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

[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]

In NSW a learner drivers speed limit is 80kph. A P1 driver is 90kph. I'm pretty sure they set those limits for the safety of the occupants & other road users while these people learn how to drive & be in control of a car.

Why is it not ok for someone who doesn't feel comfortable to go a little slower? Better than them going faster than they can handle & loosing control I would think?

I do understand, & I also get frustrated, but I'm not going to push anyone to go faster than where they feel safe...

While they're learning, yes absoloutley.

But if an experienced driver can't drive at the limit without losing control, they quite obviously are a danger to other road users and should not be driving.

[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.

[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

[Phteven]

I disagree that the 80/90km speed limit makes it safer for other drivers. I think it makes it more dangerous. Having cars on the road that travel 20km an hour below the speed limit causes huge queues and lots of frustration. I drive the Monaro Highway most weekends over winter and inevitably on a Friday or Sunday night there will be a huge queue at some point behind a P/L plater and when the road allows overtaking people go nuts trying to get out of the queue.
They should either be banned from driving on roads with a speed limit over 80 or they should be allowed to travel at the speed limit.

[~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]

That's true Onyx. In WA though we don't have that rule (at least we didn't when I was on learner's). L drivers are encouraged to drive at 100 so as to get used to it, and only allowed on the freeway once they have passed the driving test and have log book.

[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]

That's true Onyx. In WA though we don't have that rule (at least we didn't when I was on learner's). L drivers are encouraged to drive at 100 so as to get used to it, and only allowed on the freeway once they have passed the driving test and have log book.

Changed a lot since I got my licence (in WA) - when I was learning a L-plater was restricted to 72km/h and wasn't allowed on the freeway at all until the day they got their P's when they could go 90km/h. Hence why a lot of P platers didn't put their plates up and just went the same speed as everybody else.

I learned to drive in both the city and the country. Both taught me different things, such as how to judge traffic conditions and how to overtake a road train at 110km/h on a broken white line without crapping myself. Oh and how to drive on gravel, even when it's wet. You'd be surprised how many people freak out at the sight of a bit of gravel during roadworks

[misty]

Funnily enough I find often them to be the same people who do 50 in the 60 zone, but then continue to do 50 in the 40 zone.

ere are some con

GGgrrrrr. I LOATH people like that. There are a couple of constant offenders around where I live, who do 60-80km (and often not even a consistent speed) on a stretch of road that is 90kms. There is no where to overtake and they literally hold up the traffic for almost 1km. When they get to the overtaking lanes at the end of the stretch, they will then speed up to 90-100kms (It happens to turn into an 80km zone there) so that no one can overtake them unless they are going at least 20kms over the limit! It is crazy.

I also loath those people that race me off a red light, so they can be in front, but then slow down to 5km under the limit. I don't mind them driving just 5kms under, but seriously let me get in front first!

I am extremely careful of going the actual speed limit after I got a ticket going 9kms over ($163, that I couldn't really afford), and I often set cruise control, so many people cannot seem to drive a consistent speed. If you are going to go slow, fine, just make sure you are consistent. I prefer hoons to slow drivers, particularly inconsistent ones - because at least the hoons overtake me, and I don't have to deal with them anymore because they are gone.

[Lenny]

I am also addicted to my cruise control misty - i can't live without it now.

I find it frustrating when driving to DS1's ODC. Can't be more than 7 kms away. I have to 50, 40, 50, 60, 70, 40, 70, 60, 70, 50. That's the number of times i need to change my speed. There's something wrong with that, i think. I'm happy with 40 past the school (it's a permanent 40, not just school hours), but the rest is just downright puzzling.

[TeniBear]

Well, it's called a speed *limit* for a reason... It's the highest you're allowed to go. So I go under to stop from going over Maybe that's why people speed, because they don't know the meaning of the word LIMIT?

I do admit to slowing right down about 10-15 under if someone's tailgating me. Part to annoy them and teach them not to harass people; part because if I have to brake suddenly and they ram into the back of my car, the slower we're going the safer.

[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.

[Teeki]

I really don't agree with limiting L-platers to 80ks. They go a maximum of 80 the whole time they're with someone else then bang, they're out on their own and can suddenly go 20ks faster. If you're out in the country and doing a lot of open road, single lane driving you feel a lot of pressure to do at least do 100, because everyone else wants to do 110. Not cool for an inexperienced and maybe un-confident driver.

I feel like I'm the only person in my area who does the speed limit. I'm either stuck behind someone doing 90 or being overtaken by someone who is out of sight in moments!

I do think slow driving is dangerous because it causes frustration, but I think we need to control it. Yesterday morning I was taking DD to daycare and had a 4wd come up behind me. 30 seconds later I had to slow down to 90 for a truck in front. We slowed down to 80 for a corner, and as soon as 4wd lady was around the bend she was overtaking. It was incredibly stupid. She flipped me the bird on the way past, and rather than pull into the space between me and the truck, she kept going. She was level with the back of the truck at the foot of a hill, didn't get back on our side until the top of the hill. I was so nervous the whole time, I was certain a car was goin to come over the hill the other way and it would have been a huge mess.

Sent from my GT-P7510

[loulabelle]

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.

Perth drivers seem to have many problems. (not me, Im a Vic native).

Too slow, too fast, tailgaters, the ones that can't decide what lane to drive in, they all annoy me. But, the absolute worst is slow drivers who then speed up on the straight so you can't overtake. Steam is coming out my ears just thinking about it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so forgive spelling mistakes

[sepata]

I drive right on the limit, but I'm also the person who drives right on the roadwork limit as well. I'm seriously the only person, besides an RTA car, who does the roadwork speed on the M2. Driving significantly under annoys me, but 5 or so k's is not so bad. I also make sure to leave a nice gap behind a learner so they don't feel threatened, my car is loud enough as it is, I don't want them to think I'm intimidating them.