No more (//) signs in the territory??

[MO]

Keepleft I used to think you had a handle on the traffic/roads situation...but to even suggest 70kph around Mt Ebenezer is totally..stupid!

If Claire Martin..the little gnome.. gets this in then guess what is next..goodbye 05to08 $100 on the spot fine.

It will fall inline with the rest of the idiots who caved into the feds.

I do know this jumped up twit and how she has changed her tune.

As has been said she brings this in she is out next election and the CLP is back and hopefully will reverse that decision.

Now the next point is this they cannot police the open roads in the N.T. to such an extent as to grab everyone.

So the upshot is when I go back for a visit I will sit on my usual 180/220 and occaisional 240...when i stop in The Alice if their good enough they can talk to me.

[TEaaron]

Originally Posted by drcook

is the age old scientists argument of "do you stay drier from running in the rain"

i think dr.carl from triple j did this test and found it is better to run!

They tested this theroy on brainiac and you actually get more wet running.

[TwistedEL]

Brainiac... top shelf TV that is

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by MO

Keepleft I used to think you had a handle on the traffic/roads situation...but to even suggest 70kph around Mt Ebenezer is totally..stupid!.

I had actually suggested use of the R4-12 AS1742 of 1999 END SPEED LIMIT sign, different to the (//), this sign falls back to a rural default where one exists, BUT is used on lengths of roads with identified 'safety hazards'. It is intended to invoke particular care in drivers.

If Claire Martin..the little gnome.. gets this in then guess what is next..goodbye 05to08 $100 on the spot fine.

It will fall inline with the rest of the idiots who caved into the feds.

The report shall highlight proposals. People really must make the effort to write to them, even interstaters, they do ask; 'why the out of state interest'.

I do know this jumped up twit and how she has changed her tune.

As has been said she brings this in she is out next election and the CLP is back and hopefully will reverse that decision.

Would need a mechanisim for them to reverse it, chances are it'd be too late, it *must* be defeated now.

Now the next point is this they cannot police the open roads in the N.T. to such an extent as to grab everyone.

This is not the point, under a speed limit, - if your at a comfortable, safe pace above that, you just don't need the sheer bloody stress, the bulls.h.i.t, of knowing that lurking somewhere ahead will be a highway patrol ready to ping you with their latest large increase in speed limit fines and demerits. This sheer grab for the dollar, with its built-in guilt implication destroys any enjoyment in driving one should enjoy when driving 'safely'.

Few governemnt attorney can say no the the BIG dollars speed fines bring year in, year out.

People should ONLY come under police action for not driving properly, safely, and should therefore in effect, be left completely alone to go about their private motoring business without interventionist actions from government public service employees and police.

We have greater and greater intrusion into our motoring lives by government agencies, this is not on and is just not necessary, we owe it to ourselves to drive safely before any government employee, it IS however for government to give us the tools to allow us to do so (education and infrustructure), and the highest equipment specifications available (ADR's and Standards).

Despite NT's police commissioner view otherwise, I see NO benefit in imposting a speed limit on most key NT highways nor I should say in private conversaion do other senior police. Yes, we can adopt a rural default to bring lower quality rural roads into a speed controlled environment, BUT that 'restriction' must not apply on actual (//) signposted roads, those where we can keep (//) - "our safest lengths".

So the upshot is when I go back for a visit I will sit on my usual 180/220 and occaisional 240...when i stop in The Alice if their good enough they can talk to me.

Accepting that some will be in terror at this, and then accepting you have the commonsense to back off on approach to slower traffic, both in regards the safety respect, and regarding some other drivers 'attitudes' to faster traffic, then I don't care what speed you do, provided your driving safely and have due regard for all prevailing circumstances, including those of your vehicle, outside of that; it is absolutely none of my business what speed you do on those roads, nor do I need to know your business as to 'why' your driving in the locale.

The person who 'varies' his or her speed on a journey, is safer than one who blindly does what the numerals on a fixed speed-restriction sign state, as 'safe speed' is simply not a constant.

[Outbackjack]

If anyone is interested the Transport minister in the Territory is Delia Lawrie. She can be emailed at territory.labor@alp.org.au


Hi all, keep writing and asking questions. Perhaps the holden people that visit here could pass this on as well???

[MO]

Keepleft I appreciate your reply..it makes sense.

As for me driving to conditions ,I always drive as far ahead as I can and not just as far as the end of the bonnet.

I always scan the sides of roads as far ahead as I can and plan escape paths as I drive.

Fair enough your comment about commonsense and varying speeds as for why I do it,I spent sixteen years in the Territory and have moved to Qld.

I go back at least once a year just to keep my skills at a reasonable level and enjoy the freedom of the open road.

And I will be protesting loudly...I will also em the leader of the CLP as I have known her for over ten years..I'm sure Jodeen will give me a fair hearing from her lefty friend.

[Outbackjack]

Originally Posted by MO

Keepleft I appreciate your reply..it makes sense.

As for me driving to conditions ,I always drive as far ahead as I can and not just as far as the end of the bonnet.

I always scan the sides of roads as far ahead as I can and plan escape paths as I drive.

Fair enough your comment about commonsense and varying speeds as for why I do it,I spent sixteen years in the Territory and have moved to Qld.

I go back at least once a year just to keep my skills at a reasonable level and enjoy the freedom of the open road.

And I will be protesting loudly...I will also em the leader of the CLP as I have known her for over ten years..I'm sure Jodeen will give me a fair hearing from her lefty friend.

Pass my sentiments on to Jodeen for me as well MO. I like her, she makes good sense every time I hear her speak. I dont get the feeling that she is on either side of politics, she just speaks common sense. This country needs more like her!! Cheers.

BTW let us know next time you head back to gods own country. A beer or 3 might be in order. :baby bott

[MO]

Outback...your on.

[nobbystang]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

Ha ha ha.... I can relate to that, when ever I go down to Vic, I really notice all the scared little people gripping their steering wheels with white knuckles shining through.... swinging thier heads around like meercats scanning for, police, speed camera's, red light camera's, radar guns, patrol cars. It's a wonder anybody down there lives past 40.... :hihi:

95 I got my license in Victoria. 99 I shifted away and when I came back in '03 I was astounded at how slow everyone drove. Doing the speed limit I was passing cars!!! In 95, doing the speed limit was considered holding up traffic.

Keepleft, I actually read all of what you said above, it was an awesome read. I normally scan through these and bypass big reads but yours sucked me in. The only thing I'd like to add is overtaking lanes have also increased people driving like a holes. How one car can do 120 just so they don't get passed, then back down to 80 once its ended. Also, I believe people have lost the ability/skill to pass cars unless their is an overtaking lane.

One last thought, these pollies want pay increases to attract a better quality of politician?? What happens to the ones there, they get a pay rise as well, so infact get payed more for doing bugger all.

[GasoLane]

This is long 'cause I've been savin' them up

Originally Posted by EA2BA

Its going to kill alot of trucking bussiness I think.

The Adel/Darwin railway did that.

Originally Posted by EA2BA

You mean most trucks have speed limit signs on them

Nope, most trucks ARE speed limited. Anyway the only ones that would run fast up there are the ones that really like changing tyres.

Originally Posted by 05MkIIFutura

My point was that if the speed restrictions are imposed it will not change the development of our future models (ie Ford wont go changing the final drive ratios in the Falcon because of it), they arent developed with 160km/h NT cruising as a priority.

I think you'll find that OH&S laws prevent testers from going faster than 130kmh

[xr8svo]

When is the government going to realise that requiring better training before getting a licence is going to do a lot more for road toll than lowering speed limits. I also beleive that everybody should have to pass a driving test every 5 or so years to keep their licence just to prove that they are capable of driving and actually know the road rules. The problem is less about bad drivers and more about ignorant drivers in the sence that they dream along while they drive and pay no attention to what is hapening around and just seem to watch the car in front instead of 3,4 or more cars in front to the side and behind. Until some form of driver training is made manditory i honestly dont think that the road tolls will change much and all the double demerit points and fines will just pour money in the governments coffers.

my 2c

[Outbackjack]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

This is long 'cause I've been savin' them up


The Adel/Darwin railway did that.

