Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

That's interesting. Looks like they've changed the rule since I last looked.

The U-turn thing is interesting. I thought that it was a Qld thing. I guess it pays to be careful when going interstate.

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

If you are PR and have been here for three months, and you do not have an Australian Licence, then you are driving without a licence.

It is only a fine, (from my experience), but that may have changed, I have now had my licence since 2003 :lol: And some people know how long I have been here :rofl:

Yes, the police can check if you have an Australian licence or not.

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

Did not know that - mostly sent things via DHL etc and not had to show anything, but just complete the customs form. Good to know though... thanks

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

It does look like loose wording. In the Road Safety Act it fairly much says that you must carry your licence if you are a learner, provisional, under 26, court restricted or driving a large vehicle (unless operating within 80k of your home base). It also says

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

You may ask away...

My reference was to the 'not carrying a license' comment although I have been stopped at a number of speeds. Some were on the Hume where they must have done thousands of people driving at about 115 km in a 110 zone, since everyone was doing it and we thus all got tagged and receive the notice in the mail.

As for bombing down the freeway, that all depends on what you call bombing. I've of the mind that while speed limits are required, Australia has this ridiculous approach, preaching the speed kills nonsense etc, that means 100kph is safe but 103kph is not. Ridiculous.

I was stopped at one time doing a recorded 180kph. Too fast? It was a clear sunny road, deserted road in the middle of nowhere and in my opinion perfectly safe. And it was - I was fully in control of the vehicle, knew mine and the cars limits and had no issue. The copper was hidden in the bushes and I flew past. By the time he pulled out and I saw him I was a fair way down the road, but I immediately indicated and pull over and waited for him.

We ended up having a chat about the car, speed limits etc and he basically said he would have to do me. Fair enough, I know what the speed limits are and I chose to go faster, but put my speed down as 'over 100kph' rather than my clocked speed. Decent copper.

Was I safe - perfectly. You may disagree, but to be honest, what is safer - someone doing in excess of the speed limit on a dry, open and empty road, or not having an annual MOT test (in Vic) that means a car can be a death trap, not been checked for anything in years and no-one cares. Easy answer in my book.

I drive appropriate speed at the right times (such as 40 or less around schools), regardless of the time of the day, and there are countless times when speeds in excess of 100, 120 and more are perfectly safe.

It's my choice and I fully understand the consequences of being tabbed by the cops.

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

I agree, very ridiculous, I was done for 33mph in a 30mph zone, on 2 occasions !!

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

Border security and anti-terrorism laws etc.

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

No test in QLD, you just show you UK licence fill in the forms and OZ licence is issued with photo there and then which will include any motor bike licence you also many have. Took 30 min for OH and I to get ours done. First thing we did, saved having to show passports for proof of ID which they appear to want here even to blow your nose.

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

Poping out to Bunnings at 4:00pm last Friday afternoon OH was stopped and breathalised going out of our housing estate. We had been out to lunch but not drinking so there wasn't a problem.

In 43 years of driving this has never happened to him before. Were the police trying to catch tradies going home after having a Friday afternoon drink? Anyway we came back 25 min later and the Police had gone.

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

I see more accidents caused by speeding than by unroadworthy deathtraps so I'd plump for speed.

The annual roadworthy is just an unnecessary tax on the responsible. I know that with the right connections you can get a death trap through the UK's stringent MOT.

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

And there in lies the problem - the brainwashed. Depending on how the accident is measured, speed can easily be considered the cause of a crash without justification as to the safe speed at that time. Speed is the easy solution to everything. Sorry, but think it total nonsense.

Hod do you explain that proportionally, Australia's roads are more dangerous than countries like the UK, Germany etc who have far higher speed limits? If speed kills, that does not add up.

It comes down to two things - education, where the UK test is harder to pass than the Australian one (but still too easy in my book) and the ridiculous speed limits over enforced. Even the USA increased their standard 55 mph limit to either 65 or 75 and in some cases 85mph not so long ago.

To say the roadworthy is an unnecessary tax is quite frankly ludicrous. You make the enormously dodgy assumption everyone is responsible, which everyone may be to different levels, but when times are hard, what comes first. New brakes or new washing machine? It's safety, it's why every other country and even places like NSW have an annual check, and thus will contribute to safety.

Speed does NOT kill. Innapropriate use of speed does, and if people were responsible, as you claim they are, this would not happen. Your argument is thus fundamentally flawed.

And yes, of course you can get a death trap through an MOT. But it;s rare, and hundred of thousands of other cars get made safe because of it. Yet you would rather look to the small minority to justify a point...

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

The main reasons for Australia's higher death tolls are the higher urban speed limits (it's not just the freeway one that counts) and the inherently unsafe roads (cf UK roads). Soft verges are a big killer when hit too fast. Junctions through dual carriageways uncontrolled by lights or roundabouts are more dangerous and they are much more common here. The road system in the UK is structurally safer than the one here.

I'm not brainwashed (that's just a childish taunt). I just clean up the mess. I've seen what happens when people drive too fast for their or the road's capabilities.

I don't know much about the German road toll so can't comment but if you're suggesting that higher (or uncontrolled) speed limits leads to a lower road toll then the NT bucks the trend (if such a trend actually exists). Also Victoria's strict enforcement of limits dramatically reduced the road toll when it was introduced.

I would agree that the British drivers are better (although they could do with a refresher course on indication and roundabouts). The Brits and the Swedes consistently come out as the world's best drivers.

So there's another reason why the road toll is higher here.

I think you're making and enormously dodgy assumption. I never suggested that everyone is responsible. In fact it should have been clear from my assertion that some people find a way around the MOT that there are people who are completely irresponsible. I suspect you missed my point. The roadworthy/MOT is intended to keep dodgy cars off the road. However irresponsible people can get dodgy MOTs. So those people who look after and maintain their cars are hit with an unnecessary test and tax.

You've made an assumption that I think speed kills. I think that inappropriate use of speed (i.e. speeding) kills. You seem to agree with this yet say my argument is flawed. My opinion is based on my experience of attending car accidents.

Personally I think the speed limits are too strictly enforced in Vic causing systematic tailgating. Now if you had said that tailgating (rather than the lack of annual roadworthy) was more dangerous than speeding then I would agree with you. I also think that some of the freeway speeds could be increased (although only on sections that don't allow people to cross the median strip).

That is my point. The annual test only catches a small minority (and even then misses a chunk of that minority) yet it penalises the majority.

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

I would agree that the British drivers are better (although they could do with a refresher course on indication and roundabouts).




It's strange that you mention that, I was driving up to Whittlesea on Sunday and the 2 lads in the ute with me commented on my indicating on entering and leaving a roundabout. One of them said it must be a pommie thing as they had never seen anyone do it before:confused:

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

But you weren't in a BMW or a Merc - were you? :D


The indicating on leaving a roundabout (i.e. indicating left after passing the last exit) is something that's not good here or there. I find indicating on approach better here (in my bit of Vic - I know this does not apply Aus wide) compared to what I used to experience in London. There it was common for people not to indicate when turning right or left and bizarrely people indicating left when they were going straight across. Not sure where that comes from but my wife says she was taught to do that by a UK driving instructor. :blink:

Re: DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
 

This is an interesting read for Roundabouts

http://blogs.drive.com.au/2007/01/ro...for_chaos.html