 22/03/2023 - 22:49
    +1

    The road toll in Australia is rising because our country is a drivers license laundering service for the rest of the world

    The 'Dick Pousay' issue highlighted this, which is why there was practically zero focus on the truck driver who actually killed the 4 police

    • speedingftw on 22/03/2023 - 22:51

      Was that the eastern freeway incident during COVID?

      • kaleidoscope on 22/03/2023 - 23:05

        how come you not remember that… entitled prick gets stopped by police for speeding on highway, a stoned 18 wheeler driver runs over the officers attending the speeding and kills all 4 of them. the prick then walks over to the dying policemen and films them on his phone while taunting.

        • MementoMori on 25/03/2023 - 00:39

          The truck driver wasn't just stoned, he was high on meth and obtained his truck drivers license through fraud

      • MementoMori on 25/03/2023 - 00:38

        Yes, that sad incident

  • Guerilla89 on 22/03/2023 - 23:09
    +1

    It feels like a tax on the poor and simply a small additional cost of living/cost of the business for the rich. For example if you are in a company car, you can say "we don't know who was driving" and just pay a $3000 fine and not lose points. (edit: added reference https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/bosses-cover-company-c…)

    The only solution is for driving infringements to only be points based only and if a company can't keep records of who was driving and when, they should lose their right to register cars. There is too much incentive for the government to abuse fines for financial gain under the guise of safety.

    I don't mind the limits being a bit lower if it means we also get to drive less safe and older cars which wouldn't be allowed overseas. I honestly can barely afford the car, let alone any fines. It's a good thing I'm constantly checking my speedo instead of watching the road so i don't get any of those fines I can't afford.

    • speedingftw on 22/03/2023 - 23:11
      -2

      Yup, rich people can avoid points that easily (registering it in a company)
      The whole penalty system is a joke really
      In some other countries fines are scales to income a much fairer system IMO
      And they use common sense when it comes to speed limits

  • fishka2 on 22/03/2023 - 23:46

    Totally agree!! Let’s make it no limit at all and build better roads instead

  • Simoneee on 23/03/2023 - 02:15

    I think Australia needs additional speed enforcement…

    There is too many bad drivers that don't know how to drive and/or follow road rules which could potentially result in life-threatening injury or death. There was an incident that happened a few days ago due to a P-plate driver speeding and driving recklessly that resulted in him crashing and killing a women walking on the footpath. And what do you know he was released on bail within 48 hours. Harsher punishment needs to be in place for drivers who break these laws, including higher fines, demerits deducted, and vehicle crushed/impounded, and prison time for their actions. It seems to me that a lot of people that get fined and lose demerit points will get out trouble due to money at their disposal.

    • mlburnian on 23/03/2023 - 04:16
      +1

      Calm down…the guy was on drugs. Issue is not speeding in this case, drug use was. It's like blaming guns for gun violence.
      Australia already has overly strict speed enforcement for the sake of revenue raising and in general most state police don't have actual crime to fight.
      Agree on harsher punishment, murder charge should apply in this case

  • John Dough on 23/03/2023 - 06:55

    Just run countermeasures, it’s easier than you might think. Let the fish get caught in the barrel.

  • MindGrenadius on 23/03/2023 - 08:43
    +1

    Just par for the course for our egregious nanny state. It's so funny that we have a "she'll be right mate" veneer to the rest of the world when in fact if anything happens we're the first to cry for that whatever it is needs to be regulated or banned. I don't care for speeding and don't feel the need to go fast but it's very obvious it's just a fiscal exercise more than anything based on where most speed traps are set.

    Interesting hearing that people regularly do 140+ on the Hume etc, I live regional and use the M1 somewhat regularly and it's quite rare to see anyone doing over the 110/posted limit

  • Protractor on 23/03/2023 - 09:12

    Uncle Sam Needs You!
    There's an airport in every city in Straya, ( and then some) , and there's countries where you can speed till your nose bleeds.
    And a global job crisis. Don't let fear hold you back. You got this.

  • JakeyJooJoo on 23/03/2023 - 09:36

    Something I'd like to point out to you is the terrain differences between UK and AU. That alone should mean far less people die on the road in the UK as they need to drive shorter distances at lower speeds.

