Northern Territory, 1 January 2007, No more (//)

Keepleft · 01-01-2007, 12:37 PM

This date sees NT's new rural default 110km/h and signposted 130km/h speed restrictions take effect, replacing the (//) allowance.

To date, the opposition CLP has stated their intention to re-enact (//).

I am suggesting they do so only on NT's key safest highways, rather than the previous blanket open methodology. NT locals must remember this restrictive episode of brilliant NT Labour activity come NT election time in two or so years.

Lives saved will only arrive because of the actions now taken against drink and drug offences, not because of the removal of the (//) allowance in totality.

Removal of speed derestriction will worsen on-road behaviour and manner as drivers begin to feel the pinch of new powered police activity, as they react to that. Speed derestriction (//) removal, will result in increased bunching-up of traffic, and hideous overtaking times against road trains, as otherwise safe drivers the day before - are dumbed-down to the level of inner city extreme socialist activist and drug addict.

I'd like to hear from any NT resident ticketed for 'exceeding the speed limit' on a road to which is posted a remaining (//) sign.

Any (//) speed derestriction signs remaining - *must* be removed. If your NT local, and know of a sign, note its EXACT location (address or GPS) and I'll ensure that's it gone. It can ONLY be replaced again on NT's "safest lengths" of road once CLP come to power.

Outbackjack??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPbZ2UrMnc0

**Full Noise** · 01-01-2007, 01:25 PM

Thanks for the post, Keepleft.

Subscribing to thread.

Cheers,

vztrt · 01-01-2007, 05:57 PM

How many people have died on these roads in the past 10 years?

flappist · 01-01-2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

How many people have died on these roads in the past 10 years?

The correct question is:

How many people who were in a motor vehicle that was registered, roadworthy and driven by a licenced driver who was not blind drunk were killed on these roads in the last 10 years?

But unfortunately the answer is not politically correct.....

Focussed · 01-01-2007, 08:51 PM

as an NT resident who frequently travels the stuart highway its going to be interesting sitting on 130 whilst overtaking a road train! going to take a bloody eternity. now how safe is that? mmm...
i also believe that these measures are mere revenue making for the government, as the majority of deaths occur due to drink driving. i would like to know the percentage of those killed on the stuart highway where there were open speed limits.

Keepleft · 01-01-2007, 09:28 PM

NT has recorded its first holiday period road toll, and NT's first 2007 fatality under a now signposted speed-limited Stuart Highway.

A 39 year old woman who died in a crash today on the Stuart Highway south of Alice Springs.

Police mention a tyre blowout.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...1/s1820117.htm

**Full Noise** · 01-01-2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keepleft

A 39 year old woman who died in a crash today on the Stuart Highway south of Alice Springs.

This is very sad news. I hope that the NT government doesn’t try to use this tragedy as some sort of justification for their ridiculous rule change.

**GasoLane** · 01-01-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Focussed

as an NT resident who frequently travels the stuart highway its going to be interesting sitting on 130 whilst overtaking a road train! going to take a bloody eternity. now how safe is that? mmm...

Road trains are (supposed) to be limited to 90-95. So you have at least a 30-35kmh window.

Try doing it down here in another truck that is speed limited to 100.

TEaaron · 01-01-2007, 10:03 PM

I doubt these speed limets will be enforced at most parts any way.

**Full Noise** · 01-01-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDaaron

I doubt these speed limits will be enforced at most parts any way.

A police officer has discretion, however, if there is a law in place, it must be enforced. My bet is that they are going to enforce these new laws with an iron fist.

Focussed · 01-01-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Road trains are (supposed) to be limited to 90-95. So you have at least a 30-35kmh window.

Try doing it down here in another truck that is speed limited to 100.

yeah that sounds great in theory...i have come up behind several road trains sitting on 110kmh & overtaking at 130kmh will take an eternity. oh well, like all laws the pollies introduce we just have to cop it on the chin & get on with life.

vztrt · 02-01-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Road trains are (supposed) to be limited to 90-95. So you have at least a 30-35kmh window.

Try doing it down here in another truck that is speed limited to 100.

You can get around this limited speed by putting smaller tyres on and be able to travel quicker. Or even disconnect the limitter. How many trucks do you see that are limitted pass you doing 120.

**Full Noise** · 02-01-2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

You can get around this limited speed by putting smaller tyres on and be able to travel quicker. Or even disconnect the limitter. How many trucks do you see that are limitted pass you doing 120.

You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about pal.
Just for your information, you’d have to put larger tyres on them to go faster.

xbgs351 · 02-01-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

You can get around this limited speed by putting smaller tyres on and be able to travel quicker. Or even disconnect the limitter. How many trucks do you see that are limitted pass you doing 120.

So your suggesting that at the same revs, the truck will go faster with smaller diameter tyres?

