By: dallone.ranger
19/08/2009
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demerit points, introduced in most Australian states in 1969.
But Ms Martin said she was forced into acting following the release of damning statistics which found three times as many people were killed on NT roads than elsewhere in Australia, per capita.
One person died and nine were seriously injured every week.
Mr Giles said drink-driving caused far more deaths than open speed limits, while people in the bush suffering the "tyranny of distance" needed to get places as quickly as possible.
"I am aware of the long journeys that we face and the effects of fatigue when driving these vast distances," he said.
The deciding votes for the motion comes down to the NT's two independents, including Gerry Wood who has opposed speed limits in the past. |
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By: unidentifiedbloke
21/08/2009
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"Mr Giles said drink-driving caused far more deaths than open speed limits, while people in the bush suffering the "tyranny of distance" needed to get places as quickly as possible.
"I am aware of the long journeys that we face and the effects of fatigue when driving these vast distances," he said."
If the "tyranny of distance" and the "long journeys" are problems for drivers in the NT; how do drivers in other states (eg Qld and WA) cope with the long distances they travel when they have to cope with a speed limit of only 110km/hr? They seem to manage ok, does Mr Giles think NT drivers aren't up to the standards of drivers interstate?
"including Gerry Wood who has opposed speed limits in the past." I thought Gerry Wood supported open limits? I wonder what he really thinks? |
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By: dallone.ranger
21/08/2009
11:19 am Yahoo! Profile:
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If the "tyranny of distance" and the "long journeys" are problems for drivers in the NT; how do drivers in other states (eg Qld and WA) cope with the long distances they travel when they have to cope with a speed limit of only 110km/hr? They seem to manage ok, does Mr Giles think NT drivers aren't up to the standards of drivers interstate?
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I think it's the opposite Bloke. There are many drivers in the NT who are experienced drivers, and who are experienced at driving over 130.
And I do not necessarily think interstate drivers are coping well with the 110 limit, it's just that they have no choice in the matter.
Also if you take Ab's out of the equation, and drink drivers and deaths in town and cities, I think you'll find that very few people have died because they crashed at over 130. |
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By: unidentifiedbloke
21/08/2009
1:47 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Hi Dallone.
I think you might be right about very few people having died because they crashed because they were traveling faster than 130k. However, not all drivers are experienced or capable enough to handle driving at or faster than 130km/hr and allowing people to have the choice to decide what speed they feel comfortable driving at, doesn't make the roads safer. I don't know how anyone can differentiate between the rednecks and wannabes, and those who are capable of driving safely at speed; hence the need for a speed limit that applies to everyone.
As for the interstate drivers; they might not like the speed limit but it hasn't stopped them traveling long distances safely. If they can do it at 110k/hr, why can't NT drivers do the same distances at 130km/hr? |
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By: dallone.ranger
21/08/2009
2:08 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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As for the interstate drivers; they might not like the speed limit but it hasn't stopped them traveling long distances safely. If they can do it at 110k/hr, why can't NT drivers do the same distances at 130km/hr?
On that point Bloke' I suggest that the roads interstate may not be safer because of the 110 speed limit. Perhaps because they have a thousand fold more aggressive policing of the speed limit than we do, far more speed camera's etc, interstate drivers take chances when they think there are no camera's around.
I also expect that on good rural roads the speed limit goes out the window.
The plan here now is for sections of 'good road' to be opened up to open speeds. I suggest the vast majority of the population will never even pass (going in the other direction) someone doing over 130 on those sections.
I personally would never drive at 130, however I do not like the government saying we can't do so, for no good reason. And I believe the stats support that. |
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By: unidentifiedbloke
22/08/2009
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Hi Dallone,
you make an interesting point about "aggressive policing"; perhaps that is a reason those roads are safe? I think we could do with a greater police presence on our roads in Darwin; I'm sure it would help improve driver behaviour and therefore, safety. In any case, I think sticking to lower speeds is safer than having open speeds.
I think there may be room on some of our "good roads" for higher speeds but allowing everyone to choose any speed they like is too risky. It might be ok for experienced drivers in good cars but there are too many rednecks out there who buy late model cars and think they are able to drive like experts. Look at that skinny brat in last week's paper; he was done for hooning and thinks he is a good driver. Would you like to be anywhere near an immature drop-kick like him if he could choose to drive anyway he felt like or at any speed he wanted? Those sorts of fools are why we need rules and limits. They aren't as clever or as capable as they think they are.
I don't agree that the government has introduced the speed limit for "no good reason". I thought they introduced it to improve safety and the road toll on the roads where the 130km/hr limit has been introduced, has dropped. It might be coincidence or it could be that people have taken notice of the new rule and started to take more care with their driving. I still don't believe that re-introducing open limits will send the right message to drivers. I think it would encourage people to think that open limits means open slather and forget about road rules and sensible behaviour. Perhaps rather than an open limit, a limit of 150? Having a limit may remind drivers that rules etc still apply, even in the middle of nowhere? |
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By: dallone.ranger
22/08/2009
1:16 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Lifting the limit up to 150 for a couple of years might suit some people, and if the road toll on these stretches is unchanged, then maybe take it up to 170. A progressive rise if the results warrant it.