    AU is a lot more comparable to the US in regards to terrain. So if our death toll is far greater as you say (assuming it's pegged to population), than the Aus government is doing something right.

    That said, I always do 10 over on main roads as they are under-limited.
    50 (residential) and 40 (school) zones I never exceed.

  • Eeples on 23/03/2023 - 09:43

    In Australia we are fined a lot more and lose points on our licences way more than in (most of?) Europe and (all of?) the USA. This makes us compliant as there is enforcement. I think this is important as taxpayers pay for hospitals of the idiot road users that end up there.

    I can speak to compliance and enforcement in Greece as I was there 3 weeks ago. Plenty of motorcyclists without helmets and also running red lights despite both being illegal. Police aren’t stopping them. Not surprised Greece has 1.5 times more road deaths than Australia per capita.

    Check the seat belt fines in various USA states for a laugh at the small fines. And seatbelt compliance in these states (compared to Australia) is low. And again reflected in deaths per capita.

    Op, compliance and enforcement reduces injury and death and reduces the strain on the public purse of health care in Australia.

  • Protractor on 23/03/2023 - 10:27

    Mods should just completely delete this thread seeing as the OP trolling has ended

  • suchan on 23/03/2023 - 11:01
    +4

    This may be a slightly off-topic as OP is talking about the speed limit enforcement.

    But thought I'd argue that think there's value in increasing the speed limit on many Australian roads, particularly the highways. The highest posted speed-limit I've encountered is 110 kph. I'm totally for enforcing the law on those who break the speed limit but I felt the government didn't account for fatigue-related fatalities which accounted to 20 to 30 percent of all road fatalities.

    Perhaps not applicable to many Australian roads, Stuart Highway in NT began with no speed limit until 2007, then in 2014 trialled for two long years some 300km stretch of highway with open speed limit. The trial shows that there were no speed-related fatalities during these two years. Alas, the government reintroduced the speed limit anyway to 130 kph, currently highest in Australia.
    https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/nt-extends-ope…

    • Protractor on 23/03/2023 - 11:17
      -2

      Fatigue is manageable. Increasing speed so people can dodge managing it, is a typical modern "I want everything instantly" mentality. People can, rest, leave earlier,share drivers.
      Great that there was no fatalities in a 2 year period.. Isn't serendipity a wonderful thing ?(sometimes) . I'll bet there were crashes and near-misses anyway
      We haven't earnt speed increases. People on dual lane 100-110kph roads still have head on crashes, even with wide centre road verges.
      When the trend shows we can live within the means of the current speed regimes, maybe they can throw the dog a bone, and grant us a trial in suitable locations. If and when they do, anyone breaching the higher speed threshold should lose their license immediately. Everyone supporting a maximum speed limit increase is saying (claiming without actual evidence) that drivers can manage higher speeds safely.
      My experience indicates a long way to go. Hopefully full (safe) automation exists and the need for speed can be satiated in that way, and we dodge the inevitable carnage of greater risk driving conditions. I also think any future increase should require the vehicle to be fit for purpose for the higher speed. Safety rating of the car itself should be complimentary to higher speeds. Not a free for all.
      There also needs to be a higher penalty across the board for multiple other type offences committed in any 'higher speed zone' .Otherwise it's not something I can see any govt approving.
      So if people don't like the current "big brother nanny state, revenue raising" situations, I seriously doubt they would like the extreme wrap around conditions any sensible safety conscious govt would be forced to enact, at higher open road speeds.
      No matter how high the upper limit is, people will always breach.

      • Leadfoot6 on 23/03/2023 - 12:19
        +1

        Not every motorist is a child.

        Many deserve to be treated as adults, instead of the uniform "all you kiddies will behave, or you will have your botty smacked" approach that currently exists.

        This is the 21st century.

        It is time that the relentless development of primary safety built in to modern cars was recognised and adjusted for.

        • Protractor on 23/03/2023 - 12:21

          The law (unfortunately) when it comes to safety, has to account for the child factor.I'm glad they do.
          Ask people who have lost someone to that child.It is what it is. Maybe it's time for the disfranchised would be speeders to form a political party .

          • Leadfoot6 on 23/03/2023 - 12:39

            @Protractor: No.

