What max speed for highway driving do you think is safe ?

[westy73]

Hi all,

With a fair bit of conjecture around at the moment after that article in Wheels mag about the 130 km/hr drive I was wondering what everyone thought should be a good max speed at the moment based on general conditions of roads and current spec vehicles.

For mine ( I drive a BA Ute 5 speed manual, or a Tezza with 6 speed auto and both have cruise control) I reckon 120 would be about right. This takes into account the better braking/handling/performance ability of the cars these days. However one should always think about wet weather driving, or foggy conditions etc. so it is a little tricky. Perhaps there is something to be said for variable speed highways based on conditions with those digital signs we see now ?? I see a lot of this around the city (Brisbane) which is dependent on traffic congestion.

I think 120 on good highways (currently zoned at 100 or 110) is pretty easy to cope with and from doing a lot of clicks myself in QLD this would seem about right.

Anyway was hoping to see what others think about this and what they find is reasonable speed based on personal experiences in their travels on highways in Australia.

cheers,
westy.

[Rodge]

I'm with you mate, 120 k.p.h. on good highways and motorways makes sense.

[80kms]

agree... 120 works for me

[burnz]

gross mean average 123 ~125 kph ,
I read the source (NT) before 130 limit.
oddly most NTers do 130 now, as not to impede the faster drivers.

125 ~130 works with me for fuel economy.

[uranium_death]

130 km/h.

Triple M have even had a laugh at Melbourne - "The home of 80km/h 'freeways'."

[FPV+fteT3]

130 seems realistic for freeways / highways. I do 120 now on the F3 no problems and still get passed by the occasional car.

[westy73]

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

130 seems realistic for freeways / highways. I do 120 now on the F3 no problems and still get passed by the occasional car.

Yes same here and that's my main reason for posting this question. At 120 km'hr it seems fast enough to get where you need to on good highways and allows you that time needed if 'something' crops up from your surroundings. Fast enough to keep one alert as well. And also fuel economy is perfect at that speed for me anyway.

[dieseltrain79]

I'm all for 130 limits .

However it poses an issue with Learners & P-Platers whom when doing 80-90 at the moment , you rush upon at 110km/h .

Make it 130 and all of a sudden 80 is a dangerous situation .

I think Learner drivers should be able to do 100 limited like Heavy Vehicles .

1st year p-Platers also limited to 100 then move to 110 , and once full licenced , 130 .

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by dieseltrain79

However it poses an issue with Learners & P-Platers whom when doing 80-90 at the moment , you rush upon at 110km/h .

Make it 130 and all of a sudden 80 is a dangerous situation .

No it isn't. Of course the slower driver needs to keep left but everybody does that hey

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by dieseltrain79

However it poses an issue with Learners & P-Platers whom when doing 80-90 at the moment , you rush upon at 110km/h .

Make it 130 and all of a sudden 80 is a dangerous situation .

I think Learner drivers should be able to do 100 limited like Heavy Vehicles .

1st year p-Platers also limited to 100 then move to 110 , and once full licenced , 130 .

I think NSW is the only State that has lower limits for L & P Platers, but I will stand corrected, I know in Victoria L & P platers are allowed to do the same speeds as everyone else and L & P Platers from other States can do the Victorian limits when they are in Victoria as there is no law that says they can't

[GTP owner]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

I think NSW is the only State that has lower limits for L & P Platers, but I will stand corrected, I know in Victoria L & P platers are allowed to do the same speeds as everyone else and L & P Platers from other States can do the Victorian limits when they are in Victoria as there is no law that says they can't

Tas is also 80 limited.

I feel quite comfortable travelling at 180 on some sections, but that is highly dependent upon the road, the conditions, and whether there is anyone else around. Those same sections I have been scared driving at 40km/h when there is ice on them. That makes the speed limit irrelevant really, because you have to drive to the conditions. That's why I hate speed nannies dictating what is a safe speed - if there is ice, the imposed limit will always be too high...

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by dieseltrain79

I'm all for 130 limits .

However it poses an issue with Learners & P-Platers whom when doing 80-90 at the moment , you rush upon at 110km/h .

Make it 130 and all of a sudden 80 is a dangerous situation .

I think Learner drivers should be able to do 100 limited like Heavy Vehicles .

1st year p-Platers also limited to 100 then move to 110 , and once full licenced , 130 .

I reckon teach them how to drive at the full speed limit.
It should be up to the individual when they move onto higher speeds.

I didnt do 80 on my first day of Ls. I drove at slow speeds around back streets, then moved onto higher speeds once I was ready.
Why can't this be te way for learners and freeways?

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by dieseltrain79

I think Learner drivers should be able to do 100 limited like Heavy Vehicles .

i agree. they need to learn to drive at 100, so why not make that their limit, rather than the ridiculous 80kph.

