Is driving too slow an offence?

I don't know of laws with specific low speed rates, WA or elsewhere but certainly I'm sure that laws such as 'Driving Without Due Care' etc could be applied if the police considered that the motorist's speed was inappropriate and dangerous to other road users.

Hairy,
one thing I can pick up from this is, I know you ride a tractor but you don't drive a backhoe. Gotcha.

Can't be bothered retracing that thread but if I recall correctly most states have a catch-all in regards to slow driving where it might cause a hazard. I think the proviso is something like "without due cause" which could exempt cases where it is impossible to pull over and allow traffic to pass - assuming you have a valid reason for driving slowly in the first place.

Hi Hairy,

People driving slowly don't really bother me that much (within reason of course!)...

...but I absolutely hate it when some idiot can't hold a steady speed. Once 70 then 80 then 60 then back to 70. Oh yes, then you try to overtake them! They bloody put the foot down. I get that all the time here in Tassie. You have to break the speed limit just to pass the blighters! Of course I am patient on the road, and always drive within the limit, but sometimes that patience wears a bit thin...hehehe.

But back to the original topic, I do think that people should be booked for going way too slow. It is after all a danger, IMO. You have people that have no over-taking skills and slowly a high-way procession forms. However, I don't think this applies to caravaners only. You get the same from ordinary cars as well.

Well, just my 2c worth!

Cheers,

Tim.

Hi Hairy. I wear the blue uniform in Victoria and worked highway patrol in Easy Gippsland for several years. Very popular region with nomads and the Princes Highway was always chokkas with vans, Rv's and trailers etc. Only ever attended 1 serious accident (fatal) involving a slow caravan in 9 years caused apparently by the young driver trying to overtake a b-double and getting sucked in by the "bow wave" at the front of the truck.
Driving below the speed limit is not an offence in Vic. But, common sense approach is needed by all parties. I have been called out to pull over a few fellas towing a van at less than 70-80 ks on the highway and having 3 k of traffic behind them all taking risks to overtake due to impatience. I still remember my last one before hanging up the breeches on Boxing Day a few years ago. After several 000 calls I found our driver toddling along with all sorts of mayhem behind him. Flashing lights and horns. I did a u turn to get behind him, let into the line by thankful motorist and then took 2 k to get him to pull over. Eventually old fella pulls up. I go to speak with him and he claimed he wasn't even towing a van. Long wait for the relatives to come rescue him!
Common sense says, drive at your comfortable speed but have consideration for those behind you and pull up every o often. And if you are the one behind, breathe deep and wait til it is safe to pass.
Graeme

Is driving too slow an offence? - NO it is not.

In good old WA you are committing an offence if you drive on a designated freeway at less than 20 kph below the posted speed limit. So if the limit is 100 kph you must travel at no less than 80 kph unless conditions such as traffic or weather make it unsafe to do so.
I am pretty sure this rule does not apply to other roads however you are required to not impede other road users unduly and courtesy dictates that if you have a few cars lined up behind you, pull over when safe to do so.
The posted speed limit is intended as a maximum in optimal conditions.

My personal opinion only, but I would think 85-90 kph on a road with a maximum limit of 100-110 kph would not be unreasonable. I do not see why if a driver feels comfortable at that speed or maybe his choice of van/trailer and vehicle are comfortable to drive at those speeds why he should have to travel at speeds that he/she is uncomfortable with just because someone else thinks he/she should.

Cheers
Pop

Q. Is driving too slow an offence

A. Yes

If you want to experience the ambiance, fresh air, camaraderie, etc etc - take a Tour and get off the roads.

Serious Alternative:

Do your level best to maintain the posted speed limit/s and if these terrify you, seek medical help.

DD

I couldn't resist putting this up.

Was in California recently and over there they have a law which states it is an offence to have more than 5 vehicles trapped behind you on the road. You are expected to pull over and let them pass. I had to pull over sometimes on unknown windy roads through the ranges as locals sped by.

Most of their roads however are dual lanes each way so holding up traffic does not become an issue.

Alan

Hi Hairy

The talk of the town ( Clare ) a number of years ago was when one interstate was driver was booked by our local boys in blue for doing 60 kph. Does sound unfair, but was in a then 110 zone and around 20 cars, trucks and caravans stuck behind it.

The excuse was they were not aware how many vehicles were stuck behind it and they were taking in the scenery. From reports of the time, one of the truckies called the police to see what was going on, thinking that there must have been a bad accident.


Cheers



Stephen

Just remember though that many heavy vehicles have a maximum governed speed limit of 100kph and if towing you are also restricted to a maximum of 100kph.
As has been said many older vehicles cannot do the posted limit and especially when loaded in hilly terrain they may only be capable of half the posted speed limit.
Way too much impatience these days, coupled with less tolerance of those unable to afford or don't wish to buy the latest whizz bang with twin turbo's and many cylinders.

hi hairy nt
yes I watched that and the guy said on a wa freeway if you drive more than 20ks below the speed limit you can incur a fine but he didn't say any other rd

what happens these days if one of the you beaut Toorak tractors goes into limp home mode
would its top speed be fast enough ?? or would the owner have to pull over and get a tow truck if say for instance on a freeway
what about licenced tractors on a public rd very few of them could do the speed limit
cheers

It may not be illegal. But I'm happy to provide some adjectives such as "ignorant" & dare I say in some cases "dangerous". No doubt some may disagree though.

Just to add to this discussion, some vehicles are restricted to 80kph when towing.
This is from the vehicle manufacturer.

