Changing lanes banned in Burnley Tunnel

[Hunter]

Well it looks like the Victorian Government is going to ban lane changing in the Burnley tunnel. Maybe another revenue raising exercise? Will people actually obey this law?

From news.com.au:

April 19, 2007 02:36pm
Article from: AAP

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LANE changes will be banned in all of Melbourne's tunnels following last month's Burnley Tunnel crash which killed three people.

Emergency barriers would also be installed at the entrances of the city's four tunnels in the event of a crash, Premier Steve Bracks said today.

Motorists caught changing lanes would receive three demerit points and face a $182 fine.

Learner drivers would be tested on safe driving in tunnels.

Mr Bracks said these and other measures would be introduced over the next 12 months.

"The accident on March 23 in the Burnley Tunnel that took the lives of three people was a terrible tragedy," Mr Bracks said.

[DEVL-XR]

How ridiculous.
Last time I was traveling through the tunnel there was a truck right behind me. So I changed 2 lanes and let him go by, I didnt like having a semi trailer behind me, especially after what happened last month.
IMO people will feel more restricted and proberly more unsafe, especially in the circumstance I mentioned above.
Anyway, on the tunnel coming the other way (the shorter tunnel), isn't there a turnoff in there, what if you need to change lanes to get to that?

[BJ]

What a load of bullshit. Why not just close the bloody thing and be done with it.

[tickford2001]

sounds like another good reason not to use it!

merging in from kings way, right behind a truck, and having to follow it all the way up the hill will be great...especially if its fully laden and doing about 20-30kmh

[EA2BA]

Typical knee jerk ridiculous politics. I wonder how many out of state people are going to love that fine in the mail when they get home.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by tickford2001

merging in from kings way, right behind a truck, and having to follow it all the way up the hill will be great...especially if its fully laden and doing about 20-30kmh

Doubt it think people will panic and think no I am not getting stuck behind this truck going this slow so they will pull out into the other lanes and crash into the cars already moving past at speed. But thankfully due to the State Governments commonsense there wont be an accident in the tunnel because it will happen just before the tunnel. :1syellow1

[kyro_02]

haha... wonder how they will in force it... not like we have a spare thousands of cop cars to nab everyone...

[SB076]

Originally Posted by kyro_02

haha... wonder how they will in force it... not like we have a spare thousands of cop cars to nab everyone...

Cameras to catch you dangerous hoons who dare to change lanes

[Walkinshaw]

Originally Posted by EA2BA

Typical knee jerk ridiculous politics. I wonder how many out of state people are going to love that fine in the mail when they get home.

Single unbroken line = no lane changing Australia wide, no excuse for interstate users. Oh, thats not to say this isn't a totally rubbish knee jerk reaction.

[Dezza]

Just ridiculous. I am going to really hate it if I get stuck behind a Camry doing 60kmh while there is plenty of room in the other lanes. The simple fact was, what happened in the tunnel was a freak accident. The driver of the first truck shouldn't have pulled over in the tunnel, and the owner of the second truck should have been paying more attention to the road ahead. As others have mentioned, this is clearly a knee-jerk reaction right now, but this is not the way to do it. Also what happens if someone breaks down in the tunnel again. If the traffic is light and someone breaks down in front of you; are you meant to just sit there until their car is operational again? I am so over the government and the way they have turned it into such a big nanny state.

[RG]

Go Bracksy, and if this doesn't fix it just install some more speed cameras lower the speed limit and really clog up Melbourne's freeways. :

[SP.UTE1]

Did you Victorians really vote this **ck head into Government. What a knee jerk reaction. :monkes:
Come the revolution out:

[nugget378]

Whats going to happen when there's a breakdown....
Sit and wait a couple of hours till its sorted?

[adrianb]

Absolutely retarded reaction to the problem.

A truck lane would be awesome - last week I was in there and a semi going flat out up the hill switching lanes back and forth passing traffic.

A breakdown lane would have prevented the accident.

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by 1QWKF6

Did you Victorians really vote this **ck head into Government. What a knee jerk reaction. :monkes:
Come the revolution out:

Not me. I wish the kneejerk reaction to fix the water problem was as quick. sleep:

[Bucknaked]

Whats happening in Victoria. Have you guys lost the plot? First you change Rivarly round and have non traditional rivals playing each other, and now you want to ban lane changing in a tunnel. What happens to us interstate folk who visit your city and get pinged by a law that we never knew about. Talk about a dash for cash. Is there nothing that your government will stop at to raise revenue.

[TheSneakiness]

Even less reason to drive down there.

Soon enough you won't be able to even sneeze or fart in your car without being fined for it down there.

[Gilesie]

Originally Posted by tickford2001

sounds like another good reason not to use it!

merging in from kings way, right behind a truck, and having to follow it all the way up the hill will be great...especially if its fully laden and doing about 20-30kmh

And as an added bonus you will be able to breath in those fantastic black exhaust fumes.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Is there nothing that your government will stop at to raise revenue.

Doesn't seem like there is.

Also, besides the lack of an emergency lane, how different is tunnel driving to driving on any other 3 lane road? Are they going to start banning lane changes on them too? This just ****es me off.

[Nashy86]

so now when i come into the tunnel on my way from geelong to melbourne, where the left hand lane on the westgate entering the tunnel is actually the center lane in the tunnel, how do I get out at the burnley street exit (the one right on the end of the tunnel)? i have to change bloody lanes!

A truck only lane is a dumbass idea too, because
A) if its trucks only in the left had lane then how can anyone get out at the burnley street
B) when you enter the tunnel the trucks coming from the westgate will start in the center lane and be forced left while the cars coming from the other entrance that becomes the left lanes will desperately move right at all costs.
and C) if the trucks are in any other lane other than the left, how will they get there and how will they get to the exits?

Better idea: use a bit of common sense while driving and pay attention!

[GT290]

Se correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure that lane changing in Sydney is prohibited and the one that springs to mind is the harbour tunnel, I am sure it is sign posted or its a law any way, I could be wrong though.

[GK351]

Originally Posted by GT290

Se correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure that lane changing in Sydney is prohibited and the one that springs to mind is the harbour tunnel, I am sure it is sign posted or its a law any way, I could be wrong though.

You can change lanes in all Sydney tunnels except one,

From memory you cannot change lanes in the M2 tunnel (Very poor lighting inside) and have to drive with your headlights on.

[ED turbo (mickmalta)]

Victoria: Australia's number 1 revenue raising state that makes someone richer by the minute.

[chief]

That is correct GK5766. The only tunnel you can not change lanes in is the M2. They have a safty sigh advising drivers to turn their headlights on as they enter the tunnel. Pretty stupid when the tunnel is only what 250m or so long and its strait.

[AUIII XR8 MAN]

I though we were stuck with a dumb goverment, i feel sorry you guys down their.

[Outbackjack]

This Brax guy is a genius. First he builds the cheapest tunnel possible. Charges a fortune to drive in the thing. Then when it becomes apparent that the thing is dangerous and has cost lives, he makes new laws that will bring in even more money. Jeeez he is good!! No wonder you Victorians keep voting for him!!

[GXL078]

Been banned in the M2 tunnel since it opened, but that didn't stop a black Mazda 6 from changing lanes and speeding past me this afternoon (the nob). Looks like they have put the speed limit down to 70Km/h permenantly now.

[HOON69]

turning one lane into a truck lane would be far more easier then making a BS rule

whats victoria coming too
must be something in the water :

[adrianb]

Originally Posted by HOON69

turning one lane into a truck lane would be far more easier then making a BS rule

whats victoria coming too
must be something in the water :

Wouldn't know - Stage 3a restrictions!

Much more of this nonsense and I'm going back home to WA.

[Silver Ghia]

Another hair brained stupid rule. Just like the one where you can fill a swimming pool with a bucket but not a hand held hose. So I bet the majority just have the hose going into the pool.

Dont blame me, I didnt vote for him. Absolute nutcase.