Nope, most trucks ARE speed limited. Anyway the only ones that would run fast up there are the ones that really like changing tyres.

I think you'll find that OH&S laws prevent testers from going faster than 130kmh

The Adel/Darwin railway hasnt slowed the road transport situation like every one thought. The trucks up here dont seem to have speed limiters. I have cruised behind many a truck doing 130. I dont think that the testers have read the OH&S rules...

[Dazza XLT]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

This is long 'cause I've been savin' them up
The Adel/Darwin railway did that.

Only for a short time. While I was in Katherine, Northine Freight was getting everything sent on the train. The rail jacked the rates up on them, so they cut a deal with Gulf RTA group. They went out, purchased 15 Trucks, 30 Dollies, and 90 Trailers. On the road again....
We used the rail for a short while, then went back to road transport too.
Way too bloody dear.

Cheers

[OLDFORDNUT]

I just sent this tto the minister,
(Hello,
im very dissapointed in your desision to drop speed limits to 110kmh,thats fine for dirt roads and around towns, but absolutley moronic for the huge distances we travel on our good Hi-ways here in the NT,
this idea will destroy anyone who supports it at the next election and for years to come.
yours sincerly
Nick Young)

[OLDFORDNUT]

My sister has a place in Malak and she says it is the Aborigines dying in droves as always ten to a car on dirt back rd or broken down on Stuart Hiway so lie down on the rd at night to keep warm and trucks and buss;s come around a bend or over a rise and there they are asleep on rd shoulder ,bye bye for a couple of them and it never makes the news so how can the speed limit being lowered change that when most of these deaths happen at less than a 110kmh anyway.

[Outbackjack]

Originally Posted by nicholas

My sister has a place in Malak and she says it is the Aborigines dying in droves as always ten to a car on dirt back rd or broken down on Stuart Hiway so lie down on the rd at night to keep warm and trucks and buss;s come around a bend or over a rise and there they are asleep on rd shoulder ,bye bye for a couple of them and it never makes the news so how can the speed limit being lowered change that when most of these deaths happen at less than a 110kmh anyway.

Your sister is correct...... They lie down on the railway tracks as well. Not un common for one to be run over by the Ghan. Its the drivers of the trains that I feel sorry for.

[MO]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

This is long 'cause I've been savin' them up


The Adel/Darwin railway did that.

Nope, most trucks ARE speed limited. Anyway the only ones that would run fast up there are the ones that really like changing tyres.

I think you'll find that OH&S laws prevent testers from going faster than 130kmh

Well this I can dispute and this applies across the board.

1. Porsche back in 2002/3? requested St John ambulance for everyone of the runs and then complained that because St John could'nt keep up they should get faster ambulances.
The paramedics were driving ford/holden wagons.

2. A mate of mine used to do tyre testing for various manufacturers..now given that some tyres being tested were rated at the top of the range..I don't think oh&s has anything to do with it nor does 130kph.

[OLDFORDNUT]

i just recieved this reply from my email sent last week,
////////////////////////////


Dear Nick

On behalf of the Hon Delia Lawrie MLA, Minister for
Infrastructure and
Transport, I acknowledge receipt of your email dated 07
October 2006, regarding
road safety.

The Government is considering a number of options put
forward in a comprehensive
report by the Road Safety Taskforce to address our road
safety culture.

Currently, the Territory has the highest road toll per
capita in the country.
Road users are three times more likely to be killed on a
Northern Territory road
than elsewhere in Australia. Unfortunately the high levels
of drink driving,
not wearing seats belts, speeding and other compliance
issues such as running
red lights are all contributing to our road toll.

The Government has an obligation to look at all possible
options and suggestions
in seeking to reduce the carnage on our roads. No decisions
have been made.

The taskforce report will be released to the public before
any decisions are
made.

On behalf of Minister Lawrie, thank you again for your
comments on road safety.

Yours sincerely


Louise Scanlan
Ministerial Assistant to
The Hon Delia Lawrie MLA
Minister for Planning and Lands
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Minister for Family and Community Services
Minister for Multicultural Affairs