Speed limit survey. Your idea, what you think it is, what roads dangerous...etc*pics*

[EDManual]

I just went for a drive today, did 1050km.

Roads I came across were these:

A) Dirt roads, these often go from town to town along train tracks maybe not too far away from and kind of parallel with main roads. In perhaps 200km I saw 1 tractor, 2 farmers. Can go from sand, holes, mud etc.




B) Main country highways, maybe see an average of a car per 2-5 minutes. Usually in good condition. Did perhaps 200km on these.



C) Small Country roads, perhaps see 1 car per hour. and maybe a truck every 2 hours. Often bumpy and potholed and sometimes stock on roads. These roads go anywhere you could ever need to go between towns. I did maybe 250km on these.



D) Freeways, safe roads with barriers, no stop signs etc, and not much traffic at most times of the day and night. 2 to 4 lanes of one way traffic. I did 400km on these.





road survey -
1. give these roads a speed limit you think would be appropriate. and
2. what do you think the actual speed limit is?
3. which ones do you think are the most dangerous at a good speed 120ish and most safe?
4. which ones would, do you think have police patrols?
5. so which ones would someone drive on and speed on to get where they want to go quick and without a ticket?

[EDManual]

So why are there police on the safe roads like the Hume, and not on the little roads? Its wierd.

[VSSII]

Originally Posted by EDManual

So why are there police on the safe roads like the Hume, and not on the little roads? Its wierd.

How do you know they are not???

[EDManual]

well I have done tens and tens of thousands of km down dirt roads and little country roads and have NEVER seen a police car with radar of any sort. That is NEVER in 10 years in NSW, VIC, SA, ACT, ....

[Fairlane]

A) Guess Unsigned (ie 100) - Should be 80 (70 maybe but they wont do that)
B) Guessing 100 Should be 110
C) Guessing 60- Should be 80 - Probably the most dangerous road there though
D) Guessing 100- Should be 130

The small country road is probably the most dangerous road there in my opinion.

Highway and Freeway would have Police patrols

Probably you could get away with speeding on the dirt and back country roads. That lattter in my opinion is probably the most dangerous of all the roads though.

*I must admit i would probably fly along the counrty back road

[EDManual]

the answer to my question, is that there arent enough people speeding on the small roads, so they dont bother. Why would you have a police car on a dirt road for a week and catch one maybe dangerous speeder when you could have caught 100 safe speeders on the Hume doing 10km over.

[NC 5ltr]

1. A.Unlimited/60km near towns,60kmh and 80km/h.
B.Both 100kmh
C.80kmh and 100kmh
D.100kmh

2. Close to the ones i've mentioned.

3. I'd say the most dangerous would be the 3rd photo,it looks like it has a muddy surface so any loss of control your gooooone.

4. Thats easy....the main arterial roads and freeways.

5.Well i'd travel as fast as i was comfortable with on the dirt roads,I wouldnt speed on the freeways as you never know where a cop car could be sitting around a corner with a blow dryer and proberbly travel a bit quicker on the small country roads as there aint many cars travelling on them except locals but when its dusk or dawn i would go slower than the posted limit cause of skippy.

[EDManual]

Its funny, every photo there is a 100zone but the 2nd last which is a 110 zone. I study my maps before trips and head for either the dirt or small country roads instead of the others, as its more fun, you dont have to be looking at your speedo all the time, you are actually concentrating on your driving as its interesting you rather than boring you. You dont have to feel bad about having some fun.

Its not the way it should be though, and it would be better if we could drive like this(having an interesting drive) on the safe roads instead of having to go to these poor roads...

[Steffo]

#1 - Dirt Roads - 40km/h. Things can get very dangerous on dirt roads, which are generally places of poor grip and such. Had a very bad experience once...

#2 - Main Country Highways - 80km/h. Look like they can comfortably support that speed, not too slow, not too fast...

#3 - Small Country Roads - 60km/h.

#4 - Freeways - 150km/h.

[LTDHO]

Is that a UFO in one of those pix?? (refer to C)

Back on topic, It would appear that some roads are not in any condition to handle high speeds, however if driven safely, it shouldn't be a problem. If it is an open road and you can see far enough in the distance, then 100 is safe speed.

I do agree to a degree with Steffo. #4 is correct.
#1 can be travelled safely @ 60kph.
#2 can travel up to 100, depending on the site ahead.
#3 can travel up t0 80, again depending on how far ahead you can see. (bends should be 60)

[MITCHAY]

I'm a supporter of upping the speed limits. All of those roads with the exception of the dirt ones I could easily go over 100 comfortably. But then again we are only seeing snippets here.

[xbgs351]

These are the sort of roads that I spend a lot of time driving on.

Appropriate speed limits:
Dirt roads - 100km/h
Back country roads - 100km/h
Main Country roads - 120km/h
Highways - 140km/h

Actual Limits
Dirt roads - 100km/h
Back country roads - 100km/h
Main Country roads - 10km/h
Highways - 110km/h

Safest at 120km/h in order
Highway
Back country road
Main country road
Dirt road


Police Patrol both the Highways and Main Country roads.


If you want to get somewhere fast, all of the alternatives need to be considered. Sometimes the main roads are a lot more direct and hence the trip time will be faster taking the main road and strictly observing the speed limit. Other times the back roads are more direct and are unpoliced.

[xbgs351]

Originally Posted by Steffo

#1 - Dirt Roads - 40km/h. Things can get very dangerous on dirt roads, which are generally places of poor grip and such. Had a very bad experience once...

#2 - Main Country Highways - 80km/h. Look like they can comfortably support that speed, not too slow, not too fast...