            It just needs common sense applied, rather than "knee jerk" policy on the run.

            P.S. That there was such a public backlash in NSW to "hidden" mobile speed camera enforcement should be an indication which way the tide is running.

            It has now been returned to how it was before.

            It needs to go further.

  • WT on 23/03/2023 - 12:17
    +2

    we live in a nanny state when it comes to road rules compared to the US but there are a lot more people that use mobile phones while driving compared to here so I guess its working (to an extent)

    Driven a few times in the US, first was before GPS was a thing, you get around by directions, take the xxx exit north off the 405 etc. I had to write all the turn offs on paper like a treasure map. Then sitting bumper to bumper at 2pm on a weekday on an 8 lane highway. Looking around any one of them could be one of the first scenes in falling down, AC an optional extra back then sweating thier ass off, fat dude yelling into his mobile phone, woman with kids screaming in the back etc. Why the fk are there so many people out at 2pm?

    Most of the people I knew living there drove at the speed limit, maybe because I was from overseas and they didnt want to kill me. Maybe its just my family but a freind didnt really speed either, although he was in a customers car that was being run in so it could be that

    Last time I went was in 17 and we drove from LA to miami stopping where we wanted with no real plan, just a flight back to LA that was already booked. First day was a doozy for the mrs, she is a bit of a back seat driver and although used to my spirited driving at times, she must have felt like she stepped into real life GTA. I dont really pay attention to speed signs, new country/car etc, I just go with the flow. Her imaginary brake pedal got a work out that day. First day 2 notable instances, im doing 45 (80ish) on a surface street, some gang banger in a low rider flys past doing 85+ (130+). I look at the GPS, dam were in south central, she is worried, its day light still but lets find that freeway entrance. Later that night we are heading to an uncles place to stay, generally people drive faster as there is less traffic and its later at night, SO is worried again im sitting in the flow at 90 and she wants a 3 second gap. I give her a demo of what happens, I get a 2 second gap and 2 cars turn into my lane, im now back to square one. It wont happen, "forget your stupid 3 second rule" I smugly tell her.

    Day 2 I tell her im not doing all the driving, you have to drive sooner or later so may as well get used to it now in suburbia. It works, she drives to the mall so we can get a SIM, proceeds to rash the wheels in the car park. I lol but refrain from making comment as I know I will need this later. Stubbornly she tries to maintain a 3 second gap on the highway. I remind her dont look at the car in front, look past them, there is your 3 seconds for reacting, doing this you will see and react faster then the guy in front of you. Within 20 mins shes cruising at 85 with everyone else, sitting on their ass like shes some sort of nascar driver.

    As you can see when it works its fine, when something goes wrong it does so in a tremendous way!

    This particular trip had many interesting moments, originally we were going to get an RV but by the time you pay for extra fuel etc you may as well just stay at a better motel (avoid low and mid tier trust me)

    Couple of interesting things, mrs fell asleep in a mountain area (AZ) after lots of boring straights, decide to have some fun, doing over 100 through some bends being as smooth as possible to not wake her, come out from a nice set and see a cop on the side, proceed to get pulled over (im more then 3 hours from the closest town wtf, havent seen another car for 1+ hour). SO wakes up groggy to sirens, great! We havent even been here for a week. Sheriff insists he clocked me at 94, I admit nothing, tell him I was doing the speed limit (70), show him insurance, my license and passport. He lets me off (too hard basket) and tells me how he loved the gold coast. I drive off and sit on speed limit. Mrs tells me, we havent even been here a week and you got pulled over. I remind her she rashed the wheels in the first 20 mins. I sit on the speed limit for 2 days, I still treat it like a rental up to that point and fuel is roughly half what we are used to paying so my foot is lead up to the speed limit.

    Later on we are in San Antonio, everyone there drives like typical tradies here in 4x4's. I used to circuit race and I start questioning their abilities, why they are expending so much effort to get 4 cars ahead and so forth. If your doing 85, youre going way too slow. If you leave half a cars gap, someone is forcing their way in! I double check the insurance fine print.

  • Protractor on 23/03/2023 - 12:22
    -3

    Most people seem to manage living in this " nanny state".