Raising the limit would not encourage poor driving behaviour in my opinion. Even the stupidest rev head knows that higher speed means more care is required. Nobody really wants to die in a fiery vehicle accident. |
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By: dallone.ranger
22/08/2009
5:35 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services have released some statistics on road accidents on the Stuart, Barkly, Victoria and Arnhem Highways from before and since the introduction of the speed limit.
The 130 kilometre per hour speed limit on previously open speed highways was introduced on 01 January 2007. While it was met with and remains subject to apparent debate, there is no argument from the Tri-service.
Grahame Kelly, Assistant Commissioner for Operations said while everyone is entitled to voice their opinion on the matter, speed limits reduce road accidents and the seriousness of them.
âItâs common sense. If people are driving slower, not only are they less likely to have an accident, but if they do, the impact is likely to be less severe.
âThere is no point looking at road toll statistics generally without actually breaking this down to the main highways actually affected by the introduction of the speed limits.
âThe statistics from these sections of Territory roads clearly show a significant reduction in all accidents, whether fatal, serious or no injuries as anyone could predict and logically expect.
âFurther, while other factors may be contributors to a crash such as fatigue, alcohol or not wearing seatbelts, speed still influences the seriousness of the crash.
âOur figures show, in the two years following the introduction of 130km/hr speed limits, there was 25% less fatal accidents, 42% less âhospitalisedâ accidents, 77% less âminor injuryâ accidents and 38% less âno injuryâ accidents.
âOverall, there has been an average of 40% less accidents on those affected stretches of highway since the speed limit was introduced.â Assistant Commissioner Kelly said.
Speed is one of a number of factors contributing to motor vehicle accidents therefore means to reduce speed related crashes is one tool in the toolbox. |
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By: dallone.ranger
22/08/2009
5:42 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Too much trouble getting rid of the rubbish on that post from Police media.
I have to accept the results, however I would like to see 'exactly' where every accident was, as the Stuart Highway runs through Darwin, and then every town to 'Alice and on the border.
And would also like to know the race of each driver, because Ab's are notorious for not wearing seatbelts. |
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By: why_something_wild
22/08/2009
7:21 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| hey stoned ranger cuz you got to acept result you think you are only white man up here and top gun,you got a color problem with black and the other one,oh let me think,that right you are pom pink. |
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By: dallone.ranger
22/08/2009
10:21 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Hey Wildthing, I'm as white as you son. We might be related. Shit, I hope not. |
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By: ill_be_back@rocketmail.com
7/10/2009
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| In the more urbanized eastern states, significantly upgraded driver training & testing protocols would unquestionably reduce the incidence of accidents. If one considers the situation in Germany where autobahns are unrestricted but accidents are rare, however driver training takes a year & testing is moe onerous than a light aircraft licence. I'm not familiar with the NT, but it would appear that German style driver training would not be practical there. |
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By: dallone.ranger
7/10/2009
3:27 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| We certainly do not have anything resembling 'autobhans'. |
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By: unidentifiedbloke
9/10/2009
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| Getting a licence anywhere in Australia is way too easy. More training would be a great idea. Too many idiots are given licences and most people consider it their right to have one. It is really a privilege to have a licence and people should be taking a lot more care on the roads. I doubt we will see any changes in attitudes in the near future though. Pity! |
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By: steve_ropa
9/10/2009
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****Getting a licence anywhere in Australia is way too easy. More training would be a great idea. Too many idiots are given licences and most people consider it their right to have one. It is really a privilege to have a licence and people should be taking a lot more care on the roads. I doubt we will see any changes in attitudes in the near future though. Pity!****
agree, but the subject matter is the ridicules open speed limit in nt. 130kph is too fast for most drivers, and the long open roads in the territory only tempts drivers to break that limit.
it's too easy to become over confident when on nt roads.
on some trips into town (300k)i may only see a handful of others vehicles on the road |
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By: unidentifiedbloke
9/10/2009
10:13 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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"...on some trips into town (300k)i may only see a handful of others vehicles on the road"
So what? If the road is in "autobahn" condition and your car is in perfect nick and you are a great driver and no animals are going to run out in front of you and the few other drivers that you do see are all going to do the right thing; then maybe it would be ok to drive at speeds in excess of 130km/hr. Trouble is that we just can't be guaranteed that those conditions will be met every time. So the compromise is that we NEED to be aware that not everything will be as we want it to be all of the time. Limiting our speed gives us a chance to react to the unexpected.
As the population increases, there will be more people on the road. There will be less room for error. The speed limit will be reduced. Unless there is better training, improved roads and better cars, we will see speed limits reduced on all roads. We are seeing that now in built up areas.
It won't go back to the way it was. Things are changing!!! |
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By: ill_be_back@rocketmail.com
10/10/2009
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Getting a licence anywhere in Australia is way too easy.
We don't even have eyesight tests in Queensland. Apparently a bunch of chinese claimed they were being discriminated against because they couldn't see the test chart !!! One young bloke (who incidentially had written off three cars in two years) told me it wasn't his fault he was chinese and couldn't see very well. |
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By: unidentifiedbloke
4/11/2009
1:33 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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The first 130km/hr sign heading out of Darwin was originally just north of the intersection of the Stuart Highway and Townend Road at Noonamah but was shifted south of Townend Road a few months ago. It has now been shifted further south again.
Decreasing the speed limit by stealth? |
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