Higher speed limits in U.S. experiment a success

[Jarred]

the autobahn!

people actually know how to drive on the highway and super high speeds and respect other drivers, it's just as safe as our roads at 100kph!

I don't think there would be much point in raising suburban freeway speeds, esp not during the day. Maybe an offpeak increase to 110 say, on the eastern freeway could work, but would probably cause more trouble than it's worth.

I deffo think there are a number of parts on the hume that could be 120, 130 kph limited. pity my diesel doesn't like going that fast!

[GoLfMan]

better driver education, mandatory defensive driving courses and the like should be funded instead of more revenue raising camera's. I just dont get it. People in Europe have to learn about cars and do defensive driving courses before they even get close to their licence! In Australia, we take some $hitty computer test and drive like 5km's with an instructor and you get it. Its bollocks

140km'h on the Hume feels like your standing still. The only places where 110 should be necessary are the single lane sections!

[gareth_oau]

what about electronic speed signs that actually change according to road and weather conditions.

a road thats limited to 60kph on peak hour monday morning (or even reduced to 40 if it pissing with rain) could be good for 100 on a balmy 4am sunday morning?

[Rocket36]

Just to be clear Spyda, they're crashes... Not accidents.

[Blitzen]

Just to be clear Spyda, they're crashes... Not accidents.

No, its an accident when I have one, its a crash when someone else has one...

[Preen59]

You guys shouldn't be so harsh on the Gov't's in the States.. In many cases they do a much better job and have more common sense than the monkeys that inevitably get elected here..


Speaking from my recent experience in Southern California.. They have 55 and 60 MPH speed limits on some roads in the towns themselves, if it's a straight through thoroughfare. 70mph limits common place on divided roads. They design the road and transport systems to accommodate what they will need in the next 15 to 20 years, not wait until it's over congested and make a half arsed attempt at fixing it (spending WAY too much money in the process).

Drivers are also much more courteous in general and use their heads. They don't cut people off and speed up when you go past them on the freeway etc etc.

Australia could do a lot for itself by taking a look at the way they do a lot of things over there.. A hell of a lot.

[Psyk]

Interesting article about increasing the speed limits:

http://www.theage.com.au/drive/motor-news/is-speed-really-a-killer-20091030-ho9e.html

[Buller_Scott]

You guys shouldn't be so harsh on the Gov't's in the States.. In many cases they do a much better job and have more common sense than the monkeys that inevitably get elected here..


Speaking from my recent experience in Southern California.. They have 55 and 60 MPH speed limits on some roads in the towns themselves, if it's a straight through thoroughfare. 70mph limits common place on divided roads. They design the road and transport systems to accommodate what they will need in the next 15 to 20 years, not wait until it's over congested and make a half arsed attempt at fixing it (spending WAY too much money in the process).

Drivers are also much more courteous in general and use their heads. They don't cut people off and speed up when you go past them on the freeway etc etc.

Australia could do a lot for itself by taking a look at the way they do a lot of things over there.. A hell of a lot.

you mean like melbourne?

4AM. total silence...... stop! what's going on? oh.... there's no perpendicular traffic, but you're stopped on hoddle street because apparently thats called 'bleeding' traffic onto the freeway.... efking awesome..

which, melburnians, is why it will take 26 mins and 28 secs for you to travel from the north side of the carlton cemetary, to piedimonte's supermarlet, which is 3 kms at most, straight line, during peak hr.

because its some wise "bleeding" isht.

[gareth_oau]

On saturday night, I was driving on a 4 lane (2 each way) major road, with a large island down the middle. it was farmland on one side and commercial development on the other. now its 11pm saturday night, so nobody was open for buisiness.

i was driving along at the sign-posted 70kph and a guy cruised past me at perhaps 76-77kph (the only other car to be seen).

moments later, out of nowhere, an unmarked cop car screamed up behind the other car and pulled him over.

glad our cops were doing the right thing and removing this risk to our society from our roads!!!

Imagine the cargage that could have been caused by his irresponsible behaviour????

[jettapilot]

I've just driven up the coast to Coffs Harbour and back.

Some of that road is absolutely deadly, I believe because it's single lane in places and impatient drivers have to pass the trucks that might be moving at only 90kmh!

I need my license to work and so I drive at the limit, usually on cruise control(oh, OK sometimes a little over!) and on this run up the coast I felt like I was the only one observing the limit. Every other vehicle would come up behind and pass at the first opportunity. Trucks included!

The speed limits are probably too slow now on the two-lane good new roads and still too fast on the old single-lane sections. There are still plenty of poor roads in NSW that should be slowed down.

[GTom]

what about electronic speed signs that actually change according to road and weather conditions.

a road thats limited to 60kph on peak hour monday morning (or even reduced to 40 if it pissing with rain) could be good for 100 on a balmy 4am sunday morning?

