speeding

[AstralTraveller (David)]

The comments by the SMH columist about the NT crash statistics appears to be a case of selectively picking stats to suit an argument. He implies that the road toll has risen because of the introduction of a speed limit. Looking around yesterday I saw a comment to the effect that there had been no increase in accidents on the sections of road onto which a speed limit had been placed. Sorry but I've lost the reference. . However the numbers in the "Road Deaths Australia 2008 Statistical Summary" (pg 22) support this view. The increase in deaths 2007-2008 for areas with limits 100 or above was 3.4% while the increase where limits are below 100 was 106.3%. The same comparison for the period 2003-2008 were 1.5% and 16.7% respectively. Sadly the NT is still the worst performing of the 8 states and territories mentioned in the report.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...09/rsr_04.aspx

It seems intuitive to me that non-urban roads should be safer that city streets. Unfortunatly for me the stats in that report (though not corrected for vehicle kilometres) don't support my assumption. However there is no distinction between good expressways and tarred goat tracks with a 100kmh limit (and we have plenty of them). Perhaps the reason for the high death toll in 100+ zones is related to the shockingly high number of single-vehicle accidents. I can sort of imaging hitting another car but it has been so long since I even got close to losing control of a car that I can't fathom how over 600 people per year can die this way.

If we look at fatalities per vehicle kilometer amongst OECD nations we find that Germany is only marginally better performing than Australia. The best performing nation last year was Iceland but that was an anomoly - their figures fluctuate widely. The consistantly best performed nation was Great Britian. Could it be that the poms are doing something right? I doubt it but it is worth investigating . (Any poms want to comment?)

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...09/rsr_05.aspx

Proponents of increased or no speed limits make much of the virtues of flow control and I can see their point. Having vehicles travelling at very different speeds on the same road is always a problem. And not just a high speeds (eg bicycles and pedestrians don't mix well on shared use cycleways). So, what is the vehicle and speed mix on an autobahn? Are trucks allowed and how fast do they go? How long are the high speed sections and how often do vehicles have to transit to a lower speed area? I'm just rying to get a feel for how comparable our expressways and highways are to the autobahns.

[Peter Ward]

Wiki is so cool. For those who want a bit of a read...

The German autobahn network is patrolled by the Autobahnpolizei (Autobahn police) in marked and unmarked police vehicles, some equipped with video cameras. This practice allows the enforcement of laws (tailgating, for example) which are often viewed in other countries as difficult to prove in court. Notable laws include the following:

• Autobahns in Austria and Germany may only be used by motor vehicles that are designed to achieve a maximum speed exceeding 60 km/h (Switzerland: 80 km/h).
• The right lane must be used when it is free (Rechtsfahrgebot), and the left lane is generally intended for passing manoeuvres only. Drivers using the left lane when the other lanes are free may be fined by autobahn police.
• Overtaking on the right (undertaking) is forbidden, except in traffic jams where it may be practiced with caution. The fact that the car overtaken is illegally occupying the left-hand lane is not an acceptable excuse. In these cases the police will routinely stop and fine both drivers.
• Not allowing faster cars to overtake one's own car if the traffic situation allows it (e.g. by occupying the left-hand lane for a longer period of time) may be considered coercion.
• In case of a traffic jam, the drivers must form an emergency lane to ensure emergency services can reach the scene of a possible accident. This lane must be formed between the left lane and the lane next to the left lane (i.e., between the two leftmost lanes).
• It is unlawful for a driver to stop his or her vehicle on the road for any reason except in an emergency or situations where stopping is unavoidable, such as being involved in a collision. This includes stopping on emergency lanes. The law also applies if a vehicle runs out of fuel when the incidence could of been prevented.
• It is also unlawful to turn around or back up on the Autobahn under any circumstances. Doing so is punishable under criminal law.
• The distance between vehicles (in metres) should be at least half the speed (in km/h) at all times (e.g. at least 60 metres at 120 km/h). This corresponds to a "lead time" of just under 2 seconds. Again, the fact that the car in front is illegally occupying the left-hand lane when the right-hand lane is free does not excuse following too closely. Fines for tailgating were increased in May 2006. At speeds of over 100 km/h, keeping less than 30 percent of the recommended distance now results in the suspension of one's driving licence for one to three months.
• The German legal regulations (Straßenverkehrsordnung) explicitly allow drivers to honk or flash headlights shortly in order to indicate intention of overtaking.[14] Obtrusive behaviour of the potentially overtaking car, such as constantly flashing headlights or driving at insufficient distances for a longer period of time is illegal and may be prosecuted as coercion. This may also apply to drivers not allowing faster cars to overtake their car if the traffic situation allows it (e.g. by occupying the left-hand lane for a longer period of time).[13]
• Tires must be approved for the vehicle's top speed. Tires for lower speeds (i.e., cheaper than high-speed tires) are only allowed if they are marked as Winter tires (M+S or M/S). In this case the driver must have a sticker in the windshield as a reminder of the maximum speed.

All pretty sensible stuff IMO!

[renormalised (Carl)]

Just thinking here (about minimum safe separation distances), for a Veyron, at the speeds they'd do on an autobahn, the minimum safe distance would probably be half a mile!!!!

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

So, what is the vehicle and speed mix on an autobahn? Are trucks allowed and how fast do they go? How long are the high speed sections and how often do vehicles have to transit to a lower speed area? I'm just rying to get a feel for how comparable our expressways and highways are to the autobahns.

I can't comment on autobahns, but every truck I've seen on my trips in Europe has a rondel on the back listing its maximum permitted speed (maybe two - one for "A" roads and one for lesser roads), and must keep right at all times (except I guess when overtaking trucks with lower limits).

[Astro78]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

All pretty sensible stuff IMO!

Yes, yes it is, IMO too - your quoted wiki post

While I do want to commandeer much of your belongings and hand out to the needy (only because I know you earnt it through hard work and of course raising our living standards), I respect you alot for arguing alone for your beliefs.

So good luck, but not too much

with an odd respect, astro

Update: forgot to add - an elitist system will never work in a country that relies so heavily on exporting raw minerals, such as Australia. Germany and much of europe, knock yourself out

[Davros (Lauren)]

At the end of the day government legislates for the lowest common denominator. Fatigue is an enormous factor in crashes and i dont see many Australian with the requisite skill or suitable mentality to drive at high speeds even if the vehicles are capable of it. Remember the best car in the world is only as good as its maintenance. And when the typical family puts $90 tyres on their Audi and never bothers servicing it or paying attention to brakes etc. we have problems. Australians are also fantastic at tailgating and lack of indicating.