  • mitt on 23/03/2023 - 13:26
    +1

    Its pure revenue raising, but dont expect the majority here to agree. Ozbargan has a weirdly large number of people who get off on people running up against government abuse.

    I always thought people should have the option of donating fines to registered charities. Enforcement would evaporate.

    • speedingftw on 31/03/2023 - 08:35

      yeah most people here think going 1 km over the speed limit is the most dangerous thing one can do on the road

  • Hamlet on 23/03/2023 - 15:13
    +2

    I drove 86mhh on a 65mph when I was in Cali. Got caught and had to pay the US$400 fine. Everyone else was speeding but the cop got me. I asked why, and the cop just said because I was speeding. It's an unfair system.

    If it were me, I'd prefer a consistent approach like in Australia where I know anything above the speeding limit is a fine so I stick well on the speed limit or below it.

    • kiwiyonip on 24/03/2023 - 09:53
      -3

      here, I drove 140 a couple of times, got caught at 113. So now I try to piss 120kph drivers behind me by driving exactly 110 at the right-most lane. Who the f*** cares, they're not the ones paying my fines. I'm not happy driving in other lanes as they drive below 100, so hell yeah!

      • speedingftw on 31/03/2023 - 08:35

        which state do you drive in where people do 120?
        here in melbourne most people seem to do 10 under in all lanes

        • kiwiyonip on 31/03/2023 - 21:09

          QLD, you will be surprised to see 130 on a 110 limit, MOST of the time, in the right most lane. For drivers who driver past 110 in the right most lane in M1, all I can say is, F U.

    • TEER3X on 25/03/2023 - 07:33

      Well they have to catch someone. Just because others are speeding doesn't mean you can get away with it.

      Same as 40km/hr roadworks zones, I see people going under the speed limit (60 in a 70 zone) when approaching, then not changing their speed at all.
      Plenty of revenue to be raised there.

  • Dack Smith on 23/03/2023 - 16:16
    +3

    Australia is a pretender draconian nanny state managed for the benefit of the 1%

    Australian states run massive fiscal deficits that need plugging due to incompetence, corruption and rampant cronyism.

    Their partial solution is to put absurdly low speed limits on major roads and essential routes, then fine you when you exceed the moronic low speed limit for quick cash while pretending to care about the road deaths.

    It is normal to not invest in transport infrastructure then fine people because workers need to get to work but don’t want to spend many hours trying to get to work. I’m very sure low speed limits helps with traffic flow and eases congestion

    Yes they care so much about the road toll and people dying that they underfund and wreck the health system to show they care about human life and not money.

    There are almost no speed cameras in areas that matter like school crossings where kids get killed or injured by cars speeding all the time.

    Because the Australian government cares about your kids and their safety.

    We love our politicians and government, just like they love us and are doing the “right thing” by us

    We need to keep up this pretense and facade called democracy.

    • CurlCurl on 23/03/2023 - 18:36

      where kids get killed or injured by cars speeding all the time.

      Best tell my grandchildren not to go school hey.

    • nottodaysunshine on 25/03/2023 - 06:51

      Spot on. Ugly truth but spot on.

  • space cadet on 23/03/2023 - 16:18
    +3

    Are there any actual statistics we can refer to, to argue our cases either way? Seems like lots of anecdotal evidence in this thread!

    • nottodaysunshine on 25/03/2023 - 06:39

      The ego is on full throttle! They should be fines!

  • hawkshead on 23/03/2023 - 16:27

    The small pp speeding ads of the 80s and 90's clearly need to come back. The reason the speeding limits and punishment are there are because if you look at the past, not the present there was a much more significant number of people killed by cars.

    Every year people are like "not many people are killed by not wearing seatbelts surely we can stop wearing them, and why is the fine for not wearing one so big???"

  • Fobsessive on 23/03/2023 - 17:05

    Gang called Speed!

  • OzBarAnon on 23/03/2023 - 17:21

    Is your issue with the punishments being delivered, or do you want the speed limits themselves changed? Do you think these speed limits are reasonable and justified, and what do you think should be an appropriate consequence for breaking them (assuming you think there should be speed limits at all)?

  • ItchyBallsack on 23/03/2023 - 21:27
    -2

    The only change I wish for in Australia is that they get rid of the school zones and variable speed limits, i hate surprises.

