SILLY SIGNS. . . . .LET'S START A THREAD ?

[Birdseye]

A significant issue Phil is the type of conversation. When phone legislation was first mooted it raised a number of issues including the use of two-way radio. Radio exchanges tend to be brief and mainly an exchange of information e.g. an ATC instruction. Phones tend to be used for longer exchanges and often involve some degree of thought.

 

Some transport companies even prohibit the use of hands free in their vehicles when in motion due to the increased distraction value.

 

 

[spacesailor]

BUT!

 

If it's inattention you worry about, how about having 80% to 90% of your gaze below the dash watching that Dammed speedo, when the limit keeps changing all the time

 

spacesailor

 

 

[Birdseye]

That's another issue, not helped by motoring associations that are more interested in selling holidays and insurance than worrying about their driving members.

 

 

[Bikky]

[ATTACH]48627._xfImport[/ATTACH]

 

Read this in the news today. I'll translate for you as best I can.

 

"A woman is arrested with cannabis in her knickers and in her intimate parts. Police also found a military rifle and cocaine."

 

The mind boggles!

 

[spacesailor]

I wonder if it could be used to fight a speeding ticket in court, " sorry judge, but I was looking at the road in front, because of children about, & didn't watch the speedo"!.

 

spacesailor

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

I wonder if it could be used to fight a speeding ticket in court, " sorry judge, but I was looking at the road in front, because of children about, & didn't watch the speedo"!.spacesailor

I tried that and failed. While intently looking for kids I missed the 40 sign. I had slowed, but not to that "magic" number. (At the site of my crime, the many warning signs are a major distraction and make it harder to see a little person about to step onto the road.) it told them that in future I would ignore the little kids and instead concentrate on looking for speed signs.

 

 

[Oksinay]

The US Dept of Transport now estimates that there are more people killed in the USA texting whilst driving than from drink driving. Look around as you drive, it's amazing how many heads are down and obviously texting.

 

 

[SDQDI]

The US Dept of Transport now estimates that there are more people killed in the USA texting whilst driving than from drink driving. Look around as you drive, it's amazing how many heads are down and obviously texting.

Spot on, it isn't amazing though it is scary!

 

It frustrates the living day lights out of me when the "top 3 killers" advertising that is done doesn't include the number 1 killer (according to crash investigators) which is innatention, caused by a multitude of things but increasingly by people texting.

 

 

[Yenn]

I don't use mobile phones in the car and very seldom anywhere else. Don't like them.

 

As far as driving goes when I see a situation happening ahead I can't even carry on a conversation with my passenger. All my attention is focussed on driving and the coversation is forgotten. Funny thing I can use the radio in the plane even when I am landing it. I must be non multi skilled in a car.

 

 

[turboplanner]

I tried that and failed. While intently looking for kids I missed the 40 sign. I had slowed, but not to that "magic" number. (At the site of my crime, the many warning signs are a major distraction and make it harder to see a little person about to step onto the road.) it told them that in future I would ignore the little kids and instead concentrate on looking for speed signs.

There's a study which was done in the UK on 40 km/hr zones, which included statistics on fatalities from 0 to 40 (one person died after falling on a stationary car). Of the cars involved, only a minute number (I've forgotten, but from 1 to 5%) were exeeding the speed limit at the time.

 

That study strongly supports your view.

 

 

[Cosmick]

The problem is that every idiot has a phone.

 

 

[Cosmick]

I wonder if it could be used to fight a speeding ticket in court, " sorry judge, but I was looking at the road in front, because of children about, & didn't watch the speedo"!.spacesailor

Strict speed enforcement detrimental to road safety, study finds

 

 

[M61A1]

Are there any similar studies that might determine the number of people speed enforcement might have killed by putting them to sleep?

 

I have found, personally, that it doesn't matter how well rested I am, if I'm on a open road between 80 (or lower) and 100kph, after a few minutes the mind wanders.

 

I see many people like this when I travel, arm on window, head resting on hand looking bored and tired, not to mention very unfocused.

 

I am aware of studies that have found those who ignore the limit and just drive where they are comfortable, are less likely to crash.

 

As as I can tell, speed is not so much a causal factor, but causes injuries if you do crash.

 

Authorities seem hell bent on reducing crash injuries, rather than stopping them from crashing in the first place.

 

 

[cscotthendry]

Are there any similar studies that might determine the number of people speed enforcement might have killed by putting them to sleep?I have found, personally, that it doesn't matter how well rested I am, if I'm on a open road between 80 (or lower) and 100kph, after a few minutes the mind wanders.

 

I see many people like this when I travel, arm on window, head resting on hand looking bored and tired, not to mention very unfocused.

 

I am aware of studies that have found those who ignore the limit and just drive where they are comfortable, are less likely to crash.

 

As as I can tell, speed is not so much a causal factor, but causes injuries if you do crash.

 

Authorities seem hell bent on reducing crash injuries, rather than stopping them from crashing in the first place.

What I'd like to see is a study of how many tail-enders were caused by people slamming on the brakes when they discover the speed camera van parked next to the road.

 

I had occasion to give evidence to a parliamentary enquiry about speed cameras and I said to the pollies that instead of putting up signs to say Speed camera ...For road safety" They should put up signs "Warning, sudden, unexpected braking may occur". They were not amused.

 

 

[planedriver]

I used to find that the faster I drove, the harder I would concentrate, especially in rallies reading the road ahead.

 

Now with more restrictions, a lot of my concentration is focused on reading far too many road signs, and constantly looking out for anyone out to make my wallet lighter in the name of "safety"?

 

If people were taught how to drive safely to the conditions they were in, and read the road ahead properly, our roads would be so much safer.

