Are we the moron state?

[RustyCage]

Reading the readers comments to this article, yes we are.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,25470747-5006301,00.html

I'll post my thoughts on this issue later, but im interested in others thoughts on the topic.

[Interceptor]

There's PLENTY of morons all round the country judging by comments you see from just about ANY news.com.au story!

[Psyber]

I think all cars should be limited to 5kph and have someone walk in front of them waving a red flag as they did in the early days.

Seriously, I support the 50k limits in suburban residential streets and heavy pedestrian load locations like the CBD, but it needs to be more clearly indicated.
I was back in Adelaide a week before I noticed that the speed limit now drops to 50K as you drive through the parklands into the city.
Sure, there is a sign on each road, but if you are watching traffic in an area where you are no longer totally familiar with the flow one small sign is easily missed. [No I wasn't picked up.]
I like the NSW tendency to paint the speed limit on the road in big white letters every so often.

In Victoria, major suburban roads have white lines along them and are 60K and unmarked roads are 50, while multi-lane major roads are usually 80K. This means there is a system everyone knows, and if you are not sure you can work it out just by looking at the road itself. The draw back there is the 3 kph margin - you have to constantly check your speedo or drive 5K under the speed limit and annoy those behind you.

In broad terms, yes, you can avoid the fines by obeying the law, but I have never intentionally exceeded the speed limit in a city and suburban environment in my life, but have been fined for doing it accidentally by small margins several times. [I admit I can't claim not to have sped intentionally on country highways outside built up areas, where I would still dispute the rationality of current speed limits.]

However, campaigns like the one that claims you are going so much faster at impact if you are only 5K faster when you brake don't help credibility - I've run it through the formulae several times and it just does not compute...

[FlyingHigh]

Haven't read all these comments, but I am getting pretty pissed off with the new 50km/h zones they have implemented around my town. Fair enough on the side streets and residential areas, but these are wide main roads with another parking lane on the side.

I have only been caught twice for speeding - once 120 in 110 zone, fair enough, happy topay, did the wrong thing. Other time, doing right on 60 in a zone apparently changed to 50, but no sign one way (don't think there still is 12 months later) and open land on one side of the street - crazy thing is this road lead into a dirt road beginning on a bend and the limit went from 50 to 100km/h right on that bend.

Believe these signs should show a "range", say 50-60 limit, and then the tolerance over 60 be minimal. Doing 55-56 and getting pinged in a 50 zone is crap IMO.

Agree Pysber, the limits painted on Sydney roads are good.

End of rant.

[Dirko]

I wonder how many fines were done between leaving South Tce (60) and entering Sir Don (50 for 100 metres) ? Or via Grote (50) over South (60) and into Sir Don (50 for 100 metres). That's where it's ridiculous.....

Too many roads around like May Tce (Brooklyn Pk), Bray St (Plympton Pk), Winston Ave (Daw Pk and others), where they are pretty commonly used as bus/commuter routes yet drop down to 50 kmh when they're connecting 60 kmh roads. Always poorly marked too.

[heater31]

I wonder how many fines were done between leaving South Tce (60) and entering Sir Don (50 for 100 metres) ? Or via Grote (50) over South (60) and into Sir Don (50 for 100 metres). That's where it's ridiculous.....

Too many roads around like May Tce (Brooklyn Pk), Bray St (Plympton Pk), Winston Ave (Daw Pk and others), where they are pretty commonly used as bus/commuter routes yet drop down to 50 kmh when they're connecting 60 kmh roads. Always poorly marked too.

That is how pathetic the current Government is regarding the 50km/h laws They lost a court case due to a ruling on the speed camera located on Bradman Dr & Grote street. Their answer was to place 60 sign another 200m down the road so they could get their money back

[redden whites]

Believe these signs should show a "range", say 50-60 limit, and then the tolerance over 60 be minimal. Doing 55-56 and getting pinged in a 50 zone is crap IMO.

absolute Gold... you want a 55-60 sign and minimal tolerance for anyone doing over over 60 but think getting done for 55-56 in a current 50 zone is crap.......

[aceman]

Where is this heading? It depends on who you talk to and their definition of a moron. I wouldn't take it too seriously, you'll go mad! And the journo was Doug Robertson, nice bloke but not a court reporter, unless it's maybe a tennis or squash court.

[Pseudo]

And the journo was Doug Robertson, nice bloke but not a court reporter, unless it's maybe a tennis or squash court.

Have to agree with that. Doug's talent is wasted in the court pages; bring him back to sport where he belongs. He is light years ahead of effwits like Warren Partland.