Let others drive their own car!!

Goodonya Phil,

There are way too many people who think that their own opinion is more valid than anyone else's.

Look after their own backyard before worrying about everyone else's

Phil,
In a court of law and you on the jury have to JUDGE another and if the issue was the the result of a person breaking the law, ie, speeding etc, are you then going to declare them "not guilty" because you don't want the same for you.

That would make the other 11 jurors very frustrated with you if they clearly see it was wrong and hold to their opinion. Odd man out.

SO, who decides the destiny?

If there is a valid reason for them to be going faster than the limit, they are usually associated with flashing coloured lights and sirens, the noisey sirens, not the beautiful ones.

Absolutely agree, I drive a naturally aspirated 1HZ Cruiser so I am usually the one getting overtaken but I often have cars do between 10-30kms over the speed limit to pass me and it makes perfect sense to me. Not only are they on the wrong side of the road for less time but they are also giving others behind them an opportunity to pass as well. As long as you drive to conditions and return to the speed limit afterwards I see no problem with it at all. Boo to the whingers!

Phil,

I'm on your side!

This is my pet hate, the reason you often have to drive over the speed limit to pass other cars etc, is you have been following them for miles at some ridiculously slow speed eating dust and when you get to an over taking lane or straight stretch of road they then accelerate up to the speed limit. You often have to go pretty quick to get past them so you can continue the trip at the speed limit.

I have raised this before on this forum and been put down by others who seem to think it is acceptable to plod along disregarding the queue of traffic building up behind them.

Well done for raising this.

The other "ratbag" act that I often do is overtake multiple cars at once.
Phil, there have been lots of times where I've been stuck behind a row of cars that are being held up by a truck doing 90 - 100 kmp/h. The cars may be under powered, towing or just not in any rush to get anywhere and I'm capable to overtake say 3 cars plus the truck safely. So I do. Then I have to listen to the cars beeping or flashing their lights as I go past them.
It's not illegal to overtake multiple vehicles in one foul swoop. The only technicality is that during the overtaking maneuver I exceed the speed limit for only the time that is required to complete my maneuver. But as everyone else has stated... the less time on the wrong side of the road, the better.
On the other hand, when driving the io fully loaded, I sit back and wait for the overtaking lanes and even then it's hit and miss if it has an uphill gradient.
Fab.

You can only ever drive the car you are in and it is best kept that way is my starting point (also). But it cut all ways...

Oddly, there are aspects you raise that I experienced on a recent trip.

On the way home with TVAN in tow, on the Great Western Highway to the west of Sydney, our experience was that despite travelling at, or close to the posted maximum speed limit, I had a few vehicles tail-gate for reasons that will only ever be clear to them.

I’m all for giving consideration to other road users and on this trip pulled to the side of the road on the tracks we drove to allow faster vehicles through – that makes good sense and is an etiquette I always follow.

But on highways were I am travelling at, or close to the posted maximum speed limit, the courtesy I look for in return is that other road users is drive at a safe distance behind me and moving up and passing only when safe to do so (and at any speed that suits them).

Adding, that some should follow your sound advice and concentrate on “driving their vehicle” in a safe way and with due consideration to other road users, rather than trying to drive my vehicle by trying to “shunt me along” at speeds beyond the posted maximum, or at speeds I am not willing to drive at taking into account the road considerations and my vehicle configuration…

As for people that can't wait to pass, and yet are pulled up a couple of kilometres down the road - well who knows for what reason they have stopped, but it does make you have a quiet chuckle to yourself...!

I ride a 1300cc Bike , I just wish the Coppers would see things the same as you blokes about going 10-30 over the speed limit when overtaking .

G'day Phil

We can all choose to break the road laws. Most of us will assess the risk, but if we make the choice to speed when overtaking, then there may or may not be consequences.

In the scenario that you describe, one consequence is being pinged for speeding or dangerious driving, and as one respondent suggests, you have no defence if that happens. It's pretty much a black & white decision for the boys in blue.

The other issue that I see is the disproportionate increase in adverse consequences if something unforseen happens when the speed limit is exceeded during overtaking.

As for what others say - does it matter?

Cheers
John

Don't quote me, but I believe it is quite legal to exceed the speed limit when overtaking. I remember reading that somewhere a while back; however, there was a margin mentioned, I just can't remember what it was. No doubt the armchair experts will profess to know.

ahh-Phil, we've disagreed more than a couple of times in the past, then you post up something like this which is well thought out and totally practical.
Too many on here take the law as gospel-if its a law then it must of course be legally morally and simply the only right thing to do.

For me at my ripe old middle age now, I know the law can be an ass and tend to base these sort of decisions on the following criteria

1/ will it hurt me or anyone else
2/ will it unreasonably inconvenience anyone else
3/ will it cause me to lose any sleep
4/ is it morally wrong
5/ am I likely to get caught

Theres more than enough public servants employed to tell what you arent allowed to do and very few to tell you what you can do.

Its a decision for everyone to make for themselves unless they choose to be completely run over by bureaucrats.

The thing that I really do not understand and routinely criticize, is the idiots that NEED to be in front, no matter what.

If you are travelling at the max speed limit and are stuck behind a truck, van, etc, I see no need what so ever to overtake at a higher speed. I think it is just plain stupid, because you can't really go any faster anyway.

But I do agree with going above the limit when overtaking a slower moving vehicle, it to me is the safest option and as stated, reduces your time in no mans land.

I know there may be many reasons why someone would pull over just after passing you, but no matter who you are, you will always feel as though it was a waste of time passing you in the first place.

As far as the law is concerned, I believe that here in WA you are not allowed to travel less than 20k under the posted speed limit and it is an offence to intentionally hinder the flow of traffic.
But that could be easily argued in court I would assume, because you could argue that you were in fact driving to not only the conditions but also to your own abilities.

What timing

travelled from Adelaide to Whyalla today (about 400km) and had a couple of cars behind me in the work van, now I was on cruise control sat at 110KPH, had a couple pass me and that's fine, I do the speed I do for fuel economy and because it is the posted speed limit, the coppers are hot on that stretch too.

Get to the overtaking lane and I was overtaken, now the person caught up to me quite quickly, but then backed off sitting just in front and to the right, I had to then brake as we got to the merge section and sit on about 102 / 104 - slower than what I was cruising at. Eventually they sped up but thought that it was a bit rude, was it?

Later my heart started racing as I saw 4 sets of head lights on a single carriageway, slowed right down from 110 to 60KPH only to realise that someone had pulled off the road heading towards oncoming traffic, with their lights on.

I have no issue with being overtaken and will quite happily sit behind a semi as I know they are speed limited to 100 :) but must admit I do get a little frustrated when the road becomes clear ahead only to find someone behind in a faster vehicle pull out forcing me back in - yes I could push the point but no one wins in an accident.

Sometimes a little patience & courtesy makes your trip a whole lot more enjoyable, if someone needs to get there 5 minutes earlier then so be it.

cheers