I think 110 for good two way highways, 130 for divided highways/freeways.

[chopstar87]

i say on normal highways.. 110 -120km/h would be fine... and say for the M1 (and Similar spec roads) between the gold coast and Brisbane. 130km/h would be safe.

yea, the learner limits in other states, would need to be altered i would think to make it safer.

[TC200six]

In my opinion, 100-110 limits can be kept on highways that aren't up to scratch, or too narrow and congested.

Otherwise, highways like the M1 or open, straight and wide outback highways can be increased to 130km/h.

[XRtowcar]

Like to say 130 like parts of Europe but poor driver training and attitude means 100 can be dangerous out here.

[Xauterus]

The M1 would be deadly at 130km/h.

We need to learn to drive like they do on British motorways. Trucks have to use the left lane unless overtaking, then they can use the second lane. The fourth lane is for cars overtaking. So if someone is cruising in the fourth land and another driver catches up then they can flash their high beams and expect the slower driver to get out of the way. This would allow people to speed if they chose to and not cut across four lanes to do so.

At the moment when you see people merge onto the M1, you see them jump straight to the third or fourth lane even if the first two are empty. Then they hog the right lane at whatever speed they feel is appropriate and appear to feel like they own that lane. Forget flashing headlights expecting them to move to a slower lane so you can overtake rather than undertake....

The speed limits really need to be set for the stretch of road. Some roads are horrific and need slower speeds. Good roads need higher limits.

[XW-BAXR6T]

120 kmh all major freeways and 130 kmh on the major interstate to interstate highways.

[new2ford]

I have a hunch that the right lane hoggers will start moving left if the limit is opened up to 130 because many of them don't actually want to drive at that speed and will feel uncomfortable with traffic closing up behind them at a much higher speed. I don't think anybody much will be sitting in a right lane at 100 then.

Of course it might take a little while! When I was driving in Germany last year, one day I was toodling along at my usual 130 when I came across a car all on its own in the middle lane doing about 100. Very unusual I thought, lane discipline is usually fanatical here. As I came closer I saw the car had a kangaroo sticker in the rear window

[BHDOGS]

80kmhs

[casabonka]

After flying back from Germany this morning, there was no issues with dual carriageways with an un-restricted speed with cars doing 150+ but again, slow cars stayed in the slow lane.
I think in oz 130 would be perfect.

[Blue Roo]

I think 130kmh is safe for the Highways.

[zilo]

140 maximum with three lanes, 130 in the middle and 110 in the left.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by zilo

140 maximum with three lanes, 130 in the middle and 110 in the left.

Not sure that will work, you simply set the speed limit at whatever and enforce the 'keep left unless overtaking'

If they actually enforced that between Sydney and Brisbane they would probably make a fair bit of revenue, but cops would actually need to patrol the highways to do that and not simply hide behind a bush at the end a long straight bit of road.

[my_gxl]

Originally Posted by zilo

140 maximum with three lanes, 130 in the middle and 110 in the left.

Originally Posted by Stefan

Not sure that will work, you simply set the speed limit at whatever and enforce the 'keep left unless overtaking'

Stefan, that is the current system and does not work. I like Zilo's idea.

[ebv8]

100-120kmh on 2 lane highways and single lane highways and 130kmh on 3 lane freeways.
i drive 130km a day round trip on a motorway and do 115-125kmh in peak hour and thats what everyone does with a few trucks doing 100 and a few doing 130-140kmh
i just sit in the line of traffic and keep up with them
(they can't book all the cars at once can they)
maybe have the right lane on a 3 lane freeway a fast lane so no trucks and no p platers allowed

[mcnews]

Whatever suits the road and conditions at the time. On the Hume in good weather I would be thinking 180. But mindless morons would need to be educated that other vehicles would be doing this speed thus actually need to pay some attention to what they are doing in regards to lane choice etc.

[GQ_Smooth]

120-130 for well maintained interstate roads.
110-120 for city/state freeways.
Current spreed limits are fine for city streets.

Personally these speeds are very comfortable for me, however I can see how for others it is well beyond their comprehension as a big % of people have NEVER travelled about 100 KM/H. Saying get training or lose your license won't cut it.

[chevypower]

130 with a 10km allowance for overtaking on a single carriageway.

[mik]

130 kph on a modern divided highway would be a good happy medium i reckon, and not to hard on the average vehicle, having been in cars sitting at considerably higher cruising speeds before we had half decent highways and safety stuff in cars many years ago, i actually thought 140 kph was pretty nice even back in those days, it probably required a bit more reading of the road and conditions, but these days on our nice big highways surely you could do 130 kph on cruise with your eyes shut(so to speak) on a good stretch of modern divided highway.
if they wanted to they could ramp up the penalties more for those going over the higher limit, and given the generosity with the extra k's i don't think too many would complain.