Driving on the open road

[Terror_Tree]

Over the last couple of months I have had to do a lot of driving on the Bruce highway north of Townsville. Most of the other road users where ok but, below is a list of things that really ****ed me off.

1. Cars towing caravans with just the standard mirrors, How the hell can they see what’s behind them!!
2. People who sit on 90km/h but speed up to 120km/h in overtaking lanes!
3. People who can’t sit on a constant speed, varying between 85km/h and 95km/h
4. Road trains tailgating cars
5. People who flash their lights behind you because you dare to slow down for road works
6. People overtaking in dangerous places
7. Being tailgated by at 100km/h

I firmly believe that the biggest cause of car smashes is stupid people.

[ShootsWithFilm]

Originally Posted by Terror_Tree

Over the last couple of months I have had to do a lot of driving on the Bruce highway north of Townsville. Most of the other road users where ok but, below is a list of things that really ****ed me off.

1. Cars towing caravans with just the standard mirrors, How the hell can they see what’s behind them!!
2. People who sit on 90km/h but speed up to 120km/h in overtaking lanes!
3. People who can’t sit on a constant speed, varying between 85km/h and 95km/h
4. Road trains tailgating cars
5. People who flash their lights behind you because you dare to slow down for road works
6. People overtaking in dangerous places
7. Being tailgated by at 100km/h

I firmly believe that the biggest cause of car smashes is stupid people.

Can't disagree with that!

[flappist]

One point.

If you are being tailgated regardless of what speed you are doing then let them pass.

Some will be trying to push you faster to use use as a "mine detector", these will usually not overtake or if they do will just do the limit but at least they are not going to hit you from behind.

Others wish to go faster than you for whatever reason so let them go. If they wish to speed that is their business and if you block them because you think you are upholding the law or taking some moral high ground then in fact it is you who are causing the danger not them.

[monte.b]

Originally Posted by flappist

One point.

If you are being tailgated regardless of what speed you are doing then let them pass.

Some will be trying to push you faster to use use as a "mine detector", these will usually not overtake or if they do will just do the limit but at least they are not going to hit you from behind.

Others wish to go faster than you for whatever reason so let them go. If they wish to speed that is their business and if you block them because you think you are upholding the law or taking some moral high ground then in fact it is you who are causing the danger not them.

Pretty plain to see you havnt driven this road much ,there is not very many overtaking lanes on the old goat track and the further north you go the worse it gets ,even if you want to be overtaken its pretty scary

[flappist]

Originally Posted by monte.b

Pretty plain to see you havnt driven this road much ,there is not very many overtaking lanes on the old goat track and the further north you go the worse it gets ,even if you want to be overtaken its pretty scary

Really?

Well I have been driving between Brisbane and Rockhampton since 1976 and have done well over 1,000,000 km on that bit of road alone.

How about you?

[monte.b]

Originally Posted by flappist

Really?

Well I have been driving between Brisbane and Rockhampton since 1976 and have done well over 1,000,000 km on that bit of road alone.

How about you?

Yep ive done a few miles on the old road too mainly from maryborough to gold coast ,down and back each week for the last few years ,been to cairns a few times .That road from rocky to mackay is the most boring road ive ever driven on ,i reckon the further north you go the better the drivers are and the worse the road gets ,most drive with the headlights on in the daytime which is good i reckon ,thats a lot of klm you have got up there was it in a ford

[flappist]

Originally Posted by monte.b

Yep ive done a few miles on the old road too mainly from maryborough to gold coast ,down and back each week for the last few years ,been to cairns a few times .That road from rocky to mackay is the most boring road ive ever driven on ,i reckon the further north you go the better the drivers are and the worse the road gets ,most drive with the headlights on in the daytime which is good i reckon ,thats a lot of klm you have got up there was it in a ford

It mostly was in a lot of Fords, 370,000km in a XC Panel Van, 220,000km in a XD Panel Van, 181,000km in a Gemini Panel Van, 120,000km in a RX7, 285,000km in a EA Fairmont Ghia, 132,000km in a EL Fairmont, 140,000km in a AU2 Fairmont Ghia, 87,000km in a BA GT-P, 105,000km in a BA2 F6, 98,000km in a HR 350z and 16,000km in a FG XR6T Ute.