    • mctubster on 24/03/2023 - 12:34

      You are right, they should make all built up areas 30kmh (20mph) as it being rolled out in UK / Europe. Fix it for ya ;)

      • Protractor on 24/03/2023 - 14:51

        Yep, electric scooters & bikes have taken off road and council laws. People moaning about speed have bad news a-comin'.

        • Leadfoot6 on 30/03/2023 - 20:30

          This is the 21st century, not the 19th.

          • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 20:41

            @Leadfoot6: Tell your local govt, not me. 1% ppl (& self appointed experts like RACV) demand e vehicles get the laws they want in built up areas & guess what?
            Low speeds abound.

            Local govt makes decisions based on brown paper bags in the back carpark, not on what rate payers and road users want.
            However,if you want (need?) higher speed limits outside suburbia, or on freeway car-parks, then you should become a lobbyist or form a political party. But without any meaningful reasons or supporting evidence, I don't like your chances.

            • Leadfoot6 on 30/03/2023 - 21:05

              @Protractor: I'm not sure what state you are in, but in NSW over the last few years there was a lot of "backlash" about the removal of warning signs from mobile speed cameras.

              So much so, that the policy of "incognito" speed camera vehicles was reversed.

              It was too late for me.

              For the VERY FIRST TIME EVER, I voted Labor in the state election, instead of Liberal.

              There were other factors that helped me make my decision(vast waste of money on useless rebuilding of football stadiums, corrupt Madam Premier Gladys) but the speed camera thing really got up my nose.

              The Liberal state government "tried to come the raw prawn" by attempting to grab too much revenue from speed cameras.

              https://thebeast.com.au/other/dont-come-the-raw-prawn-or-shr…

              It swayed my vote.

              It will not be a permanent change in outlook on my part, but I really felt the need to protest in the only way available to me at present.

              • Protractor on 30/03/2023 - 23:06

                @Leadfoot6: Hidden cameras suck. (but) The best weapon you have to stick it to the man, is not speeding

  • payless69 on 23/03/2023 - 21:39

    It is as much of a cultural thing: Try to drink below age 21 in the US and you find they come down hard on you. Change your togs on the beach and find yourself in a register of sexual offenders.
    I have driven a million miles in dozens of countries and driver behaviors is sometimes dependent on a lot of factors. Being able to adopt and fit in usually keeps me out of issues.
    Germany has no issue with good road behavior's. Some Nordic countries charge speeding fines according to your income. Go to Russia or former Russian states and driving becomes a new challenge. Most international drivers love to drive in the US. But even there nobody is safe from weird laws. California is broke and the speed camera contractor has an issue with the state admin. Things will change for sure.

    • TEER3X on 25/03/2023 - 07:34

      Most people in college in the US are under 21. Most people in college drink.

      • Protractor on 25/03/2023 - 11:32

        .. to numb their senses because stats indicate any minute now a shooter will rock up.

      • payless69 on 25/03/2023 - 13:48

        Depends on the college. When I was in the US there were different drinking laws. Getting a ticket in one state could get you thrown out of college in another. Rich parents could always fix it. Doing burnout on the last mile before Nevada was the big thing. Students told me that you can do 1 thing wrong: Either get caught drunk, speeding or underage sex. Having rich parents always helped.
        BTW: QLD has a loophole where you can trade demerit points for money.

  • Willy Beamish on 24/03/2023 - 02:05

    Here's a thought, just do the speed limit.

    You aren't special, get over yourself. No one is waiting for you that is worth getting there 20 seconds earlier.

    • Chmmr on 25/03/2023 - 09:09
      +1

      Don't know why your comment has been down voted when it's 100% accurate.

      • Leadfoot6 on 30/03/2023 - 20:15
        +1

        From memory, it was me who gave him a negative vote, and proud of it.

  • fragileheart88 on 24/03/2023 - 09:00
    +1

    LA has more crimes, so the cops over there have more humanity. Over here, the cops can’t do anything, ignored the criminals and keep catching the good, behaved people!

    • payless69 on 24/03/2023 - 09:35
      +1

      over here the cops ignore criminals and milk the drivers.
      LA has them Amazon parcels shredded by trains….

  • THL on 24/03/2023 - 09:21
    +2

    So OP basically created a new account on Ozbargain named 'speedingftw' asking if speed enforcement in Australia is absurd - then proceed to berate everyone who disagree with OP.

    • Leadfoot6 on 30/03/2023 - 20:19

      In the following article with a touch of irony, a veteran highway patrol officer(asking to remain unidentified) has some pertinent comments to make:

      […..]
      The embarrassing gaffe raised questions on social media about the driving ability of speed camera car operators – and whether it was a safe location to begin with, given the vehicle was parked on a narrow verge of a narrow stretch of road.

      Speed camera cars have come under fire since a record number of fines have failed to make a dent on the road toll.

      "If speed camera enforcement had a clear impact on the road toll – and the road toll demonstrably came down in areas they are used in – then you might be able to argue they serve a road safety purpose," said a veteran highway patrol officer speaking on condition of anonymity.

      "But the reality is the road toll has gone up, despite record fines. No wonder the motoring public are (upset).

      […..]

      https://www.drive.com.au/news/speed-camera-car-in-embarrassi…

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 24/03/2023 - 10:26

    State governments got to make back all the deficit

  • shaybisc on 24/03/2023 - 10:27
    +2

    And if you think that there aren't a lot of revenue raising traffic cops in the USA you're in dreamland. There are loads of towns out there where it's practically the only source of funding for the police force.

    • speedingftw on 31/03/2023 - 08:42

      even if there are, demerit points generally don't apply until you speed by 10+ mph, and the fines are way cheaper than here
      here you get demerit points for even 1km over (except WA where 1-9km over is no demerits)

  • Protractor on 24/03/2023 - 10:54

    Leave the speeds as they are until we reform the basics.Argue for a better police force, first. NZ's policing model and cops blows Australians version away.

    • Leadfoot6 on 30/03/2023 - 20:23

      Yep, I just absolutely loved the lack of highway patrol police on the south island of NZ.

      2 days driving without seeing a single police car between Greymouth/Queenstown/Invercargill and Dunedin.

      Lots of fun to be had there for enthusiastic(ahem) drivers.

      I just wish I had had a "proper" car, rather than a 4 cyl. rental

      The brilliant rural roads(small towns/rural town suburbs excepted) were, of course, mostly empty.

  • fragileheart88 on 24/03/2023 - 12:33
    -1

    there was once my dashcam recorded a cop speeding like driving 90 in a 70 area. without the flashing lights on… took the video to police station, asked me to send to them and deleted my copies….I then asked whether I can receive a credit if in future I sped and got caught with a fine… they say NARH. they say thanks for cooperation and demanded to get a response if that cop get a fine too. they said it's their policy they wont update me etc…I felt like police is overpowering over the weak people, those who commit crime still flying like a free bird!

  • DeToxin on 24/03/2023 - 14:13
    +1

    I don't know what it is about Australia, but drivers, at least in Melbourne, specifically northern suburbs, are way more aggressive than any other country I've driven in.

    A large portion of the drivers in rush-hour traffic fight to squeeze in and out of lanes with little to no following distance, even at motorway speeds, which I find crazy.

    As much as I dislike some of the ways roadrules are enforced here, it's probably for the best.

    • Gunnar on 24/03/2023 - 14:28
      +3

      I've seen zoo exhibits with more manners than some drivers I've seen in south western sydney

      Germany is by far the best country I've driven in. The autobahns aside the thing I love most is that people know how to drive properly, know how to drive to the conditions, and keep to the rules

    • PleasureMe on 24/03/2023 - 16:45
      +1

      It's probably because they are frustrated by people driving dso slow. And the reason people are driving so slow is because of our ridiculous speed laws/enforcement. If the speeding laws and enforcement were relaxed in this country just as the OP is suggesting, then people would drive faster and that would reduce the aggressive driving you are witnessing.

      • DeToxin on 24/03/2023 - 17:30
        +1

        I'm talking about rush hour in mostly 60 zones. Increasing the speed limit there isn't going to do anything because of the traffic, yet people still do their best to get 1 or 2 cars ahead to save almost no time.

