Speed Kills
 

Or does it?

Road traffic death rate per 100,000 population

Austria (maximum 130km/h) – 6.6
Australia (maximum 110km/h – except NT) – 6.1
Belgium (maximum 120km/h) – 8.1
Bulgaria (maximum 140km/h) – 10.4
Czech Republic (maximum 130km/h) – 7.6
Denmark (maximum 130km/h) – 4.7
France (maximum 130km/h) – 6.4
Germany (unlimited speed zones) – 4.7
Italy (maximum 130km/h) – 7.2
The Netherlands (maximum 130km/h) – 3.9
New Zealand (maximum 100km/h) - 7.4
Poland (maximum 140km/h) – 11.8
Spain (maximum 120km/h) – 5.4
Sweden (maximum 120km/h) – 3.0
Switzerland (maximum 120km/h) – 4.3
United Kingdom (maximum 113km/h/70mph) – 3.7

BB

Re: Speed Kills
 

Source please?

Re: Speed Kills
 

Agree

Speed on its own is hardly ever a factor

Re: Speed Kills
 

Drive.com.au. - Should we have higher speed limits?

Probably somewhere else before that.

BB

Re: Speed Kills
 

Thanks. Interesting article. I fully agree with higher speed limits argument. The 80/90 kph (lucky if you see 100) limits around Brisbane are ridiculous. :nod:

Re: Speed Kills
 

JAT.... Wouldnt there be less of the population as drivers per 100K in most of those countries compared to Aus ?

IE: In Sydney and Melbourne a far higher percentage of the population would drive to work compared to London, where commuters driving, would be minimal, because of the far superior public transport system ?

Disingenuous, sums up the article if it is based on population rather than actual drivers.

Thats not to say I'm against raising the speed limit, but I think we could do with far better roads first.

Re: Speed Kills
 

Yeah, some of the roads in Sydney are simply shocking. Worse than some third world countries.


S

Re: Speed Kills
 

Surely deaths can occur within speed limits? Driving at 100k in a 110k zone can kill someone. These figures always seem subjective to me.

If we can see how many deaths were within or outside of te speed limits and how many were outside of the maximum 110k as well as how many were as a direct result of speeding, then we'd have something to think about. This is just noise.

Re: Speed Kills
 

I think that's because they lay roads brilliantly and in good time. And then dig them up to lay some fibre or something shortly afterwards.

Re: Speed Kills
 

Yeah, then a water main. and then a gas main. And then some more fibre. And then some electrical cables...


S

Re: Speed Kills
 

Speed doesn't kill. It's the violent and sudden stopping that does the killing.

Re: Speed Kills
 

I've done loads of speed - it never did me any harm ;)


S

Re: Speed Kills
 

Or in one word - impact.

Interestingly (or not) I was the witness to a prang this morning just outside work. A UTE trying to turn right into our loading bay smashed into an oncoming car. The sun was in his eyes and didn't even see the car (Hyundai i30). The poor lady in the car was ok, but the front of her car was smashed. All at less then 50 k's or 40 even.

Re: Speed Kills
 

If he was going slower he would have had time to stop :)

Re: Speed Kills
 

It was like this...

UTE is stopped (briefly) and checking to turn right in loading bay (I was just watching casually, side on view on the drivers side going to cross to where I was standing). UTE then starts turning right from stationary toward me as I am by the loading bay. A screech of tyres of the car from the opposite direction trying to brake in time , but couldn't and then the collision occurred.

Clearly the UTE driver was at fault. He apologised (3x) and admitted he couldn't see a thing.

Mitsubishi UTE vs silver i30. He just had slight bumper damage only.

Re: Speed Kills
 

Slight bumper damage.... That's surprising for a Mitsubishi

Re: Speed Kills
 

Well, the impact zone on the MB was just the bumper. He drove away after exchanging details, with minimal damage.

Re: Speed Kills
 

A lot all depends on what driver training (or lack of it) drivers receive?

My thoughts are that as part of a licence training/test, all drivers should learn proper car control from professional driver training centres, including collision avoidance, skid pan techniques etc.


Road conditions also play a major part in road crashes. Country roads (and I travel them a lot) are in a absolutely shocking state in SE Qld (if they are lucky, problem areas are only patched up again and again and again-not fixed properly), and I would assume in the rest of the country is the same. As long as governments fund upgrades to city roads they think the rest of the roads do not exist.

Re: Speed Kills
 

Road traffic death rate per 100,000 population

Isn't this a slightly strange measure? The more usual scale is "per 100,000 km driven". This has shades of selective statistics. It's not so clear-cut.

Re: Speed Kills
 

Drive on a motorway or dual carriageway and compare the standard of driving of the average driver with a similar road in Australia and it really isnt surprising the death rate is higher in Australia. It is common to drive at 80mph plus on a motorway and feel safe doing it. The major difference is the level of courtesy and 'skill' and of course the state of the roads themselves has an influence.

Re: Speed Kills
 

Scroll down to page 41 to see how things have changed -

https://www.bitre.gov.au/publication...mmary_2013.pdf

and have a look at this

http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/c...ts/by-country/

then look at death by alcohol - makes Switzerland look much more dangerous.

Re: Speed Kills
 

From what I have seen in Australia on the roads. you just have to look at what P platers drive. Some extremely high performance cars and access to cubic capacities which we only dreamed of in our youth in the UK. One of the most popular being the UTE, big engine and no weight over the back wheels mmmmm what could go wrong. With an invincible youth behind the wheel. Single vehicle accidents seem to be the most common I think (dont have figures)and speed is often attributed. Then theres alcohol which after all their efforts still plays a major role. courtesy almost non existent,
ever tried letting someone out, They just stare at you as if to say "what are you doing" and skill Ha. Ooh I`m getting old and cranky. Be safe out there, Good luck

Re: Speed Kills
 

I'm no fan of Australia's nanny state speed limits but I find that on a lot of country roads, the 110kph max. is about right. Anything more than that on a twisting, single lane road is a bit too dangerous

Re: Speed Kills
 

Especially where there are bloody Emus.... I wasn't personally prepared for day time encounters with your WA Emus.

Re: Speed Kills
 

Rubbish but nice try

The quality of Motorways on the UK greatly exceeds Australia. Lane width for one. Tightness of corners. Anyone ever done the M1 from Sydney to Newcastle? Towards Newcastle its nearly dead straight but the road is so bumpy its hard to get near 110.

Re: Speed Kills
 

:lol: