2 prime movers confiscated under the hoon laws ( vic)

[Jason[98.EL]]

heard this on the radio this morning

The Victorian Government says truck drivers who speed are not above the law and will be penalised.

Two truck drivers have become the first in Victoria to have their trucks impounded under hoon legislation, after they were caught speeding in a construction zone.

They were travelling at almost double the limit on the Monash Freeway late last night, and their trucks have been impounded for 48 hours.

The Police and Emergency Services Minister, Bob Cameron says speeding will not be tolerated.

"You've got people doing excessive speed, effectively through a workplace, and it is totally appropriate that they're impounded," he said.

"I hope that there's a message there to other truck drivers that there are hoon laws in place and you'll find yourself off the road for a while."

when i heard it i was thinking how the hell do trucks do nearly double the limit didnt hear that it was in a construction zone till later this arvo

jason

[Jason[98.EL]]

sorry article here

[JC]

Was anyone actually working in the construction zone at the time? I'm all for them enforcing the construction zone speed limits while work is happening, but when there's no-one there, it's a low act, IMO, to patrol that area looking for easy targets. In fact, I'd go as far to say that the "road works" sign is in fact mis-leading if no actual works are being carried out, and I for one would challenge the issuing of the fine in those circumstances (not saying I'd be successful).

[GS608]

"They were travelling at almost double the limit on the Monash Freeway late last night, and their trucks have been impounded for 48 hours."

Thats low and pathetic, am i right in thinking no road works happen at around 11pm-1am?

Also, how the F^$^ are they hoons? Excessive speeding should NOT be brought under the "hoon" act, burnouts, drifting, street racing on public roads should. Not your everyday run of the mill speeding.

[pauljh74]

They have been doing night work, but the Eastlink section on all the intersecting roads in the south east, there has been no roadwork or workers around there for months yet the roadworks limits remain in place.

[mik]

if you have been up the monash recently you`d see there are road work speed limits for a good percentage of the bloody freeway and no bugger anywere to be seen for 80% of it, half of melbournes traffic jams are caused by these speed limits imo ..........and where there is road workers they are generally behind those 5 ton concrete blocks, wheres the danger?, i`m all for safety of road workers but this has to be the most over kill you have ever seen.

[XRQTR]

Only just heard this briefly on the news, this is an absolute joke.

Roadwork speed limit signs have become an absolute joke in this state, how often have you seen the speed limit down to 40km/h and yet the work being carried out is about 50 metres off the road and yes with huge concrete barriers protecting the guys. I too am all for ensuring they are well protected but sometimes it goes beyond that and I really think they should get there mums out their so they can hide under there aprons when the big bad drivers are going past.

It used to be that when the end of the day came they would cover up or replace the roadwork limit signs with either the regular speed or a speed lesser than the regular but greater than the one on display whilst work was in progress. These days it seems that with all the new "traffic management" companies out their they seem to have a need for 5 times as many bollards and about the same in advisory signs. I wonder who the "friend" is in parliament that helped with the new legislation and how much his/her party fund has been padded by all the companies.

I really think that police should be using discretion in these circumstances when there is no physical roadworks actually in progress, even during daylight hours.

However I must say that if this was in one of the 60 zones and they were going 120 then this is really uncalled for, I think most officers will allow maybe 20 over so they just pushed there luck a little too hard. Keep in mind that the lanes have been narrowed through most of these areas so a small mistake can have big consequences.

I pick up cars from the side of the road all time but I certainly don't see too many drivers slowing down for me, I have no concrete barrier just a flab barrier, maybe I might bounce off the front

I just hope that they do fight it and the lawyers highlight just how pathetic the whole thing has become with speed limits being imposed outside of actual work being performed at these sights, hopefully someone that can do something about it sees this and will actually make the appropriate changes.

[Full Noise]

I’m going against the trend here. The Monash Freeway is clearly marked 80 Kph all the way in from Blackburn Road, right through to the end of the Westgate bridge on the Westgate freeway. I don’t like it either, but that’s just the way it is.

Any halfwit who can read a speed sign would know this. These two drivers should have known better. When they are working at night it is clearly marked 60 or 40 depending on the proximity of workers to the road shoulder. Not all of the work areas are protected by concrete barriers.

I get a little tired of other trucks and cars bagging me up simply because they think that the rules don’t apply to them. I’m no angel, however, when it comes to roadwork speed limits, I do my best to obey them.

When I see a 40 sign, the first thing I look for is a copper in the bushes, simply because that’s where they are most likely to be. It’s as simple as that.

[Barry_v]

hardly in the spirit of the hoon laws.

[bcnyah351]

this looks to be the same as a thread posted a month ago you break the law do the time you can not do the time do not break the law simple would you all think it was wrong if thay hit your wife and kids ,mother father so on

[Full Noise]

Here’s an updated link.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...9-2862,00.html

[Pinkbits]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

They have been doing night work, but the Eastlink section on all the intersecting roads in the south east, there has been no roadwork or workers around there for months yet the roadworks limits remain in place.

