Oh ! Oh! Oh!....My pet topic. Where do I start???
The first...and I'd have to say self evident truth...is no bureaucrat has any idea of what is a " safe speed"
They show us this by constantly changing the posted speed limits on the same stretch of road, while the road itself hasn't changed one iota.
They even do this at different times of day. The physical presence of school children is not required...you will however need a clock and school calendar to determine whether your speed is unsafe.
I'd suggest well trained and experienced driver can determine "safe" speed...and that speed could well be lower than the posted limit...just as it could be higher....but while drivers are allowed to say "nah...this is a bit quick" you are not allowed to say "nah...too slow" is it will cop you a fine or much worse.
Saying "go faster that x-km/hr and fire/brimstone will appear" is simplistic as it is stupid..which I am sure, the good German Doctor was well aware of. The Germans are very much focused on flow control and good driver training... concepts lost in Oz.
The RTA.. bless 'em. They are *anti* advanced young driver training as they would then be "too confident". Thank Christ young aviators are not trained with the same ethos.
Apparently Oz drivers are in a state of perpetual stupor....and clearly some are. The RTA would have you believe it takes close to 2 seconds to react on an external event. So we all have to drive more slowly to compensate for our unusually slow synaptic transmissions. Makes one wonder how you could play cricket or tennis.....I digress
If it took me (anyone really) that long to react I'd be out of my day job....and frankly would sell my cars as it was clearly blind luck that after 35+ years of often traveling at a good clip I haven't been killed already.
Perhaps it's not speed, but rotten or ill-considered driving that gets one into real trouble... but bugger, how do you make any money out of that??