Victoria bans trucks in the right hand lane on freeways

[Rocket36]

which group of people Rocket.....

Huh? What does that mean?

[edit] never mind... I don't want to argue about something that isn't even the main topic of the thread.

[Tim]

You obviously don't realise that this country's freight always used to be on rail...

The infrastructure is (or was) there. It just hasn't been maintained.

Previous generations used rail freight/transport because it was the only option. That does not mean it is the most cost effective. You are the one that mentioned that money needs to be spend on infrastructure not me. Im just pointing out the return on dollars spent in this country is never great.

In Victoria our rail network has actually decreased since the end of WW2 which interestingly is when a lot of major roads were finally sealed.

Again im not against rail freight so there is no point arguing that point with you. What I said was that it will have no bearing on congestion. So highlighting the same point repeatedly is useless. If you disagree with me then explain why you think getting trucks off the road will improve congestion and safety which were the two key reasons given for the law change.

[Jayse]

Huh? What does that mean?

[edit] never mind... I don't want to argue about something that isn't even the main topic of the thread.

Unions... but you're right. Would be a major deal if the majority of frieght was taken away from trucks and their drivers.
Back on topic: I reckon it's a great idea...especially on the WG FWY and going over the bridge!

[gavs]

Well said Tim.

Echoing another post, when I was in England visiting family, my uncle was explaining that not only are trucks banned from the right lane on a freeway, but can be heavily fined if they are caught there, something that the copius amounts of traffic cameras can easily pick up!

My biggest gripe is when a truckie will tailgate you consistantly in the right lane, getting agro for you not moving over when their truck, by law, has to have an ecu controlled 100 kph speed limiter installed, and you are already doing 110. Then you hit a hill and flog head truckie decides that he's going to try and overtake the B double doing the right thing and sitting in the left lane!

Anyone who drives from bendigo to Melb along the Calder will know which hills I'm talking about....

Jayse, unfortunately if you read the article, the big truck bottleneck, being the West Gate Bridge, is going to be exempt, so they can still sit 4 wide, doing 25kph up the bridge, then tailgate the people in front alllll the way down again. Just reinforcing that the fat bald idiot that is the Victorian Roads Minister, once again is so far out of touch with the reality on our roads it's not funny. 4 lanes city bound, coming off the bridge, then all the trucks have to try and negotiate the schamozzle that is now leading into the burnley tunnel/Montague street/Kings way etc, all the while having to keep to the left hand lanes!

Minister, you are an idiot....

[Hooligan]

Both trucks and cars have to be banned from the right lane
and should ONLY be used for overtaking.
Drivers of both types of vehicles can be held negligent for iresponsible driving
it's certain drivers that are the problem here not the type of vehicle they drive

[Buller_Scott]

i'm with hooligan on this one.

it's soooooo frustrating to have a trail of traffic heading up a hill with an overtaking lane on the way back from buller, only to have an ******* in a fully loaded toyota kluger or mitsu overlander move into the right hand lane in his pathetic attempt to overtake the cars in the left hand lane, using the WHOLE length of the overtaking lane to overtake one car.

meanwhile, im sitting right behind him, oodles of torque ready to just get up the frickin hill, frustrated by mr. no-clue and the world's willingness to allow a jackass like that to pro-create despite being so bloody oblivious and idiotic.

the only redeeming thing in those situations is the knowledge that maybe a good smash might learn him some frickin common sense.

[GoLfMan]

Sigh.

Yet another band aid that skirts the REAL issue on our roads, that of a LACK of driver training.

They can reduce speed limits, up the driver age, ban people from the right lane, legislate this and that. But in the end, if you have underconfident, inexperienced drivers with little to no REAL driver training then its all moot!

Why can they not see that it is too easy to get a licence in Australia. Hell when I was going for my P's people were there with TRANSLATORS getting their licence. Not being racist here, but our roadsigns and rules are written in english and some things can get lost in translation.

Also, a driver test that you just drive like a granny, park the car and observe speed limits is not a test. I read an article the other day where the parents of road accent victims were all rallying for better driver training.

What can't the Gov't get! Why can't they legislate something thats useful for once!

[brad]

That "3 lane - no truck on the right" rule is pretty much what they have been running in the UK for decades. It works well and helps with traffic flow

On my daily commute to/from Campbelltown it is generally a truck in the right lane holding up the show. I wish they'd introduce it for 2 lanes.

[STV4SYT]

Actually i was thinking inside my helmet this morning on the freeway to work (Riding unitl the new car arrives now).

Why bother introducing new laws, when there are already laws in place that arent being enforced....


Did have 1 truck out in the rght lane around eastlink and there were no cars anywhere near him in any of the inner lanes.

There was also a Falcon holding up about 10 cars and doing i reckon around 96-97. THis single car casued about 5 other drivers to go across 3 lanes to the left then back 3 lanes to get past, which is bloody dangerous, but after about the 5th car, the driver realised that maybe thery were holding things up and pulled over.

[Rocket36]

The sooner the human factor is removed from driving the better off commuting will be. No need for traffic lights, no need for speed limits. Automated cars that communicate with each other and the roads they're driving on - can't wait!

[Greg Roles]

Yep, take away ALL civil liberties, fun and freedoms and make us robots. Typical thinking from the ACT.

I'll be hacking my autocar if society becomes that nannied.

Back on topic, shame that ban doesn't include vehicles over 2 tons, ie most big arse SUV's.

[Treza360]

Having just spent five weeks in Europe this is quite clear;

Over there car drivers are skilled and courteous. The truck drivers over there seem to be less so. It would seem however they are still miles ahead of the general populace over here. With properly trained drivers with the right attitude motorways are a breeze and with no trucks in the furthest overtaking lane and limited to 90km/h for the most part travel is smooth and relatively stress free.

Over here the truck drivers are the most skilled and courteous. This quite frankly scares the heck out of me. People seem not to have a clue about following distances, merging, lane etiquette and other general common sense and common courtesy. As an entire nation we can't drive.

It's a pathetic state of affairs, but hey as long as the governments keep up the "Speed Kills" mantra and people keep killing themselves, they'll keep raking in the dollars while ignoring the actual problems.

The truck thing is something that should be adopted nation wide but there are still a stack of other problems that need to be addressed that will actually have an impact. These will reduce government revenues so that won't happen.

Cheers,
Trent

[Preen59]

Well said there, Trent. Every word a word of truth. Even drivers in America sh*t allover the average driver here. Say what you will but it's the truth.

[Hooligan]

This a bull**** excuse to raise revenue whilst using the vote of majority car drivers that can't frigin drive to begin with anyway.

[Buller_Scott]

having not delved too much into the first and second pages, page three is nothing but truth truth truth.

as a nation, we're horrific drivers. indicating AFTER the fact. one blip formula one style indicate/merges. taking up part of the left hand lane because one's scared of oncoming traffic. slowing down to 10kmh without ANY indication because you're trying to find the street that you have to turn into, without any regard for those behind you in a 60kmh zone.

the list goes on and on, and one WOULD get the impression that with their whole ''speed kills'' campaign, the govt is only too happy to let poor drivers kill themselves on our roads through lack of awareness and skill, so long as people continue to get stung for driving 3kmh over the speed limit.

apparently it's okay drive 80kmh in a hundred zone, and 25kmh in a 60 zone, as well as to only indicate AFTER turning corners, but it's horrendously dangerous to drive a 1.4 tsi if you're a 29 year old business woman on her p's (my cousin got stung for $450 driving her husband's car).