Gday,
I havent read all the posts yet as I just got home and have got things to do....but.... the reason I wrote what I did because I had just watched A Current Affair (or one of those shows) and It was regarding "10 road rules that most WA drivers werent aware of)
One of the rules was....It is an offence to drive at 20kph lower than the sign posted speed limit.........Yes offence

Im not saying its good bad or otherwise......just throwing it out there

When I was living in Perth a friend of my wife's was pulled over by the police for doing 50 in a 70 zone and warned about driving to slow and creating an unnecessary hazard on the road personally I would have booked he because she always drove very slow and backed up traffic

Well, regards driving too slow, I always thought that to be a GOOD caravanner you keep an eye on your mirrors and when you find you have a few single or faster vehicles behind you (particularly truckies) " time is money to them" pull over and let them through.
I use my two-way and let the truckies know"I am ready for you go past" and they appreciate that. I even try to contact other vanners to let them know. And as for vanners that go along in convoy to me that is not only silly but brings us into disrepute, it also creates that "hairy moment" because of the crazy overtaking persons picking the double white lines or the corner etc.
If you Cant keep a good speed up then be very mindful of those behind you, We caravan people get a lot of criticism over how we travel , ie speed, convoy, not looking when pulling out, etc, so be aware and lets not be disliked.

I think it boils down to road manners.

Driving too slow is illegal and hazardous.

Driving too slow is just as dangerous as speeding.

Matt says "where the speed limit is 100 k an hour you should not be doing less than 80 k an hour unless there's congestion or poor weather conditions. If you are driving too slowly on the freeway you'll only be hit with a $50 fine.

His what they said on Today to Night Channel 7 Perth yesterday 16th May 2013, A Cut and paste from their web site.

In all states it has been possible to book someone for driving unreasonably slow for a very long time....under the basis of "obstructing traffic", "failing to show due care & attention", "failing to obey traffic signage", dangereous diving or a number of other non specific offences depending on the situation.

But they have not seen it necessary to spell it out......till now...expect it to roll thru into other states in course....and not before time.

It always comes down to the reasonable person test, or cause or excuse.

In QLD certain agricultrual equipment and road plant in particular cane haulers and harvesters are specificaly mentioned in the act.

If your vehicle is of a special type, like a crane...well it will be required to carry rotating beacons and the like just to be on the road.....these too are dealt with in the legeslation.......we need those things and they have to travel...so that is reasonable cause or excuse.

Over dimension loads, are definitely specifically dealt with and are rigidly regulated.

BUT.....if ya traveling along the good flat open highway under good conditions and you are traveling too slow.

It it a reasonable excuse to say...my vehicle, one that travels for recreation and for no ones benifit but the driver's with no special permits is fundamentally unstable and therefore unsafe at the posted speeds.

Is it a reasonable excuse to say I'm not in a hurry, or I am too cheap to travel at or near the posted speeds and am saving fuel at every body else's expense.

Is it reasonable to say that I am not properly trained or competent to handle the rig at or near the posted speeds.

The answer is clearly No it is not reasonable.

If your rig.....not being a specially permitted vehicle....is not 100% safe traveling along good, flat, open, highway, under good conditions at or near the posted speed limit...it should not be on the road.

If you are not 100% capable and confident driving that rig, likewise, at or near the posted speed limit...you should not be on the road.

20 Kmh under the speed limit is not reasonable without good excuse.

cheers

I think you will find the 20 klm below the posted speed limit refers to driving in the right hand lane.

Neil

Just to clear up any confusion as to whether it is a specific offence or not, here is the excerpt from the WA Road Traffic Code 2000. The rule applies to freeway speed zones only.

12. Minimum speeds on freeways

In a freeway speed zone, a person shall not drive a vehicle at a speed that is more than 20 km/h below the speed limit unless
(a) traffic congestion prevents the person from driving the vehicle at a speed that is within 21 km/h of the speed limit; or
(b) for any other reason, it is unsafe or imprudent for the person to drive the vehicle at a speed that is within 21 km/h of the speed limit.

Modified penalty: 1 PU

The definition of a freeway is found in Rule 3 which states....

"Freeway means a road or portion of a road that is designated as a freeway by signs erected thereon or adjacent thereto". The signs referred to are "Start Freeway" or "Freeway Entrance" at the beginning of the road and "End Freeway" at the end of the road.


For those interested, the link to the WA Road Traffic Code is here... WA Road Traffic Code 2000

In Victoria, there is no such rule, however there is one that says you must keep to the left on any multi-lane road (not just freeways) with a speed limit greater than 80 km/h, unless overtaking, turning right, avoiding an obstruction etc. Not sure what the situation is in other states because I have not looked it up, but at least I have learnt something new today about the WA rule !!

Cheers,

Dave

And if that one isn't silly enough for you they also mentioned on the program
- smelly trees hanging from the rear vision mirror (not allowed) and
- Garfield stuck on the rear window (not allowed)

So a lot of people have been breaking those laws in WA without realising it!

Which was the whole point of the program - bringing to our attention the things nobody knows about because it isn't mentioned in the learners handbook, and no bugger on earth has ever looked up the Traffic Act until AFTER they've been charged with something they can't believe is an offence :-)

My d-i-l was involved with building the new Forrest Hwy and she mentioned at the time that it was an offence to drive 20km less than the speed limit.
I had never known that and I'd been driving over 30 years at the time !

Hi Hairy,

What gets my goat is someone travelling at 50 km/h on a rural tarred road thats got a 100km/h limit. You sit behind them for what feels like half an hour , It bleep s me.

Cheers Wilko