#3 - Small Country Roads - 60km/h.

#4 - Freeways - 150km/h.

Would I be correct in my assumption that you live in a city?

[Miss_XR6]

i dont think its a UFO i think its just a big bug that got killed on the windscreen

[Keepleft]

a) Dirt and gravel roads per pic, DEFAULT 80km/h and signed using the R4-12 "End Speed Limit" sign. (R4-12 = This sign is meant to invoke particular caution, alerting you to such hazards as hidden driveways, rail crossings, soft edges, poor surface, a length of road with camber issues or other hazards).

b) Rural asphalt roads and highways DEFAULT 80km/h UNLESS otherwise signposted, here, many would be signposted 100 - 110km/h.

c) Freeways; signposted 80 - 130km/h range AND (//) for certain lengths where median barrier and U-Turn bay barrier is in place.

Victoria will *not* raise speed limits full stop, end of discussion.

On the other hand, we here in NSW . . .

[SB076]

Why wont Vic raise speed limits?

[Ultimate]

Dude if our roads where i am were like that i would be in heaven

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by EDManual

the answer to my question, is that there arent enough people speeding on the small roads, so they dont bother. Why would you have a police car on a dirt road for a week and catch one maybe dangerous speeder when you could have caught 100 safe speeders on the Hume doing 10km over.

Got it in one. A simple case of supply and demand, if they (the HP) want to get their numbers up for their quota (that does'nt exist, yeah right) they have to go where there are the most potential customers.

[EDManual]

I love dirt roads myself, and always head for them :-) I get practice in for rally racing on weekends....



Its a laugh passing cars doing 100 or so on highways, while you are hooting along a parallel dirt road making massive plumes of dust!

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by xbgs351

Would I be correct in my assumption that you live in a city?

Well, my location thing on the left does say 'Sydney, NSW, Australia'

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by SB076

Why wont Vic raise speed limits?

This would go against the millions of dollars spend on "Speed Kills".

Whilst the government have convinced the general public that moving fast will end life, they will never increase speeds on the roads.

[xbgs351]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Well, my location thing on the left does say 'Sydney, NSW, Australia'

That it does.

I just doubted anybody from the country would ever suggest such ridiculously low speed limits for dirt and country roads and such high speed limits for Freeways. If people aren't capable of driving at more than 40 km/h on a dirt road they sure are not capable of driving at 150 km/h on a freeway. In fact if they can't drive at more than 40 km/h on a dirt road they probably couldn't even drive at more than 40 km/h on a wet road.

[Tote]

OK, I'll be a bit controversial. I'm sick of having City based people with no understanding of rural issues dictate policy to the rest of the state.
A) Unrestricted, The conditions can vary so much on a blacksoil road like this that it might be safe to do 150 KM/H on it or it might be dangerous to do 40
B) 120 Km /h or, in an ideal world unrestricted.
C) Unrestricted
D) 140 Km /H

The definition of unrestricted would mean that you could prove to the police's satisfaction that you were not driving in a dangerous manner or inappropriately for the conditionsif you were pulled over.
I have driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres throughout NSW in the last 20 years on roads like the ones shown and have discovered that the best balance of economy and time to cover distance equates to around 130 Km/h. Unfortunately nowhere in our fine state is this legal.
I would hasten to add that these limits could not apply to roads like the Pacific Highway as the amount of traffic is simply too large for the dual lane infrastructure to handle.
And for Steffo, maybe you should drive from Bourke to Wanaaring at 40 Km/h to see if your opinion changes.
By the way I don't expect that any of the above will ever change but at least I can take comfort from the fact that most of the roads pictured above would be very rarely policed anyway. (everyone knows police dont like to get HP vehicles dirty)
/Rant

Regards,
Tote

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Tote

And for Steffo, maybe you should drive from Bourke to Wanaaring at 40 Km/h to see if your opinion changes.

Agreed, unless it's raining, then you'd be lucky to get up to 40k's without exiting offroad and into the table drain

[xbgs351]

Originally Posted by Tote

And for Steffo, maybe you should drive from Bourke to Wanaaring at 40 Km/h to see if your opinion changes.

I would like to see Steffo get the short distance from Deniliquin to Jerliderie at 60 km/h. I suspect he would end up doing 140 to 160 km/h like everybody else does.

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by Tote

And for Steffo, maybe you should drive from Bourke to Wanaaring at 40 Km/h to see if your opinion changes.


Regards,
Tote

Ive done that stretch in the Hilux,pulling a trailer with 2 quads and 2 bikes on,4 up in the cab with a heap of gear for 2 weeks away.
It was very dry and dusty,like driving on sand,it's very tireing only being able to do 60 tops on those long stretches. When I can I go as fast as I safely can on the back roads, who wants to spend 17hrs behind the wheel if you can do it in 12.

[EDManual]

The strezlecki track is an interesting dirt road. When wet, its hard to even stay on the road at 50! But when dry, I am happy sitting on 160-180* or so. And I'm still here. Many SA dirt roads are hard and as grippy as asphalt and smoother!

The roads above, on dirt I like to drive to the conditions, *************** Another day, maybe 50 is all you could do cos of mud or whatever.

*what I say may or may not be the truth*

*********edited by xa coupe... you know forum policy*********

[Smoked]

The Gov wont raise limits because it would disagree with the speed kills campaignes.

That said, most rural roads are designed according to a design speed. Each curve (either horizontal or vertical) is required to have set minimum sight distances, as well as grade changes for drainage.

This would certainly have a large impact on the max speed of roads.