    • Protractor on 24/03/2023 - 14:59

      Very needy website. Quick glance and I dismissed some of the claims. I don't believe any of the stuff about insurance knock-backs.
      Not what we have experienced in decades of driving. If the claims were true half of the nutjobs in the senate would be all over it.And consumer advocates would also report to consumers.

      And it claims to rail against 'unjust' speeding fines. What % of speeding fines would be 'unjust'. 1% 2%, less?

      Seriously a petition to remove red light cameras?
      Adjust the light changing intervals maybe.

      • freedomofspeech on 24/03/2023 - 16:10
        -3

        you mean like the jab-related deaths… well not many politicians are all over it yet..

        • Protractor on 24/03/2023 - 22:09

          Yeah I agree, They need to have mandatory sentences for gutless nimrods who carry knives and bladed weapons. Not a single pollie is onto it. Good point.Thanks.

  • sAmiZZle on 24/03/2023 - 15:02
    +3

    I personally feel that constantly watching your speedo is a major distraction to what is happening on the road. They don't want us to be distracted by phones, etc, but inadvertently create another distraction by having to check speed hasn't crept above the limit non-stop. Not sure what the alternative is, but there needs to be a happy medium that lets the driver determine what is safe for their experience, vehicle and conditions.

    • PleasureMe on 24/03/2023 - 16:41
      +3

      100%. This can be achieved by increasing the buffer from 3km/h over the speed limit to 20km/h over. With a bigger buffer, we won't be forced to constantly be checking our speed and can give all our attention to driving and keeping our eyes on the road.

      • TEER3X on 25/03/2023 - 07:37

        Maybe 5-10km/h over, 20 is nuts.

  • Illyria on 24/03/2023 - 15:17
    +2

    After more than a decade of living in three different EU countries I believe that Australian traffic enforcement is solely focused on revenue raising. Despite being a large country with vast distances between cities we have inappropriately low highway speed limits (110 km/h vs 130 km/h in EU) and ridiculous rules (eg heavy vehicles limited to 100 km/h, meaning that there are two flows of traffic on highways, which is less safe). Cities are smothered in red light and speed cameras that lead to drivers anchoring the brakes as soon as they see a yellow light. Don't even get me started on Victoria. I'd flat out refuse to ever live there simply based on how draconian the police are in enforcing road rules there.

  • shaybisc on 24/03/2023 - 15:57

    The National Speed Trap Exchange

    Over 80,000 user-submitted speed trap locations in the United States and Canada!

    https://www.speedtrap.org/

    • Protractor on 24/03/2023 - 16:33

      They need a shooter trap location app.

  • PleasureMe on 24/03/2023 - 16:39
    +2

    You are spot on, Australia (especially Victoria - The Nanny State) is so OTT with speeding laws. More than 3km/h over the speed limit and bam, big fine. Anyone from outside Australia is always shocked when they experience this for the first time.

    It's actually dangerous because it results in us spending so much time looking down checking our speed to make sure we are not more than 3km over which is time where you have to take your eyes on the road. Everywhere else in the world, their eyes are focused on the road, not on their speedo.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/03/2023 - 16:54
      +1

      i kid you not i spend a good 30% of my time looking at the speedo rather than the road. They have these harsher anti-distraction laws now they introduced in Feb but the amount of close calls i have had just to look at my speedo is ridiculous. I feel outside residential, buisness and school zones,the limit should be increased 10ks across the board across major roads.

    • Chmmr on 25/03/2023 - 09:13
      -2

      If the driver need to look down that many times about their speed, there's something wrong with the driver.

  • Protractor on 24/03/2023 - 19:26
    +1

    Looks like SA won't be cutting any slack to speeders>
    "To make matters worse, Assistant Commissioner Parrott said, the police officer who was tasked with delivering the sad news to the family of the woman who had died caught a driver travelling at 175 kilometres per hour in the area. "

    "I can only imagine the shock and frustration that police officer experienced having been given the job of going around and knocking on someone's door to deliver a death message, only to be confronted by someone who is driving like an idiot," he said.

    "This just goes to show the absolute selfish regard that people have got for anybody else on the roads and, please, it just has to stop."

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-24/sa-police-launch-new-…

    If you are an adult driver whose speed wanders so badly that you have to keep looking down at your speedo, and/or that makes you anxious, or your speed constantly creeps, you should not be on the bloody road,

  • UFO on 24/03/2023 - 19:57
    +2

    Op, it IS absurd.