There were many other vehicles but those were the big km ones.....
N.B. numbers are approx and from memory as most of the vehicles were new when I bought them.

Marlborough-Sarina is great compared to the old road and much shorter. The rest of it is not so bad either, it is now all bitumen, dual lane and the narrow wooden bridges are gone.
The only problem I ever ran into was city people who seemed to get all stressed and confused when confronted with distances more than a couple of hundred km and overtaking zones that needed run ups and exceeding of speed limits to be negotiated safely.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Had almost all of those on a trip from Brisbane to Coffs Harbor not too long ago.

The one that irked me the most was the passing lane bit. 80km/h in a 100km/h zone... 120km/h in a passing lane... back to 80km/h at the merge....

Someone explained it on here not too long ago, as a physiological issue with the person. They feel less safe in a single lane and thus slow down to accommodate their fear, thus actually creating a dangerous situation.

When the road opens up into dual carriage way then they feel 'safe' and thus increase their speed, whether they mean to exceed the speed limit or are even looking at their speedo who knows... but sure enough they go back to panic mode once the dual carriageway end....

Another theory I have is people are just bastards.

[flappist]

It really is all psychology.

I once read about a guy who used to do a LOT of travelling on the open road in QLD and used to use the innate psychology of a specific group to his advantage.

The party trick is to trundle along until a commodore overtakes you and then immediately overtake it back and increase your speed to whatever you would like travel at.
In almost all situations the commodore will immediately overtake again and will travel faster showing you the superiority of their vehicle not realising that they are now mine sweeping for you.
There are a few parametres:
1) You must be in a Ford.
2) The commodore must be driven by a holden bogan.
3) The more "performancy" looking the Ford and/or the commodore the more likely the desired result.
4) Bowties are like shooting fish in a barrel.

Of course all characters appearing in this post are fictitious. Any resemblance to real flappists, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

[cheap]

Part of the problem is the terribly inaccurate speedo's.

Our car reads +110km/hr when we're actually doing 100km/hr (using the GPS for verification).

So it isn't uncommon to think you're doing 100km/hr when you're actually doing much less and other drivers end up having to overtake...

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Typical one eyed statement, whereby the poster doesn't see any other brand on the road doing anything wrong.....

He's having a lend mate

Biggest group I had an issue with was the 4WD's driven by the midlife crew. OHMAHGAWD talk about inadequacy issues... I re-passed one bloke about 4 times before I got jack of it and turned off for a rest... buggered if I'm paying for someone else's problems.

[svo supporter]

Nothing unusual there....it happens round the city as well as the country.

Not much you can do about it other than be patient and keep your distance, where possible, from such knobs.

[zilo]

All I see on the road is problems with people either not understanding road rules or having their own crazy interpretation of them

But all problems stem from failing to keep left.

If they kept to the left of the road I would just consider them as roadside litter and get on with my day and let them get on with theirs.

[XBROO]

I get sick of all the complaining about other drivers on the road. So my new attitude is **** everybody else, and drive to were I'm comfortable and safe. If people want to get past then past, if I want to get past someone, then I'll do it simple really. There's always going to be people that can't drive or do the wrong things. No use getting upset about it, just remember to look after numger one, yourself and family. So drive to stay alive and yes this may mean break some road rules, but it's better then being dead.

[Gabbs]

One thing that really gets me is when you overtake someone in a 110 zone. You then get to a 90 zone which turns to a 80 or 60 depending where you are and they re overtake you. So speed goes back up to 110 and guess who isn't doing the speed limit.

[In Focus]

I get the "big car inadequacy" routine: if a small car is ahead of a big car, whether the small car is doing the speed limit or not, the big car must overtake. Quite often, the big car will then settle down to the same speed, or sometimes lower, as the small car was originally doing.

[thefargo]

the other issue, not confined to the open road, is

I must pull out in front of you, more so if there are no vehicles behind you. By pulling out infront of you, I will cause maximum inconvenience, whereas waiting the extra 3 - 5 seconds until you have passed will cause no inconvenience what-so-ever.
this pullingout can be from side/entry streets, petrol stations, etc.

As I said certainly not just the open road.

I think it is mandated on South Australian roads.

[FPV+fteT3]

One of my biggies is other people driving your car for you, let me explain yesterday going up a mountain on thundebolts way a small truck with a tractor on its back going up the mountain. I was in 1st and 2nd gear with a small car in front of me directly behind the truck, when we reached the top the small car went to overtake ... the truck driver motioned with his hand outside the window to overtake drifting accross the centre line by a foot almost sideswiping the already passing small car, dont get me started on the people who half pull over showering you with rocks.. if I want to pass you I can at anytime, your not doing me any favours covering my car in shyte.

Its only a bend no need to brake let alone slow down to 80.....typical of the city driver syndrome.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

One of my biggies is other people driving your car for you, let me explain yesterday going up a mountain on thundebolts way a small truck with a tractor on its back going up the mountain. I was in 1st and 2nd gear with a small car in front of me directly behind the truck, when we reached the top the small car went to overtake ... the truck driver motioned with his hand outside the window to overtake drifting accross the centre line by a foot almost sideswiping the already passing small car, dont get me started on the people who half pull over showering you with rocks.. if I want to pass you I can at anytime, your not doing me any favours covering my car in shyte.

Its only a bend no need to brake let alone slow down to 80.....typical of the city driver syndrome.

Poor truck driver is nice and waves to signal it is safe to pass however in the process the poor fella drifts over the centre line....

Moral of the story....The truck driver shouldn't have been nice and left the driver of the small car sit up his backside..

[RegSpec]

As somebody who does a lot of nightime driving......

Inconsiderate drivers who refuse to dip their lights till the very last second (usually after youve flashed them a couple of times).....

And/or.....people who dont check their headlight alignment!!

These two peeves are in addition to everything else already mentioned above of course...

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by thefargo

I must pull out in front of you, more so if there are no vehicles behind you. By pulling out infront of you, I will cause maximum inconvenience,

extra points if i'm turning off the road in less than a KM.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by In Focus

I get the "big car inadequacy" routine: if a small car is ahead of a big car, whether the small car is doing the speed limit or not, the big car must overtake. Quite often, the big car will then settle down to the same speed, or sometimes lower, as the small car was originally doing.

YES! Happens all the time in the Mrs Excel. Other thing I never got when I was a learner is that I'd be 'going with the flow' of traffic but it's like people have a switch that goes "OH NO LEARNER BURNER! WARPSPEED TO GET PAST!"

I try to avoid causing the learnings any grief as a consequence

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by grandpa_spec_F6

YES! Happens all the time in the Mrs Excel. Other thing I never got when I was a learner is that I'd be 'going with the flow' of traffic but it's like people have a switch that goes "OH NO LEARNER BURNER! WARPSPEED TO GET PAST!"

I try to avoid causing the learnings any grief as a consequence

When I was on my L's I used to love watching traffic in my mirrors when I was stopped at the lights. There would be 3 cars in the lane next to me and none behind me, as the 4th car comes up behind me they notice I am a learner and change into the lane with more traffic to get past.
Then If I take off faster than the car next to me, I would watch them all try to get back into the lane behind me.

One of the most annoying drivers in cities are people who change lanes every 10 seconds because the other lane is now temporarily going faster, but they never get anywhere faster.
I only change lanes if I know the other lane will continue to go faster and it's safe to do so.


Most annoying drivers on highways are people who speed up at overtaking lanes only.

[4stanger]

Originally Posted by Ben73

When I was on my L's I used to love watching traffic in my mirrors when I was stopped at the lights. There would be 3 cars in the lane next to me and none behind me, as the 4th car comes up behind me they notice I am a learner and change into the lane with more traffic to get past.
Then If I take off faster than the car next to me, I would watch them all try to get back into the lane behind me.

One of the most annoying drivers in cities are people who change lanes every 10 seconds because the other lane is now temporarily going faster, but they never get anywhere faster.
I only change lanes if I know the other lane will continue to go faster and it's safe to do so.


Most annoying drivers on highways are people who speed up at overtaking lanes only.

Totally agree with this post.
Been there. Seen that.

[2011G6E]

Roadworks are my pet hate...more precisely, idiots who refuse to slow down for them...I take great pride in following the signs exactly and having a row of morons behind me itching to get past.