I travel on the Monash between the hours of 10.30pm & 5.00am two to three times a week and i can assure you there are plenty of road works happening on various sections of the freeway.
As Fullnoise said, the speed limit from Heatherton Rd onwards in both directions is reduced to 80kph, except for a short section between Springvale & Blackburn Rds.
BE WARNED i quite often see unmarked police cars just waiting for the impatient ones.

[xe351]

disappointing - i was hoping somehow the trucks were bagging the rears lol

[Ladiesman217]

I had to give a quick talk to our employee's during their lunch break about what happened with the two trucks because one of them was a Visy truck which is the company I work for. It's not a good thing for our image... We already have been fined $38 million for Richards price-fixing dilemma and he is looking at going behind bars for 5 for that, we've had a string of major workplace related accidents and now add this into the mix.. Its not exactly working out for us right now.

[Fev]

Originally Posted by xe351

disappointing - i was hoping somehow the trucks were bagging the rears lol

i dont think the Bagdad bullet pulls trailers :P

[alecrain]

Originally Posted by mik

if you have been up the monash recently you`d see there are road work speed limits for a good percentage of the bloody freeway and no bugger anywere to be seen for 80% of it, half of melbournes traffic jams are caused by these speed limits imo ..........and where there is road workers they are generally behind those 5 ton concrete blocks, wheres the danger?, i`m all for safety of road workers but this has to be the most over kill you have ever seen.

The speed limit (80km/h) is put there not for the safety of the workers (who are protected by concrete barriers) but due to the fact that they had to make the lanes narrow and get rid of the emergency lanes in the area.

You can notice that the lanes are more narrow when you are between two trucks on a bend and see that they drive on the lane marking.

By the way, I drive on the section east of Blackburn RD daily. I everyone's speeding there.:
When I "go with the flow" it's around 90km/h and still get overtaken on the right and left. :

[TZENU]

Originally Posted by mik

if you have been up the monash recently you`d see there are road work speed limits for a good percentage of the bloody freeway and no bugger anywere to be seen for 80% of it, half of melbournes traffic jams are caused by these speed limits imo ..........

The speed limit makes absolutley no difference.. E.g. 6 years ago when the speed limit was 100 we still had the same traffic jam; More cars on the roads are whats worsening the traffic around these area's not the speed limit.

[Lab_Boy]

Im all for strictly enforced limits in two places, near schools and where people are working. I am a compulsive speeder and generally hate the limits, but they are the two places I think cant be policed enough.

[LTDterri]

Not a fan of road work speed limits, but the reality is put yourself next to one of these concrete barriers with a large truck or car flying passed you at 80+ I dont think you would stand much of a chance if something went wrong. Lost the truck for 48 hours and will more than likely lose their licence for 3 months and therefore their not earning a wage TOUGH LUCK fellas but at least someone will make it home to see their families

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by LTDterri

Not a fan of road work speed limits, but the reality is put yourself next to one of these concrete barriers with a large truck or car flying passed you at 80+ I dont think you would stand much of a chance if something went wrong. Lost the truck for 48 hours and will more than likely lose their licence for 3 months and therefore their not earning a wage TOUGH LUCK fellas but at least someone will make it home to see their families

Lose their licences, lose their livelihoods, lose their houses, possibly lose their families. "TOUGH LUCK" is a little bit flippant, don't you think?

But yeah, I agree that road works limits should be enforced. It's a very dangerous business. A car or truck going off the road at 80km/h into a bunch of road workers could have horrific consequences.

I would just like to know whether road works were actually in progress anywhere near where these guys got busted. One reason why road works limits aren't universally respected is because the road workers frequently don't take the signs down when they've finished work for the day.

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by alecrain

When I "go with the flow" it's around 90km/h and still get overtaken on the right and left. :

Another example of 'speed-limit conditioning'.

Over reliance on 'speed-limits' causes death.

[LTDterri]

Originally Posted by Abacus

Lose their licences, lose their livelihoods, lose their houses, possibly lose their families. "TOUGH LUCK" is a little bit flippant, don't you think?

But yeah, I agree that road works limits should be enforced. It's a very dangerous business. A car or truck going off the road at 80km/h into a bunch of road workers could have horrific consequences.

I would just like to know whether road works were actually in progress anywhere near where these guys got busted. One reason why road works limits aren't universally respected is because the road workers frequently don't take the signs down when they've finished work for the day.

Sorry Abacus what I meant about the families is that someone will make it home as they did'nt get killed by a moron doing double the limit whilst they are working next to the roadside. I dont apologise about the rest of my remarks though if you or I dont think of the consequences of our actions and endanger others in the process you deserve the punishment. How do you explain to a child Dad's passed away because this truck driver was in a rush.

[Keepleft]

Who says a roadwork speed-limit is 'safe'?

At what point does it become unsafe? Can you tell me the numerical figure??