In regards to passing road trains, my advice is to ignore the speed limit. This is what I do in Victoria. There is no way that I'm going to risk my and other peoples lives by spending excessive time on the wrong side of the road and looking at the speedometer rather than my suroundings, just so that I can stay under 125 km/h which is the speed that you lose your license at. I would prefer to risk losing my license than my life.

TwistedEL · 02-01-2007, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

You can get around this limited speed by putting smaller tyres on and be able to travel quicker. Or even disconnect the limitter. How many trucks do you see that are limitted pass you doing 120.

Great advice. Disconnect the limiter and then have the truck taken off the road when a cop sees you speeding. Also as said that would be larger diameter tyres, and that would put the speedo out.

Dazza XLT · 02-01-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbgs351

In regards to passing road trains, my advice is to ignore the speed limit. This is what I do in Victoria. There is no way that I'm going to risk my and other peoples lives by spending excessive time on the wrong side of the road and looking at the speedometer rather than my suroundings, just so that I can stay under 125 km/h which is the speed that you lose your license at. I would prefer to risk losing my license than my life.

Agreed. I get out, and get around as quick as possible.
The less time I spend in the other lane, the better.

There is one trucking company running from Sydney to Darwin. Their rigs comfortably sit over 120kph with 3 trailers on. One was booked between Charleville and Cunnamulla doing 126kph with 3 trailers of steel on last year.
Mind you, they did tip 2 over last year.

My mate runs from Toowoomba to Katherine frequently, and he was pulled over by a Mt Isa police officer for speeding. His speedo said 100, and he was doing 118kph. The officer didn't believe him, so he jumped in the cab and off they went to 100, while his partner followed!
The driver didn't know, and didn't realise either!

Another bloke was pulled up mid last year outside of Bowen. They logged into his onboard computer, and found out that during the night he had hit 128kph.
The driver told me he logged onto the computer with a laptop, and altered a few settings (Buggered if I know, he was off his face when he got here.
The truck used less fuel, and gained speed.
His boss frowned on this behaviour, and he ended up losing his job, as well as copping a fair fine too.
Not really worth it if you ask me!

And no, I am not saying all truckies speed, or rig their limiters. But there sure are a few rogues out there!

Cheers

Darran

vztrt · 02-01-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwistedEL

Great advice. Disconnect the limiter and then have the truck taken off the road when a cop sees you speeding. Also as said that would be larger diameter tyres, and that would put the speedo out.

I never said to disconnect the limiter I said that it gets done. When some of these freight companies ask you to get from the border of Vic to Brisbane overnight what do you think the trucks are doing?

And I stand corrected with the larger tyres.

:

Jayden · 02-01-2007, 04:56 PM

What sort of speed did NT drivers do on these roads before? just out of interest

Would have liked to head that way one day for an unrestricted drive. I imagine anyone traveling at over 150 wont get much miles to the gallon.

TEaaron · 02-01-2007, 05:00 PM

That depends on the car and gearing, with a 2.92 ratio behind a 5 speed you'd be getting alot better mileage @ a higher speed.

Dazza XLT · 02-01-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayden

What sort of speed did NT drivers do on these roads before? just out of interest

Would have liked to head that way one day for an unrestricted drive. I imagine anyone traveling at over 150 wont get much miles to the gallon.

It was discussed in another thread. Most travelled around 130-160kph.
I used to sit on 140kph most of the time, as long as I knew the road.

Cheers

Darran

**GasoLane** · 02-01-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

You can get around this limited speed by putting smaller tyres on and be able to travel quicker. Or even disconnect the limitter. How many trucks do you see that are limitted pass you doing 120.

1# Smaller tyres will make you go S L O W E R if the Computer was set with bigger tyres.

2# Disconnect the limiter and the truck dont go nowhere!

3# Not very many.

MO · 02-01-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayden

What sort of speed did NT drivers do on these roads before? just out of interest

Would have liked to head that way one day for an unrestricted drive. I imagine anyone traveling at over 150 wont get much miles to the gallon.

180/220 when I lived there and fuel was not a problem.

AUII XR8 ..Tennant Creek to the Alice 3 and a half hours taking it steady for the 510 ks..still had a quarter of a tank at The Alice.

Keepleft · 04-01-2007, 02:23 AM

http://ntnews.news.com.au/common/sto...E13569,00.html

And fatigue will indeed figure, in a greater number of events:
http://ntnews.news.com.au/common/sto...E13569,00.html

What can one expect from a former ABC employee?

Green X · 04-01-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote
“It was discussed in another thread. Most travelled around 130-160kph.
I used to sit on 140kph most of the time, as long as I knew the road.”

Exactly just cause you have a open speed limit it doesn’t mean you have to drive flat out every where you go, it gives you the option to travel at the speed you feel comftable travelling at.