    The penalties aren't nearly high enough!
    If someone is doing over 50km/h over the speed limit, their car should be handed back to them in a cube, costs passed on to them, and they lose their right to drive for 12 months.

    That's not accidental, that's a reckless disregard for others safety and should be punished accordingly.

    The absurdity of your post is ironic however, as is the need to create a completely new troll account (which by the way is against the rules here).
    You've probably used a VPN to hide your real profile, but here's hoping admin finds a way to delete this rubbish and your account asap.

    • Protractor on 24/03/2023 - 20:29
      +2

      VPNs, disposable email addresses, and flaccid playground lurkers ruin the web for everyone.

      Full ID at sign up would eradicate most of the fleas and ticks of cyberspace.

      • TEER3X on 25/03/2023 - 07:37
        -1

        No one would join if any of that were a requirement

        • Protractor on 25/03/2023 - 10:07
          +1

          No, ethical people with conviction would still join, if the forum was of interest to them. And people who 'meant' what they said, would join.
          In the main, forums would become the realm of people whose agenda wasn't to be a dickweed and wreck it for everyone.
          There would still be other forums with wild west rules where the dregs could feed each other.

          It's too easy to game the system.

          • CurlCurl on 25/03/2023 - 11:07
            -1

            @Protractor:

            No, ethical people with conviction would still join, if the forum was of interest to them. And people who 'meant' what they said, would join.
            In the main, forums would become the realm of people whose agenda wasn't to be a dickweed and wreck it for everyone.
            There would still be other forums with wild west rules where the dregs could feed each other.

            It's too easy to game the system.

            So you want everyone to have the same view, ethics and moral compass as you? How boring.

            • Protractor on 25/03/2023 - 11:28
              +1

              @CurlCurl: Nice word twisting Read it again without a bias.
              No mate, I want fwits to get a life.
              YOU can > Vote 1 for mind dead trolling if you want.

    • prodrome on 25/03/2023 - 14:46

      My car cruises safely at 160kph in Europe. Why cant I cruise at 160kph on the open road here?

  • nottodaysunshine on 25/03/2023 - 06:36
    -2

    I'm glad to see Stockholm syndrome is alive and kicking in Australia.

  • Protractor on 25/03/2023 - 11:57
    +2

    Not as rife as amateur armchair psychology.

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/invisible-bruises/20…

    Shock horror, it's 'actually' possible to 'do the right thing' for the people around you, without sacrificing your individuality.
    That said you do not need 'any'qualification to see how 'self' the human species has become. Or how rancid social media has become in since its inception.

  • berry580 on 25/03/2023 - 13:58

    Troll

  • prodrome on 25/03/2023 - 14:44

    Vehicle speeds seem to be governed by make and model e.g. there is an epidemic of aged gold camry traveling at the speed limit minus 40.

  • kerfuffle on 25/03/2023 - 14:59

    How did OP end up in the Penalty Box both here and in his obligatory Whirlpool thread?

    • Protractor on 25/03/2023 - 16:13
      +2

      Because (as above) morons game the anonymous /fake ID forum registration process. The penalty box is probably a challenge him and his mates take pride in.
      There would be a plethora of ex WPool trolls evicted from Wpool on this forum.
      OP will be back using another ID.
      This is what wrecks the web

  • Dack Smith on 25/03/2023 - 18:50

    Happy to travel at 40kms an hour if I don’t have to travel to and from work, having to live outside of the city because I can’t afford to.

    Waiting for the government to help me and everyone else

  • Sammy Boi on 26/03/2023 - 11:52
    +2

    How does this thread even exist (profanity) hell

    • Protractor on 27/03/2023 - 11:08
      +1

      Free speech and democracy "apparently".
      You know? Regurgitating faux anarchy from the armchair,, while waving a Eureka stockade flag,hoarding dunny rolls, liking Mark Latham and a penchant for 'cooking'.
      Sometimes adorned with poorly made DIY fake number plates.
      I'd say cops have never had more job satisfaction since covid 'adjusted' the reality of some people.Every day another laugh.

      https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/sovereig…

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