Between Sydney and the Queensland border there is around 12 permanent speed cams mounted on the side of the Pacific Hwy, and they catch their fair share of speeders. Plus heaps of mobiles which can get you from 600m away and take pics on three lanes heading both directions.
In Australia, the mininum age for learners is 17, and in many states, this is followed by two types of P (provisional) plates, the 1st red for max 80kph, then after 12 mo's, green for a max of 90kph, this is held for 2 yr, then one can get his full operators licence. Soon they will also have restrictions on cc's of the engine. It takes many years to obtain a gold licence, and this is done without recieving any demerrits, and can take up to 5 yrs to get.
In Sydney, seems speed and souped up cars is enthically based, where people of 'middle eastern' (yes this is a fact, so no race card here)appearance race and drag at a known spot called Brighton Le Sands, AKA 'Beruit by the Sea' by the locals who have finally seen some justice by the NSW poilce handing out defect notices and tickets by the handful, confiscating many of these souped up WRX's and Skylines, plus a host of similar stupid looking cars. The mods look like a fantasy version of the Too fast movies, and really look stupid.
Sadly these dragsters have cost the lives of many innocents, not mention themselves, as they drag on public roads in excess of 250kph.
P platers are only 7% of the Australian drivers, yet are 17% of those killed on our roads due to speed.
Frankly I am happy as hell to be out of Sydney now enjoying life here in SE Queensland. However, seems us Bananna Benders view things different up here when it comes to speeding, and although there are many arseholes out on the roads, the culture is different, and speeding is not as insane as it is based in Sydney.
I drive in on the Bruce Hwy, 70km one way, and I have my cruise control set for about 102kph, and I rarely get passes. Speed traps are everywhere on the bruce, and we conform to the law.
Also on holiday weekends and thru our Crimbo, there is double demerrit points and double fines to detur speeders and others from taking the risk.
Queensland's motto against speeding is is 'Every K over is a Killer' The standard hwy speed in Australia is 100 and 110kph, with no limits in the NT and QLD on some roads in the Outback. However no limit means you can still get booked for 80kph driving like an arse.
Speed does kill, (along with inexperience, weather, poor judgement and lack of familiarisation with the road etc) and not that long ago, I arrived at an accident at Whiterock, Heathcote Rd, Sydney, where a Holden Commodore met a meduim rigid truck. It had just happened less then a minute or two. I stopped to give 1st aid, but found the driver's top half in the back seat, and his lower still behind the wheel, and guts spilt everywhere. I was fortunate enough, not to see the guy's face as he was face down in the back. Nothing could be done for him, and the truck driver was in shock. Myself and another driver, found some material to cover up the dead guy, and then left when the police arrived.
It was later found out the guy in the car was driving so fast, estimated 130 on a 80kph curve, crossed over and hit the truck, which ran over the car, ripping the roof half off, and sending it over end to end into the ditch back on its wheels. At the end of the day, if this man was doing the posted limit of 80k's, even 90, odds are he would have made it home.
Although I drive a 'hot' vehicle, I don't speed, as I am way over that, and I have learned from my own and others mistakes. Its all about being responsible.
Mind you when I was younger I did manage to get booked for speeding 3 times from 1975-1994, and I was just over their limit provided, so I am no angel either. My last one was west of of Brandon MB, east bound on the TC1, the Mounties got me for 118 in a 100 zone. Since then on the Sask side many dual carraigeways, including the TC1 now are 110. Personally on those flat boring roads on the prairies, I did not think that 118 was going too fast for the road conditions. However I broke the law and paid the fine.
My 2 cents.
Cheers,
Wes
