Stuart Hwy De-Restricted

[iseekool]

I lived in Amsterdam for a while and could not agree more, Dutch drivers are horrible and German roads are amazing. The most interesting fact I read before driving in Germany (yes I did research so I wasn't just another lost twat doing 100 kph with no idea about the road laws) is that the unrestricted autobahns account for a smaller percentage of accidents than the restricted ones, and when compared by by percentage of the road network, the accident rates are almost exactly the same.

So is speed REALLY the biggest killer on the road? Or is incompetence or over confidence?

I'd say incompetence. People just aren't thinking "safe".

My reasons - based on personal observation only.

If you are a slower driver - stay on the left lane unless you are about to turn right.

When on a hill and your vehicle is slow (or you're an idiot that doesn't downshift) - go to the left lane

Trucks (heavy vehicles) should stick to the left lane, instead of hogging the right hand lane and not allowing cars to overtake safely.

If it's dusk/raining or visibility is questionable for other drivers - turn on your headlights

Use your indicators more - the number of idiots out there never using their indicators is insane.

People that are lane drifting

People without a reasonably maintained vehicle. Car can be old, that's fine - but it has to be in a good roadworthy condition.

[MBS206]

This. I'll all for unrestricted autobahn speeds, but many people struggle to drive properly at 100km/h on a nice 4x lane freeway with late model cars... One can only imagine once they are in the outback without all the lanes and nice surfaces...

- Stricter road worthy (say every 5 years)

- Stricter licensing

- Visitors from countries without strict driving rules shouldn't be allowed to rent a vehicle - without passing a simple but comprehensive written test.

- New migrants (even if they have had driving experience) need to pass the same exams as any L plater graduating to their P plates.

Stricter Road Worthys... Yeah that won't help... NSW already do it once a year, and we have so many shit heaps on the road...

[iseekool]

Stricter Road Worthys... Yeah that won't help... NSW already do it once a year, and we have so many shit heaps on the road...

How do they slip through the system? I thought the whole point of having regular road worthy is to ensure the car is actually safe. (I'm from Victoria)

[junkie]

How do they slip through the system? I thought the whole point of having regular road worthy is to ensure the car is actually safe. (I'm from Victoria)

No shortage of dodgy or lazy mechanics. All they have to do is press the brake tester in a certain way and it will generate a successful test result, which is pretty much all you need, along with mileage, for a pink slip.

[MrStabby]

No shortage of dodgy or lazy mechanics. All they have to do is press the brake tester in a certain way and it will generate a successful test result, which is pretty much all you need, along with mileage, for a pink slip.

Yep. One guy i went to just tilted the brake testing device to the left then to the right and then printed out the pass..... Never even put it in the car. That stuff scares me. There needs to be a crack down on this stuff.

[poohkies]

It was great when it was open limit. Not surprisingly most people sat on 140-160 with spurts up to 200+ when overtaking a road train.

Since restriction was employed the road toll has gone up.

Most road deaths in the NT are from tourists, the indig, and pedestrians being hit or run over while sleeping on the road.

Passing the coppers was good fun, my weapon of choice was the mighty wagon!

I believe 287km/h indicated on the powerfc in your 260rs ken good times and from doing the drive back and forth over the last year a 100km/h is a joke 110km/h is a joke 130km/h is good for fuel ecconomny etc but would be nice to have the option of 150km/h when u need it to get past cars etc. or just to take away the bore, I really don't like these threads, cause unless you live rural and realise what it's like driving at a 100km/h for 12 hours you really shouldn't comment, city folk really have no idea!

regards