[kooky]

Originally Posted by XRQTR

Only just heard this briefly on the news, this is an absolute joke.

Roadwork speed limit signs have become an absolute joke in this state, how often have you seen the speed limit down to 40km/h and yet the work being carried out is about 50 metres off the road and yes with huge concrete barriers protecting the guys. I too am all for ensuring they are well protected but sometimes it goes beyond that and I really think they should get there mums out their so they can hide under there aprons when the big bad drivers are going past.

It used to be that when the end of the day came they would cover up or replace the roadwork limit signs with either the regular speed or a speed lesser than the regular but greater than the one on display whilst work was in progress. These days it seems that with all the new "traffic management" companies out their they seem to have a need for 5 times as many bollards and about the same in advisory signs. I wonder who the "friend" is in parliament that helped with the new legislation and how much his/her party fund has been padded by all the companies.

I really think that police should be using discretion in these circumstances when there is no physical roadworks actually in progress, even during daylight hours.

However I must say that if this was in one of the 60 zones and they were going 120 then this is really uncalled for, I think most officers will allow maybe 20 over so they just pushed there luck a little too hard. Keep in mind that the lanes have been narrowed through most of these areas so a small mistake can have big consequences.

I pick up cars from the side of the road all time but I certainly don't see too many drivers slowing down for me, I have no concrete barrier just a flab barrier, maybe I might bounce off the front

I just hope that they do fight it and the lawyers highlight just how pathetic the whole thing has become with speed limits being imposed outside of actual work being performed at these sights, hopefully someone that can do something about it sees this and will actually make the appropriate changes.

I am rather offended by your post, please explain this to my buisness partner and good friend of 12 years whose father died on site when an unroadworthy speeding car ran him down as he was helping another contractor load his trailor.

The new advertising and speed limits were a direct result of his death, I would like to think that a man as great as he was, did not die for nothing, I hate to be in my mates head every time he drives through a roadworks site.

Sometimes these things are the result of real life tragedies not:
"the "friend" is in parliament that helped with the new legislation and how much his/her party fund has been padded by all the companies."
as you so eloquently put it.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by mastrflexx

I had to give a quick talk to our employee's during their lunch break about what happened with the two trucks because one of them was a Visy truck which is the company I work for. It's not a good thing for our image... We already have been fined $38 million for Richards price-fixing dilemma and he is looking at going behind bars for 5 for that, we've had a string of major workplace related accidents and now add this into the mix.. Its not exactly working out for us right now.

I do not see how any company can be responsible just because one of its employees get done for speeding or whatever. I always thought it was the individual behind the wheel that had to obey the rules and if they broke them then they paid - not the company.

[dave351cid]

as a wise man once said " if you are going to break the law you should know the law your breaking and be prepared to face the concequences "

its like gambling, dont bet more than your prepared to lose.

they must have known they were way over the limit and took a gamble, and lost.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by kooky

I am rather offended by your post, please explain this to my buisness partner and good friend of 12 years whose father died on site when an unroadworthy speeding car ran him down as he was helping another contractor load his trailor.

The new advertising and speed limits were a direct result of his death, I would like to think that a man as great as he was, did not die for nothing, I hate to be in my mates head every time he drives through a roadworks site.

Sometimes these things are the result of real life tragedies not:
"the "friend" is in parliament that helped with the new legislation and how much his/her party fund has been padded by all the companies."
as you so eloquently put it.

Kooky, I do not mean to be disrespectful, but I too am a bit sceptical about some of the measures put in place. Each location should be the subject of a risk assesment and as part of that the signs should be removed when no one is in attendance. Another pertant point I feel is, when there is a smash or accident, then why isn't that area declared a 'go slow' area? To me that sort of situation is also very dangerous with rubber neckers going past at any speed.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by xe351

disappointing - i was hoping somehow the trucks were bagging the rears lol

Yeah, years gone by 'hoons' were drivers who were just having a bit of harmless fun. These days the meaning has been extended to cover sheer stupidity and extremely dangerous driving as well.

[whiteELXR6]

Pretty simple really, If ya don't dop the speed limit and ya get pinged its your own fault. In saying that though no licence for 3 months will prob see them loose there contract and if they are paying the truck off probably loose it and there house. I don't think truck drivers should come under the same points and penalties as normal car drivers either. Find it fairly amusing that a Car driver has 12 points and a truck driver has 12, yet truck drivers do anywhere from 50,000k a year to 180,000 odd.

[GS608]

I reckon its ridiculous, a truck driver has A LOT more to loose by being disqualified for 12 months than a driver of a normal car, you see they can take a taxi to work, or bus, or get somebody to drop them off, were as a truck driver relys on that to put food on the table and a roof over his familys heads, If these truckies lose their jobs, family, house etc from this there should be hell to pay!! this has gone to f$R%*ing far, in NO WAY AT ALL EVER!! is this reasonable punishment for speeding!

F*#&$5(ING GOVERNMENTS!!!!