M4 (Sydney) already does this however it's limited to max 90km/h... Changes to about 70 automatically once it senses increased traffic .. Would prove costly to install everywhere in sydney (RTA would link it back to their base)

can cost up to $30k (if not more) to install school zone flashing signs for the above reason

[Preen59]

I've just driven up the coast to Coffs Harbour and back.

Some of that road is absolutely deadly, I believe because it's single lane in places and impatient drivers have to pass the trucks that might be moving at only 90kmh!

I need my license to work and so I drive at the limit, usually on cruise control(oh, OK sometimes a little over!) and on this run up the coast I felt like I was the only one observing the limit. Every other vehicle would come up behind and pass at the first opportunity. Trucks included!

The speed limits are probably too slow now on the two-lane good new roads and still too fast on the old single-lane sections. There are still plenty of poor roads in NSW that should be slowed down.

Sorry i have to disagree (constructively).

Yes, to a small extent the roads are to blame, but most of the issues are cause by poor driver skill and driver attitude. I don't believe roads should be slowed down, i believe people should be taught (BY SOMEONE THAT KNOWS HOW TO!!) how to drive better. And i don't mean be able to drive closer to the limit of adhesion, i mean just simply drive properly.

M4 (Sydney) already does this however it's limited to max 90km/h... Changes to about 70 automatically once it senses increased traffic ..

Yeah and that causes its own problems (Traffic jams), but in the defense of the variable speed limit, that's mainly because the roads aren't up to the traffic volumes they are subject to.

[GTom]

Yeah and that causes its own problems (Traffic jams), but in the defense of the variable speed limit, that's mainly because the roads aren't up to the traffic volumes they are subject to.

Like it or not on congested roads such as the M4 where the Variable speed signs are used during Peak hours it actually moves the traffic faster and alot safer, and helps alleviate traffic jams.

[Blitzen]

On saturday night, I was driving on a 4 lane (2 each way) major road, with a large island down the middle. it was farmland on one side and commercial development on the other. now its 11pm saturday night, so nobody was open for buisiness.

i was driving along at the sign-posted 70kph and a guy cruised past me at perhaps 76-77kph (the only other car to be seen).

moments later, out of nowhere, an unmarked cop car screamed up behind the other car and pulled him over.

glad our cops were doing the right thing and removing this risk to our society from our roads!!!

Imagine the cargage that could have been caused by his irresponsible behaviour????

This coming from the same state that got rid of V8 police cars because they were seen as too dangerous!!

Like it or not on congested roads such as the M4 where the Variable speed signs are used during Peak hours it actually moves the traffic faster and alot safer, and helps alleviate traffic jams.

I disagree. I thing variable speed limits are a waste of time and add to congestion. Too many times I have seen lower speed limits cause traffic back ups, epecially on the Western Ring Road in Melbourne, and on the M2/M4/M7 in Sydney. I think they are a waste of time, and speed limits should be raised on each of these roads to 130KM/H, the Hume and, Ring Road, M4/M7 especially.

[GTom]

I disagree. I thing variable speed limits are a waste of time and add to congestion. Too many times I have seen lower speed limits cause traffic back ups, epecially on the Western Ring Road in Melbourne, and on the M2/M4/M7 in Sydney. I think they are a waste of time, and speed limits should be raised on each of these roads to 130KM/H, the Hume and, Ring Road, M4/M7 especially.

Yes I agree raising the speed limit on non congested roads would help, however it is a common misconception that raising the speed limit in high congestion (again such as the M4 between parramatta rd and silverwater rd where the variable speed is used) does nothing to help you to get to your destination faster. (Although I disagree with putting in a 70 speed limit at the M2 tunnel should at least be 80 possibly 90). Sure there might be a few vehicles that get a clean run, however you must look at the traffic as what is good for all not just a few.

long story short tip a 2L bottle of water up side down this mimics a body of large traffic moving on the road network, measure the time it takes to empty the whole bottle. now do the same except lower the speed at which the liquid comes out so that you get a steady stream of water coming out you'll find that the bottle will be emptied faster.

It's also safer as going back to the bottle scenario at the end or each phase this is the spot most likely having the rear end collisions as you've got liquid/vehicles moving at x km/h and all of the sudden they need to wipe that speed off.

The above happens when the road infrastructure is not sufficient enough to cope with the massive amounts of traffic. The SCATS system used and developed by/for the RTA tries to do the same thing using different phases and timings. Next time you're sitting at a red light time yourself it should be no longer than or close to 2.5 minutes before you get a green light. the 2.5 minutes is split up on all section of the road depending on how many vehicles use the road, the system is also smart enough is if it sees the need to keep a green for longer that is allocated at the expense of another side then it will.

Anyways started going off track there, I could rant on forever....