Best states to drive in

[Tony_Mitchell_1983]

After spending a couple of weeks traveling NZ from top to bottom last year, it was very disappointing to come back to Queensland roads.

I think the speed cameras here are a joke and the roads are a disgrace. In NZ, if a road needs repairing, they relay a 20m section, not fill the hole with **** that sinks a day later.

And the only pot hole I saw was in Christchurch, which had buildings laying in the middle of the road, so I forgave them for that.

[team_v]

After spending a couple of weeks traveling NZ from top to bottom last year, it was very disappointing to come back to Queensland roads.

I think the speed cameras here are a joke and the roads are a disgrace. In NZ, if a road needs repairing, they relay a 20m section, not fill the hole with **** that sinks a day later.

And the only pot hole I saw was in Christchurch, which had buildings laying in the middle of the road, so I forgave them for that.

I can echo this sentiment.
When i was ther last year, they got a piss load of rain come down causing land slides and flooding.
The road repair guys were out in teh rain at night repairing potholes and clearing the rockfalls.

In QLD you actually have to call up and complain to some govvy employee and then it takes 2 weeks and 5 guys to get the pothole filled in with ashfalt which washes away in 2 weeks time.

I did not see one speed camera while i was in NZ and i only saw 2 police cars.
1 was watching a guy herding his sheep down the highway and hte other was in Christchurch on the beat.

[brimway]

Qld wins

By far the worst roads are in my home state of Qld. Ridiculous speed limits and enforcement that is beyond a joke.

What amazes me is the statement by police after a holiday/long weekend regarding the road toll. If the toll is down, they congratulate themselves taking full credit. However if the toll is up, they berate the poor long suffering, over-taxed motorist and accuse us of ignoring road rules (mainly speed limits).

A bit one-sided, don't you think?

[Corey_R]

I've had this argument with a whole bunch of QLD drivers. And yet, every single one of them has changed their minds after coming to visit me and witness the roads in Sydney. (Not Sydney City, they get plenty of money.... more out west).

One example - you guys are whinging about them only filling a small section instead of a 20m relay like they do in NZ, you guys are LUCKY! In NSW they've been taking to just removing the ashphlat layer, leaving the concrete base, and then putting ashpalt "ramps" on the four edges of the section removed. (it's kinda hard to explain... just imagine a car sized "white hole" in the middle of a lane, with each side of that hole having a small diagnonal ramp to join the depth of the concrete to the "regular road surface"). It's bad enough driving over that when you're in a car, but I feel even worse for the poor motorbike riders who either need to move to another lane, the edge of the lane, or risk their bike getting airborne on the other side! Don't just think this only happens in quiet areas. That is Parramatta and Victoria Rd - two of the busiest roads in Australia!

[team_v]

I've had this argument with a whole bunch of QLD drivers. And yet, every single one of them has changed their minds after coming to visit me and witness the roads in Sydney. (Not Sydney City, they get plenty of money.... more out west).

One example - you guys are whinging about them only filling a small section instead of a 20m relay like they do in NZ, you guys are LUCKY! In NSW they've been taking to just removing the ashphlat layer, leaving the concrete base, and then putting ashpalt "ramps" on the four edges of the section removed. (it's kinda hard to explain... just imagine a car sized "white hole" in the middle of a lane, with each side of that hole having a small diagnonal ramp to join the depth of the concrete to the "regular road surface"). It's bad enough driving over that when you're in a car, but I feel even worse for the poor motorbike riders who either need to move to another lane, the edge of the lane, or risk their bike getting airborne on the other side! Don't just think this only happens in quiet areas. That is Parramatta and Victoria Rd - two of the busiest roads in Australia!

We get that sort of stuff here too Corey.
It only happens when they have a big-ish section of road to rip up though and half the time they don't even bother with the ashphalt ramps.


At least your state has warning signs for mounted speed camera's.
We get warning signs in area's where they don't actually have any mounted camera's and we also have the unmarked radar vans/utes/hatch's

[Corey_R]

Hehe - the problem is in NSW, they do that ramp stuff and then just leave it!
QLD don't really have an excuse for their bad roads though, because so much of the NSW GST goes up to you guys!


Yeah - the speed camera sitaution in QLD and VIC is silly. They did reintroduce unmarked mobile speed cameras in NSW about 6 months ago. But they've recently changed this to have the vehicles "brightly marked" and a warning sign 80m (50m?) in front of the vehicle.

[sssstew]

agreed with the comments here re QLD speed cameras. Ive never seen such sneeky, under hand methods as to what the QLD police use, they hide as much as possible, use handheld guns so you dont know if they are pointing at you or not, and generally are very devious and sly. There is no open ness or visibility, its just try and catch as many as possible. I do sometimes think this might work a little because you never know where they will be or what they will be in so now ive given up and drive at the speed limit everywhere urban and motorways in QLD because i cant afford the ticket, so in this respect it works but its the constant worry of being caught which is not nice. You cant go out and enjoy a road.

[Mr Messy]

NSW has some pretty awesome roads, you just have to chance your luck.
There are some excellent driving roads near Sydney, such as the Bells Line between Richmond and Lithgow, Putty Road between Richmond and Cessnock, Old Pacific Highway between Hornsby and Gosford, Razorback near Picton and the Royal National Park Roads (McKell Ave, Lady Wakehurst Dr, Sir Bertram Stevens Dr and Rawson Rd).

Cops could be anywhere though, and they don't tolerate hooning.

[Ideo]

The best driving I have ever had is in the UK, and in particular, Scotland. So many stunning roads. I was only in a 1.6 Astra but the road out the Isle of Skye, and the roads in the highlands, are just amazing. Sensible approach to speed as well - 85-90mph on a motorway before they start to book you and things like that.

NSW is ok - gone past HWP cars at 15 or so over on roads with higher speed limits and they generally aren't too concerned.

[Dubious]

I can echo this sentiment.
I did not see one speed camera while i was in NZ and i only saw 2 police cars.
1 was watching a guy herding his sheep down the highway and hte other was in Christchurch on the beat.

Hmm I beg to differ that traffic enforcement is so laid back. About 10 years ago the NZ Police imported a lot of Victoria's "Speed Kills" rhetoric. We even had Aussie road safety ads shown in NZ for a while, and they were heavily into the blood and gore TV ad campaigns for several years until they decided the audience had become desensitised to it.

Speed cameras were brought in around 10 years ago as well - initially they were signposted "Speed Camera Area", but then Auntie Helen changed the legislation and the signs were removed. Only a few of the fixed cameras are actually operational at any one time though - you can tell by looking at them if the orange flash is installed or not. I believe there's about 8-10 in Auckland, not sure about other cities.

You also see the occasional inconspicuous-looking L300 vans with tinted windows parked alongside main roads and major motorways collecting revenue. The "good" thing I guess about speed cameras in NZ is that you only pay a fine.. demerits are only accrued when a cop physically issues the ticket.