If you don't drive at the speed limit why not?

[Deedles]

Living in QLD I find that most drivers speed! I feel that QLD is so different to all the other states its so confusing.

I am on my L's and going for my P's next month. When I go driving I do under the speed limit by at least 5 km if not more.
I don't understand why some people speed and why some people choose to go so slow they are under the speed limit by 10-20km!
We also don't have the speed limit for L drivers, So when I do drive on the freeway I always stay in the left lane and go under the speed limit but not by too much.
Also we don't have the KEEP Left unless overtaking rule! So throughout 3 lanes people are chopping and changing lanes, going fast and super slow in the different lanes. They hardly ever use blinkers and weave and tailgate through the traffic.

Merging is my LEAST favourite thing to do, I hate it and it scares me!

I am terrified to drive really and have no enjoyment in it at all!
I have nearly been in 2 car accidents in the last 2 months due to the other driver being at fault! So just because you are an experienced driver, there is always going to be human error and misjudgemnt!

All I care about is keeping my kids safe in the car and if people tailgate me or direct road rage at me then its their problem! Of course unless I do something that is dangerous.

[Shanti]

I slow down in school zones sometimes out of confusion, because we live on the border of nsw/qld and can never remember which state is on school hols at which time!! We cross over states daily!!!

and it's not worth getting a ticket...

We had road rage from someone once (pre kids), they were so angry at us for doing the speed limit. Yes that's right, and they wanted to get past us, they threw a glass bottle at our car as they drove past us and my dh had to swerv to avoid it we were so frightened...... Where we're the cops when that happened!!!??

If someone sits on my a*s literally when I am doing the speed limit then it only makes me go slower

[lady_neon]

I drive at the speed limit. Not under, not over (ok, sometimes over but no more than 5 - 10 kph )

I think people tend to forget that the speed limit is set for general YEAR ROUND conditions. So on the highways & freeways, 100 is safe in rain - just don't tail gate! Whereas in summer on a bright clear day, 120 would be perfectly safe. So the powers that be set the safest average. 2 drops of rain is NO reason to drop 15kph and slam breaks on as soon as another vehicle comes into sight. That is more dangerous - the person behind you doing the speed limit comes around a corner then HAS to hit their brakes so as not to hit you, thus causing everyone behind them to do the same. It's seriously dangerous and that's how multi-car pile ups happen. Because one fossil lacks confidence.

Then there are the people who go 80 in a 70 zone, and slow down to 60 to go through a set of green traffic lights, likewise those who go 90 on the highway then go 90 through the 80 zone where intersections are. YOU don't get to average it out, LOL.

*semi-rant* My biggest, biggest irk on Perth roads - users of Tonkin Highway between Roe Highway in Wattle Grove & Collier Road in Morley. My freaking goodness, if you can drive between the white lines at the speed limit before you approach the bridge going over Guildford Road, and the river, WHY OH WHY do you suddenly drop to 75!!! In BOTH lanes! ARGH. It's a bridge! Drive people! Then further up towards Roe Highway, people slow down to 80 because in 7 kilometres they're exiting. FFS, you do the speed limit until you reach the exit, take the exit THEN slow down. *end rant*

I get extremely frustrated, I don't road rage, but I just don't understand. If you don't have the confidence to drive, please, just don't.

[Phteven]

I think people tend to forget that the speed limit is set for general YEAR ROUND conditions. So on the highways & freeways, 100 is safe in rain - just don't tail gate! Whereas in summer on a bright clear day, 120 would be perfectly safe. So the powers that be set the safest average.

Which is dopey. There are plenty of roads in the world that have a different speed limit if the road is wet and people seem to cope. In fact if you can't cope with the concept of variable speed limits maybe you aren't clever enough to drive.

[lady_neon]

Which is dopey. There are plenty of roads in the world that have a different speed limit if the road is wet and people seem to cope. In fact if you can't cope with the concept of variable speed limits maybe you aren't clever enough to drive.

I agree, that's why as someone mentiond earlier when you're in a 100 zone coming up to a bend there will be a yellow sign saying 'bend, 70kph' so you go 70kph.

A grey cloud and 2 drops of rain is no reason to drop 15kph. If it's storming and pelting down, well, duh of course you slow down! But really, Perth weather is not that crazy and doesn't have too much opportunity to really dictate road conditions.

ETA - we won't go there Cranky Kitten!! LOL

[~clover~]

Oh well, all I can say is that I'd be guilty. On an open road I really don't see why someone going a little slower is such a problem. Maybe my idea of an open road is different to others. I'm a country girl, so an open road is pretty much a straight road, with few bends & plenty places to over take. Unless some twat decides to over take dangerously, I don't see a major problem. Its the twat putting everyone at risk, not the slower driver.

I lived on a dangerous section of the Pacific Highway. A major holiday destination. If there were no other cars on the road, sure go 100. But when its holiday time & traffic gets heavy, its messy, & sitting on 100 is down right scary sometimes. When there are 4 cars in a smaller than average over taking area & an impatient truckie decides to push it past them all, it makes you go slower. If anything, just to get that truck past & away from you.
The road in that area is now between 70kph & 90kph, because of the fatality rates. It was 110, 10 years ago.

I would be guilty of going slower in a city when there too. Again, I'm a country girl. I don't do city driving. Ever. But if I was in the city, I would be a nervous wreck & going a little slower. For my own safety, because I 1, have no idea where I'm going, 2, I'm not used to traffic surrounding me, 3, I'm used to watching what 2 or 3 other cars on the road are doing... not 20! Its very over whelming, but something that I do get used to after a few days (I've never been in the city for longer than a few days )

I don't think its fair that I simply shouldn't drive just because I need to adjust. I do get in & out as quickly & painlessly as possible.
I haven't been up to Perth yet, but if you see me around when I do get up there, try to just roll your eyes & keep driving I do my big shopping in Albany & thats busy enough!

[lady_neon]

I haven't been up to Perth yet, but if you see me around when I do get up there, try to just roll your eyes & keep driving I do my big shopping in Albany & thats busy enough!

That's pretty much what I do Clover, don't worry hun no road rage from me! Just a shake of the head lol

[Cranky Kitten]

Because, Lady Neon, there is a merging lane there. And it's a well known fact that merging lanes scare the willies out of Perth drivers. But we shall refrain from starting that discussion, as I fear that it is simply a lost cause.

[Sopdet]

Also we don't have the KEEP Left unless overtaking rule! So throughout 3 lanes people are chopping and changing lanes, going fast and super slow in the different lanes. They hardly ever use blinkers and weave and tailgate through the traffic.

Actually Qld does, it is a 3 point penalty if the police decide to ping you for it, it is only a small $$$ fine.