 

At the Metropolitan Police Driver Training School at Hendon, Nth London. You were also taught to read that wet leaves on the road in autumn, bus stops approaching a bend were potentially slippery conditions in the wet because many buses drip a bit of oil, etc, etc;etc; None of these things are ever passed onto youngsters these days who simply want to get a "P" plate on their car.

 

If properly taught, half the road signs we see, would be unnecessary because it's simply common sense. Sadly, that is not as common as it should be, and like flying, good habits are instilled by good instruction in the early stages, which then becomes habit forming..

 

 

[johnm]

I think the road safety campaigns have created a good portion of drivers that think doing 73 in a 80 kph zone (or say 91 in a 100 kph zone) ......... is just the ducks nuts and look how safe I am driving - in certain circumstances this could well be the case

 

But, that same person is the one that I think causes bad decisons from others and accidents

 

Usually that person when they get to a passing lane will speed up to 10 to 20 k over the speed limit - they should slow down and let everyone pass !

 

they then will decrease to a turtle at the end of the overtaking lane where no one can then pass

 

 

[Cosmick]

Most modern cars have conservative speedo's. My Navara 2012 is 11% conservative but the odometer is accurate, go figure. Left it as is as missus has a lead foot. Nissan proclaimed it was only 7% which "was acceptable". Many wouldn't think of checking speedo Vs GPS speed and happily drive around at a stated say 100kph but are probably clocking 95 or thereabouts.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Are there any similar studies that might determine the number of people speed enforcement might have killed by putting them to sleep?.

Good point, M61A1. I recall us young blokes combatting fatigue and boredom on long trips by opening the throttle for a short blast. Late one night on a long trip my mate suddenly overtook me at speed, standing on the seat. Perhaps a bit outside normal safe driving habits, but it sure wakes you up!

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Most modern cars have conservative speedo's. My Navara 2012 is 11% conservative but the odometer is accurate, go figure...

Most speedos I've tested have read 4% faster than the GPS speed. Given the pretty consistent quality control on everything else, I suspect this may be a deliberate policy by car makers to ensure they don't get sued for causing people to get booked. They may also be allowing for people fitting different profile tyres.

 

My student daughter used to complain that people were always overtaking the grey import diesel Corolla I'd bought for her. Turns out it was fitted with wheels and tyres a size too small and was registering 100k when it was only doing 85. (I didn't rush to tell her that)

 

 

[planedriver]

My sweetheart hasn't had an accident in over thirty years, but if you were in the l/h seat of her car with prayer book in hand, you'd know exactly what I mean. Gaud knows how many she's caused though. I normally insist on driving.to save her worrying (Wot a kind considerate and life-preserving soul am I) ?

 

 

[M61A1]

What I'd like to see is a study of how many tail-enders were caused by people slamming on the brakes when they discover the speed camera van parked next to the road.I had occasion to give evidence to a parliamentary enquiry about speed cameras and I said to the pollies that instead of putting up signs to say Speed camera ...For road safety" They should put up signs "Warning, sudden, unexpected braking may occur". They were not amused.

I was left shaking my head a few weeks ago.....driving along a national highway and encounter a bunch of car stuck behind the front one doing about 75 in 100 zone. I thinks, " bugger this", and pullout to overtake about 4 of the five or six cars stuck. Getting ready , and indicating to pull back in, when front car hits the brakes real hard. Now remember, he's only doing 75 to start with, and he's seen a cop bike on the side of the road. He's only just noticed the cop bike that has been sitting there with it's blue light flashing, and he's less than 50 metres out.

 

So, I did the only sensible thing and overtook the bloody lot of them, and didn't even go close to exceeding the limit.

 

As usual, this sort of erratic behaviour ( no tot me, the incompetent twat in the farm ute), is completely ignored by the cop, he's far too busy with someone who may have been exceeding the limit by a few k's.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

I'm not often in a hurry these days. When following a slow vehicle I leave mobs of room so overtaking drivers can slip in front of me to avoid oncoming traffic on the way past. Trouble is, too many drivers think they're in city gridlock. They overtake me and then tailgate the slow coach. That results in a long line of slower vehicles; overtaking is now only safe if there's no oncoming traffic and a nice straight view ahead; a rare event.

 

Coppers should be pinging tailgaters big time.

 

 

[spacesailor]

All in the name of "Revenue Raising", no thought's on safety, what-so-ever.

 

Proven !, on the Alice to Darwin run, no fatalities for years, then speed reduction, causing three deaths per year.

 

spacesailor

 

 

[eightyknots]

I think the road safety campaigns have created a good portion of drivers that think doing 73 in a 80 kph zone (or say 91 in a 100 kph zone) ......... is just the ducks nuts and look how safe I am driving - in certain circumstances this could well be the case

But, that same person is the one that I think causes bad decisons from others and accidents

 

Usually that person when they get to a passing lane will speed up to 10 to 20 k over the speed limit - they should slow down and let everyone pass !

 

they then will decrease to a turtle at the end of the overtaking lane where no one can then pass

A thing that I have seen more and more is that people who (over)pay big money to by a hybrid car (such as the Toyota Prius for instance) are so obsessed about saving a few petrol dollars that they travel between 10 and 15 km/h below the speed limit.

 

Is this in order to make even greater petrol cost savings? ...I am not sure without asking those drivers but there certainly seems to be a pattern in my highway encounters.

 

 

[kasper]

A thing that I have seen more and more is that people who (over)pay big money to by a hybrid car (such as the Toyota Prius for instance) are so obsessed about saving a few petrol dollars that they travel between 10 and 15 km/h below the speed limit.

Is this in order to make even greater petrol cost savings? ...I am not sure without asking those drivers but there certainly seems to be a pattern in my highway encounters.

Ok this is the humour section - so are Hybrid drivers the Volvo drivers of the 20 teens???