Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Jun 21st 2005 | 6:51 pm
#46
Breast Inspector
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,770
From: On the road
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by logan
I can totally relate to your 'feeling a little shaky' etc bob. Inspite of holidaying here for 3 weeks at a time the last 3 years or so, and doing the majority of the driving, I never seemed to notice the whole 'speed' thing that they've got going. I noticed the tailgating, which I have to say totally freaks me out.
A couple of the girls from the Brissy girls night out know I have a thing about being a passenger (ie I'm a crap one!) and everyone has to wear their seatbelt etc but it's only cos I had a very bad accident when I was 8 coming back from the Barrier Reef with my parents. No other cars involved, which is why when you add cars driven by twats to the equation I get very nervous.
How do people just not realise, that a meter between each car is not going to be sufficient if the car in front has to break quickly....and that's at 50km let alone 100km. Sometimes I reckon it's not just idiots, it's ignorant idiots, because you could have lanes on either side of you on the highway, and they sit on your ass!?????
OVERTAKE ME YOU FOOL!
And I just can't get started on the massive trucks that never ever seem to obey the speed limit. They just constantly thunder past :scared: no matter what the speed is or the weather conditions...and we all know how well the Aussies drive in the rain.
A couple of the girls from the Brissy girls night out know I have a thing about being a passenger (ie I'm a crap one!) and everyone has to wear their seatbelt etc but it's only cos I had a very bad accident when I was 8 coming back from the Barrier Reef with my parents. No other cars involved, which is why when you add cars driven by twats to the equation I get very nervous.
How do people just not realise, that a meter between each car is not going to be sufficient if the car in front has to break quickly....and that's at 50km let alone 100km. Sometimes I reckon it's not just idiots, it's ignorant idiots, because you could have lanes on either side of you on the highway, and they sit on your ass!?????
OVERTAKE ME YOU FOOL!And I just can't get started on the massive trucks that never ever seem to obey the speed limit. They just constantly thunder past :scared: no matter what the speed is or the weather conditions...and we all know how well the Aussies drive in the rain.
Please don't paint all Australians with the same brush. Yes their are bad drivers in Australia. And sometimes you wonder how people actually keep there licenses. However, been living in Glasgow for 18 mths now, and I see the same things that happen in Australia happening here. It doesn't matter where you live your always going to get bad drivers.
Jim
Jun 21st 2005 | 7:47 pm
#47
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 873
From: To the world you are one person...to one person you may be the world
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by zx10r_aus
Please don't paint all Australians with the same brush. Yes their are bad drivers in Australia. And sometimes you wonder how people actually keep there licenses. However, been living in Glasgow for 18 mths now, and I see the same things that happen in Australia happening here. It doesn't matter where you live your always going to get bad drivers.
Jim
Jim
As for UK drivers, of course they're not perfect, and there's plenty of idiots out there. However it was not an every day occurrance to go out and be appalled at someones' stupidity, and dangerous driving.
Didn't have too many problems when I lived in Edinburgh (except flippin' parking!), but my problem in Glasgow were all the one way streets....could only get myself to the SECC and the shopping malls!
Jun 21st 2005 | 8:06 pm
#48
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 567
From: Melbourne
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
My Australian husband complains about driving over here. We make regular journeys from London up north to visit family. My husband cannot get over the level of drivers here that don't indicate when changing lanes on the motorways, and the amount of tailgating that goes on. He also cannot believe (like most Londoners) how many cars are in the capital and the level of poor driving and aggression and oblivion for road rules. He says he can't wait to get back home for wider roads, less traffic and less traffic jams.
Jun 21st 2005 | 8:10 pm
#49
(It's not my real name)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 12,469
From: Ilukapool. WA
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
I reckon Perth drivers, though not technically as competent, are less aggressive than their UK counterparts. I prefer to drive here.
I get tailgated less and hardly ever get "the bird" whereas the "wa*ker" sign in the UK used to happen quite a lot, mainly because I obey the speed limit (what a w*nker!).
I get tailgated less and hardly ever get "the bird" whereas the "wa*ker" sign in the UK used to happen quite a lot, mainly because I obey the speed limit (what a w*nker!).
Jun 21st 2005 | 8:26 pm
#50
Rocket Scientist
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,911
From: Dreamland AKA Brisbane which is a different country to the UK
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by logan
people are constantly zooming past, breaking the speed limit. The huge trucks that obviously need more stopping distance than a car, hurtling past and tailgating. It happened just now, (about 2 minutes after the police radar) massive truck doing about 120/125 or so on a 100km road.
:scared: .As for the trucks, all new trucks are fitted with speedlimiters (usually engine goverers), not sure what the actual law is now, but I doubt it is more lenient than it was 9 years ago
.
Jun 21st 2005 | 8:42 pm
#51
Anything,Anytime,Anywhere
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,141
From: The Magic Roundabout
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by MrsDagboy
Errrr most people from the UK complain about how slow the speed limits here & how many radars & speed traps there are. Heaps of people lose lots of points & money here because they constantly drive way too fast as thats the way most people drive in the UK. Speed limits dont seem to apply over there, if you're not doing 90 mph in the fast lane in the UK you are going too slow :scared: .