Seeing as how a woman working as a stop/go person at roadworks was flattened and killed the other day by a semi up near Marlborough, you would think people might realise that the lower limits are there for a reason.
Sad thing yesterday was a roadworks area with people there working, and everyone overtook me as we approached the area (in a temporary sixty zone), with roadworkers waving their hands to tell the vehicles to slow down as they roared through. Then maybe three or four kilometers down the road around a bend was the speed camera van, well past the roadworks.
Here's a tip Mr Plod...go and sit in the roadworks areas instead...you'd pay off the state debt in a month with the fines.

Trucks? Don't get me started. I've been doing a GPS accurate 115kph in a 110 zone and still get overtaken by B doubles and triples. Been run off the road twice. Lots of fun. They're the worst at roadworks too...there are plenty of signs well out from the roadworks saying what's coming, but they refuse to even start to slow down until they'e passed the first reduced speed zone signs, then they have the damn hide to complain that "people don't give us enough room"...well chuckles, that also means it's your responsability to start slowing down much earlier and use your skills as a professional driver to ensure you don't drive in a way that means you have to quickly roar up behind slower traffic in those areas and tailgate cars a meter or two off their bumper through roadworks where it is highly likely you will have to stop fairly quickly.

[4.0i_SiX]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Roadworks are my pet hate...more precisely, idiots who refuse to slow down for them...I take great pride in following the signs exactly and having a row of morons behind me itching to get past.

While I agree with you 100% and obey roadwork speed signs myself. I can see why some people dont. Besides being impatient *******.

I get sick to death of the council repairing a road and then leaving the speed signs in place for weeks and weeks after they have completely finished what theyre doing. Or they pull them down but forget to remove the black sheets they put over the original speed sign, Just pure laziness

On that note can anyone explain the logical reason why the section of the Gateway motorway just before the Mt Gravatt capalaba Road turnoff ( heading northbound ) drops down to 80? No roadworks have gone on there for months.

[Agent86]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Roadworks are my pet hate...more precisely, idiots who refuse to slow down for them...I take great pride in following the signs exactly and having a row of morons behind me itching to get past.

Seeing as how a woman working as a stop/go person at roadworks was flattened and killed the other day by a semi up near Marlborough, you would think people might realise that the lower limits are there for a reason.
Sad thing yesterday was a roadworks area with people there working, and everyone overtook me as we approached the area (in a temporary sixty zone), with roadworkers waving their hands to tell the vehicles to slow down as they roared through. Then maybe three or four kilometers down the road around a bend was the speed camera van, well past the roadworks.
Here's a tip Mr Plod...go and sit in the roadworks areas instead...you'd pay off the state debt in a month with the fines.

Trucks? Don't get me started. I've been doing a GPS accurate 115kph in a 110 zone and still get overtaken by B doubles and triples. Been run off the road twice. Lots of fun. They're the worst at roadworks too...there are plenty of signs well out from the roadworks saying what's coming, but they refuse to even start to slow down until they'e passed the first reduced speed zone signs, then they have the damn hide to complain that "people don't give us enough room"...well chuckles, that also means it's your responsability to start slowing down much earlier and use your skills as a professional driver to ensure you don't drive in a way that means you have to quickly roar up behind slower traffic in those areas and tailgate cars a meter or two off their bumper through roadworks where it is highly likely you will have to stop fairly quickly.

I wont condone the actions of a few of the morons out there in trucks, but taring us all with that brush is narow sitghted if notdisplaying the same mind set that helps to create the problems we all face.

YES they should use more discretion and slow sooner etc.
Until you have to deal with the lunacy that a large portionof theindustry operatesunder, please dont cast stones.

Personally, i dont work within sectors that are under such pressure simply because all the risk would be on me, and reward goes to someone else.

And just think. For every mongrel truckie you come across, there will be dozens you dont even notice because they are just out there gettingit done.

[Outbackjack]

Aussies are awsome drivers ........

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

Aussies are awsome drivers ........

Not as good as those crazy Russians

[new2ford]

There's a new generation on the way. Followed a learner into town today under supervision of parent. Failed to indicate exit from roundabout and when already in roundabout gave way to car that hadn't yet entered the roundabout.

I won't even mention the driving school cars sitting in the right lane on multi-lane roads.