More lowering speed limits coming right up

[Bird]

I know what they are trying to do and commend them for that as there are roads with 6-8 changes of limits in a few klms....
But all they are going to do is lower speed limits, piss more people off, and make more money on speed cameras.. Ahhhhhhhhh now I see why they are doing it...

As for a 30Kph limit, **** the cyclists. Traffic in the CBD never moves 40kph anyway during the day... Gee, you'd be lucky to hit 10...

Confusing speed limits will be axed at dozens of roads across Victoria, Roads Minister Terry Mulder has announced.

There will be fewer speed zones for drivers, with 70km/h and 90km/h to be phased out. Sign clutter will be reduced on busy roads.

80km/h buffer zones set up to ease the transition between 60km/h and 100km/h zones will also be phased out.

Mr Mulder's comments come following a review of speed limits by VicRoads, which has been looking at simplifying the number of speed limits.

More than 600 submissions were received from the public for the review, with 165 suggesting speed limits at a location be lowered and 75 saying permanent 40km/h school zones around schools were unnecessary.

The review, which was announced in August last year, looked at ways to reduce the number of speed limit changes, and the speed limits around schools and shopping centres.

The Melbourne City Council has said it will introduce a blanket 40km/h speed limit for all vehicles in the CBD. Other inner-city councils have been seeking similar limits.

There have also been calls by cycling advocates for the speed limit on city streets to be dropped to 30km/h to improve safety and increase the number of people choosing cycling as their preferred mode of transport. WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT DONT CYCLE?

[Alan Loy]

I know I'm a grumpy old bastard but this drives me crazy. 

Cars are safer than they have ever been, the road toll is continuing to fall and yet we reduce speed limits, narrow roads and build all sorts of road obstacles.

Where will it end?

[dungee]

Geez, I cycle to work most days, if they reduce the speed to 30k's I'll be getting tickets everyday.  It's a bit silly.

[UIZ733]

Cars are safer than they have ever been, the road toll is continuing to fall and yet we reduce speed limits, narrow roads and build all sorts of road obstacles.

Cars migh be safer etc, however is is a shame about the brainless twits behind the wheel. If drugs were killing/maiming and ruining the lives of as many people as selfish arrogant drivers are, all roads would be immediately closed and vehicles impounded. I feel for the unfortunate ambos and police who have to deal with this all to frequently.

[Alan Loy]

As I ride a motorbike into the CBD of Melbourne every day I am clearly not risk adverse.

Having said that I am unconvinced that the continuing targeting of speed..........

I just ran out of interest in arguing this issue.  If you think that reducing average speeds is a good idea I doubt that I will change your mind.

I guess we all have opinions

Cheers

[lostindust]

I'll never get anywhere on time in Melbourne CBD...oh wait, I never do...

Besides which @30, I would probably get booked at the other side of the lights.

[britts]

Having said that I am unconvinced that the continuing targeting of speed..........

I just ran out of interest in arguing this issue.  If you think that reducing average speeds is a good idea I doubt that I will change your mind.

I guess we all have opinions

X2

[dazzler]

As I ride a motorbike into the CBD of Melbourne every day I am clearly not risk adverse.

Having said that I am unconvinced that the continuing targeting of speed..........

I just ran out of interest in arguing this issue.  If you think that reducing average speeds is a good idea I doubt that I will change your mind.

I guess we all have opinions

Cheers

Your right Alan.  I have given up as well.  I was an accident investigator and got tired of bashing my head against a brick wall trying to explain road safety to people with no experience or qualifications. 

Its really not worth the ulcer 

[Mrs smith]

IMO the road toll figure is another con just like carbon tax, they neglect to tell us how more drivers on the road than the year before when telling us the numbers.
Gives em justification. 
 

[BigJules]

The road till in NSW has gone from over 1300 in the 70s to around 300 these days. Given how much more traffic there is, how many more trips, more vehicles and more Victorians driving through our state how much better could it reasonably get? 

What of the single vehicle fatalities which are suspected of being suicide?

[bobnrob]

The road till in NSW has gone from over 1300 in the 70s to around 300 these days. Given how much more traffic there is, how many more trips, more vehicles and more Victorians driving through our state how much better could it reasonably get? 

What of the single vehicle fatalities which are suspected of being suicide?

You forgot to include Canberrans BJ 

Was only reading the stats a couple of days ago - NSW RTA's about to release (yet another) report.
Yes, fatalities have seriously dropped, but critical injury is on the rise. Leaving me to draw a possible explanation that where people were being killed in accidents, all the safety features are saving us...but at a cost of quality of life!

About speed changes...something I've never seen happen before.
Nth bound entering into Batemans Bay (at the Council Workyards) use to be 60. They've recently changed the speed to 70. That's right, they RAISED the speed 

[krisandkev]

It was very noticeable when we were driving in NT for 6 weeks recently how much we could relax and concentrate on driving!  I mean because of the 130 on some roads and 110 limit on most you were not continually looking at the speedo.  (Plus the roads are so much better then in Qld.) Very noticeable when we came back into Qld via the Plenty and on the first little hill there was a warning sign to warn of a crest and the speed went from 100, to 60 just for the crest.  The road was nice and wide on the crest, wide enough to accommodate trucks, so I could not see why the big speed restriction.  So here we were again, having to constantly look down at the speedo and making sure we did not miss any of the speed signs.   Kevin

[Bird]

What of the single vehicle fatalities which are suspected of being suicide?

One of the blokes on Aus.Motorcycles came to melbourne several years ago for the GP... goes something like this
They flew in from WA and hired a car, which they ended up with a Pajero or Patrol from memory.
they were heading down past Cranny when some junkie having an arguement with his missus decided he was going to kill them all inc kids in the car...
Said junkie swerved into oncoming traffic, which Big Ian was heading down in his hire car got wiped out, as did 3 others...

Ambo's, fireys, cops, helicopter flights to hospital... the cops said all they could do was charge with manner dangerous, as he ahd already lost his license for several years in the past, and send him on his way... he had tried it before too. court was a waste of time the cops said.

[dazzler]

So here we were again, having to constantly look down at the speedo and making sure we did not miss any of the speed signs.   Kevin

Yep shes a hard one alright.  Sometimes I concentrate SOOOO hard on this I faint.  Very dangerous! 

    

[Variflex]

Then take into account the regulation that stipulates a vehicles spedo must have a tolerance of -4% to 0% meaning most people are driving 4% below the prescribed speed limit, Hope that makes sense,

[Bird]

Then take into account the regulation that stipulates a vehicles spedo must have a tolerance of -4% to 0% meaning most people are driving 4% below the prescribed speed limit

it makes sense to everyone apart from the Victorian Gov, who make their rules and dont give a flying fark about the ADR's.