As for the trucks, all new trucks are fitted with speedlimiters (usually engine goverers), not sure what the actual law is now, but I doubt it is more lenient than it was 9 years ago .
:scared: .As for the trucks, all new trucks are fitted with speedlimiters (usually engine goverers), not sure what the actual law is now, but I doubt it is more lenient than it was 9 years ago
.Last edited by The Bloke; Jun 21st 2005 at 8:46 pm.
Jun 21st 2005 | 8:45 pm
#52
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
The quality of driving in one state does not reflect the quality across Australia. It would be like saying all Europeans are cr*p drivers after experiencing French driving.
Jun 21st 2005 | 8:45 pm
#53
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by MrsDagboy
Errrr most people from the UK complain about how slow the speed limits here & how many radars & speed traps there are. Heaps of people lose lots of points & money here because they constantly drive way too fast as thats the way most people drive in the UK. Speed limits dont seem to apply over there, if you're not doing 90 mph in the fast lane in the UK you are going too slow :scared: .
As for the trucks, all new trucks are fitted with speedlimiters (usually engine goverers), not sure what the actual law is now, but I doubt it is more lenient than it was 9 years ago .
:scared: .As for the trucks, all new trucks are fitted with speedlimiters (usually engine goverers), not sure what the actual law is now, but I doubt it is more lenient than it was 9 years ago
.Channel 9 and Channel 7 give air time to Australians going on about money raising speed cameras. They were complaining about one outside a school the other night!
Jun 21st 2005 | 8:51 pm
#54
Anything,Anytime,Anywhere
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,141
From: The Magic Roundabout
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by bondipom
NSW has proposed laws making top management rather than immediate line management responsible for truck drivers hours.
Jun 21st 2005 | 8:54 pm
#55
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by bondipom
. They were complaining about one outside a school the other night!
Jun 21st 2005 | 9:06 pm
#56
Rocket Scientist
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,911
From: Dreamland AKA Brisbane which is a different country to the UK
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by The Bloke
Only thing wrong with governors on engines is that any driver with a toolbox, ten minutes and a little mechanical knowledge (which the have), can alter the governor (usually a bolt on the carburettor) so that it increases engine performance. All are supposed to be limited so that the speed doesn't exceed 100kph. Add to that the fact that they constantly update each other as to the exact location of radar traps over the CB.....
Engines have computers in them these days, it can tell you exactly how long the engine has been driven over a certain RPM & all the details as easily as plugging in a hair drier. After-factory governors can be fiddled with alot easer, but factory fitted ones on new trucks are not anywhere near as easy to override as you seem to think.
Log book fiddling is never going to stop unfortunately, neither is drivers on speed (& a whole host of other drugs).
Jun 21st 2005 | 9:13 pm
#57
Breast Inspector
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,770
From: On the road
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by MrsDagboy
We had a new International S-line with an engine governor - trust me, you couldnt tamper with it easily at all. If my ex could have done it, he would have!
Engines have computers in them these days, it can tell you exactly how long the engine has been driven over a certain RPM & all the details as easily as plugging in a hair drier. After-factory governors can be fiddled with alot easer, but factory fitted ones on new trucks are not anywhere near as easy to override as you seem to think.
Log book fiddling is never going to stop unfortunately, neither is drivers on speed (& a whole host of other drugs).
Engines have computers in them these days, it can tell you exactly how long the engine has been driven over a certain RPM & all the details as easily as plugging in a hair drier. After-factory governors can be fiddled with alot easer, but factory fitted ones on new trucks are not anywhere near as easy to override as you seem to think.
Log book fiddling is never going to stop unfortunately, neither is drivers on speed (& a whole host of other drugs).
I am led to believe that some transport companies are installing GPS in their trucks. Log book fidling is a big problem, however, I have been a truck driver 10 years and the people I have known to commit these offences, most have eventually been caught out. And the ones that havn't soon will.
Jim
Jun 21st 2005 | 10:42 pm
#58
Gone surfin'
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 206
From: Bangkok & Perth
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by JayDeee
I can only comment on where I live/have lived and the people I know in both areas, I can state without a speck of doubt that in Geraldton WA I have noticed a huge increase of people drink driving than I ever saw in Crawley West Sussex. I have also notied a much more chilled out attitude towards those who are blatently drink driving.
No idea on the stats for either area.
Kala
No idea on the stats for either area.
Kala
Yes, but you're talking about the redneck capital of WA!! :scared:
Jun 21st 2005 | 10:55 pm
#59
Gone surfin'
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 206
From: Bangkok & Perth
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by MrsDagboy
Errrr most people from the UK complain .
I've edited your post to reflect reality
This is what you meant to say right 
Jun 22nd 2005 | 12:29 am
#60
Rocket Scientist
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,911
From: Dreamland AKA Brisbane which is a different country to the UK
Re: Prepare for aussie driving!!!!
Originally Posted by Soi Oz
I've edited your post to reflect reality This is what you meant to say right
This is what you meant to say right 
zx - I think I remember reading that a couple of the larger companies have trialled it, cant remember who it was, maybe LBs? Certainly the larger companies are heading that way, good for a company with a large fleet & a heap of drivers. But Im not sure that the log book problem is going to go away that easily (& neither is the drug problem) .