That’s one thing the road safety groups fail to understand.

When I travel in northern WA I sit on between 120 to 140km/h, like ****** I am going to put along at 110 between Billabong road house and Exmouth you will get overtaken buy people towing boats LMAO

Focussed · 04-01-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayden

What sort of speed did NT drivers do on these roads before? just out of interest

Would have liked to head that way one day for an unrestricted drive. I imagine anyone traveling at over 150 wont get much miles to the gallon.

I go down to alice from darwin for work at least 3 times a year in the company 4wd. safe speed in this car is 160kmh.
when I owned my xr8 i would sit on 180kmh when the road conditions allowed it.

MarkAW · 04-01-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

1# Smaller tyres will make you go S L O W E R if the Computer was set with bigger tyres.

2# Disconnect the limiter and the truck dont go nowhere!

3# Not very many.

They don't actually disconnect the limiter - what is done is to by-pass the information from the wheel sensors. A jumper lead between front and rear sensor is supposed to do this. Not 100% sure of the process but this is what was explained to me. I will not elaborate any further.

Keepleft · 04-01-2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green X

When I travel in northern WA I sit on between 120 to 140km/h, like ****** I am going to put along at 110 between Billabong road house and Exmouth you will get overtaken buy people towing boats LMAO

And this is one of the problems with posting a speed limit that is deemed 'slow' by the populace, it creates "credibility" problems with the particular speed-limit, and its enforcement.

WA's previous Liberal Transport Minister once advised that he'd sent a 'copple of coppers' up around the Kimberly region to do a few 'quite' speed checks, not to book people, and to come back to him with suggestions for an appropiate 'speed-limit', he offered 130km/h as a suggestion.

I in advocacy turn suggested (//), - posted as a linear allowance, rather than a geographical NT like application. Argued that to do so would be safer etc. Politically, he'd not go at that, but could accept it personally.

Both he, and a current Labour Minister have the same 'political' feel of the speed limit and allowance issue. Strong resistance in WA to higher limits or allowance, comes about, to quote a current ALP person; "from the road safety nazis all congregated around the Perth region, the south".

"Both he (the liberal guy) and I - both drive north to our homes on xx day of the week, we'll see each other, wave and drive at up to 140km/h and its perfectly safe. It's sad really, but its only because of politics that we can't say what we should".

Now, there are some good, progressive people in Australian government agencies, and even a couple of notable academics, but they are well and truely put in place.

Only a determined STATE or TERRITORY party-political 'change of power' can possibly create reasonable speed limits, or allowances. Accepting however that for 40 odd years now the Commonwealth transport agencies have been working on development and control of a/the 'national road code', government in, government out.

Any new elected MP is inundated with agency correspondnece and mountains of paper. This is deliberate, not a conspiracy, its just that 'academic' public servants are adept at doing this naturally.

True 'power' seems to reside with the public servants. Perhaps why the Prime Minisiter 'reminded' at a public speaking thingy a few months ago, that; "the only enforceable law is that passed by parliament". A reference in some respects to agency 'policies', and 'assumptions'.

See? They do listen, sometimes:-)

When federal Labour come to power, they too will, again, suffer the same old employees. Shuffle them sure, but . . .

People wishing to be elected need to be of strong character in these times. They need to see through much of the agency bullshit that they will come under. That is all aside from the systematic political game play done almost daily in parliaments.

What a waste.

xbgs351 · 04-01-2007, 04:10 PM

So when is the next NT election?

MarkAW · 04-01-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keepleft

True 'power' seems to reside with the public servants. Perhaps why the Prime Minisiter 'reminded' at a public speaking thingy a few months ago, that; "the only enforceable law is that passed by parliament". A reference in some respects to agency 'policies', and 'assumptions'.

KL are you refering to the role of the RTA in NSW? Over the past 10 years this dept. seems to have gone from being a paper shuffler of regos and the like to a quasi enforcement agency (which I truely dislike). Another one is WorkCover who have changed the laws like wouldn'y believe.

Whilst virtually every other form of Gov. Trading Enterprize (GTE) reliquished the role of "Authority" (i work for a GTE for energy) the RTA just seemed to get worse - resulting in jack booted storm troopers called inspectors!

As an ex plant mech where I also used to hold an RTA vehicle inspection qualification, I do see a large number of vehicle on the road which shouldn't be there, but I do believe that the only true enforcement agency should be the Police. I'm not sure that I would (as a car driver) pull over for some jackass with purple flashing light.

**GasoLane** · 04-01-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkAW

They don't actually disconnect the limiter - what is done is to by-pass the information from the wheel sensors. A jumper lead between front and rear sensor is supposed to do this. Not 100% sure of the process but this is what was explained to me. I will not elaborate any further.

It's called a "wire" and it goes on top of the gearbox.