Police Wrap - 19 June

Not that I condone speeding in roadworks area’s, it would be interesting to see what the rules are here in the ACT on this one…
http://www.speedingfineconsultants.com/articles/morality.html

“Police were called to the scene around 10.39am after reports a vehicle had collided with the building, hitting an elderly pedestrian as she stood outside the post office.”

No seriously, you can’t collide with a building. A collision involves 2 moving objects.

Mmm. wierd italic thing happening

Rawhide Kid No 2 said :

TP 3000 said :

But I also have twats that tailgate while I’m doing the posted 40k’s through there, but I just punish them by dropping to 30k’s & if they still don’t back off, 20k’s. After that I usually stop suddenly every so often, they run up the back of me they ain’t going no where & I’ll just say I thought I saw some typ of animal (I’ll give whatever animal first comes to mind). The worse culprits are the roadworkers themselves.

In the early eighties my dad did this to a car that was tailgateing him through Ballarat one night. He slammed on the anchors and the bloke behind re-ended him. Dad diddn’t actualy think it was very funny until the other bloke got out of his car – wearing his police uniform. The cop was livid, but couldn’t do sh!t about it.

TP 3000 said :

But I also have twats that tailgate while I’m doing the posted 40k’s through there, but I just punish them by dropping to 30k’s & if they still don’t back off, 20k’s. After that I usually stop suddenly every so often, they run up the back of me they ain’t going no where & I’ll just say I thought I saw some typ of animal (I’ll give whatever animal first comes to mind). The worse culprits are the roadworkers themselves.

I saw this happen once a few years ago on William Hovell Drive during road works. Unfortunately for the “culprit” the car he was suppose to be slowing down behind him was an unmarked police vehicle. Booked for obstructing traffic. And loss of points.

Aeek said :

That’s the thing, I will slow right down for road workers; but for deserted road work signs when I have no other traffic to deal with? Maybe the signs should be 40k when road workers present?

It’s not just to protect the roadworkers. When major works are going on vast changes may have been made to the surface / no of lanes / path of travel. The reason you have to slow down even when no work is actually taking place is because of the change from normal conditions.

Regarding the work on the other side of the road, how do you know that they were not about to start works on your side, or that they weren’t accessing the site or dropping off material via your side of the road.

Regardless of the community’s opinion about the work ethics of roadwork crews (for a fine upstanding example check out the lot working beside the gde in kaleen who decided it was easier to clean up the day’s traffic cones by driving over them this afternoon) we are everyday driving through their workplace, and like any workplace they are entitled to a raft of things. Is it OK to smoke in a workplace if no-one is there, NO. Is it OK to make sexist remarks even if there are no members of the subject sex present, NO.

It is true that you may not get caught out each time you speed, smoke or smear but when you do don’t come running to riot act expecting everyone to feel sorry for you and your selfish disregard.

I just drove back from Sydney and the headlight thing is spot on. And many of these cars were NSW and other states who have these magical yearly inspections things. Headlights out, or that thing where one is fading and the other is full blast, mis-aligned, or just bloody bright. All kinds of wierd things happening with tail-lights and brake lights, too.

As for tyres, there’s a LOT of cars parked in parking areas all day. More bombing raids on carparks might reap them some rewards? Some weeks back, I went for a short walk and noticed the rego inspection guys goign around our carpark and getting very excited over a racing-style roadbike. Meanwhile, the building security guy had sent an email to everyone warning them of the rego guys in the carpark. But I didn’t see any tickets or notes on windscreens? Maybe they post them.

But people are mean and will hold off fixing things like lights and tyres, unless they’re made to. The cops shouldn’t have to go after things like this, there’s the rego inspectors, aren’t there?

On the subject of people speeding through Tharwa Drive roadworks. On Thursday a motorcylist fell off his bike on the ‘s’ bend (where you change from the old southbound carriage way to the new one), I assume that he was going too fast as the advised speed around the s bend is 20k’s. But the Police van & motorbike came & took the bike away, don’t know what happened to the rider though although a roadworker was caring for him & calling someone on his mobile. But I also have twats that tailgate while I’m doing the posted 40k’s through there, but I just punish them by dropping to 30k’s & if they still don’t back off, 20k’s. After that I usually stop suddenly every so often, they run up the back of me they ain’t going no where & I’ll just say I thought I saw some typ of animal (I’ll give whatever animal first comes to mind). The worse culprits are the roadworkers themselves.

About 1 in 10 with visible defects (headlight out/out of alignment, break light out) is about right. I’ve also come across the odd car with no break lights at all. All they need to do now is sit by the side of the road and pull over all the morons driving with their fog lights on and write them a ticket.

Enforced by the Police, in the ACT? Maybe its me, in 24 years I have been breathalysed once and there was a traffic inspection spot when I was in the right hand lane and got through unstopped. I’ve been breath tested more and otherwise stopped interstate and I’ve spent most of my driving life here. It’s hard to take the local enforcement seriously.

Dvaey, I’m not having a go, just making a point that driving that slow, perhaps outside a school zone, is not natural and can be challanging. A lot of road workers (when working) take it for granted motorists are driving slow and don’t always look for traffic when close to the edge of a lane of vehicle traffic so to that end, the 40k zone make them a little safer.

My father has recently taken a position in another state ‘leaning on shovels’ in the next chapter of a grey nomad expidition. The stereotypes are true, he has struggled to ‘slow down’ as he describes it to fit in to his new workplace.

Do be aware that altered speed limits can be enforced by Police though. I’m sure nobody wants to find out the hard way.

That’s the thing, I will slow right down for road workers; but for deserted road work signs when I have no other traffic to deal with? Maybe the signs should be 40k when road workers present?

ABC’s got more (plus a pic) on the Weston accident. I would not want to be the poor soul who got pinned there.

That’s the thing, I will slow right down for road workers; but for deserted road work signs when I have no other traffic to deal with?

A 40 kph limit is just that, a limit. Dvaey, I think people being impatient is the problem with speeding through road work areas. I challenge drivers to stick to the limit for the entire legnth of a road work site and see if they really find it difficult to stay under the limit.

If you read my original comment, you’d see I was referring to a 40km/hr signed area where the roadworks were on the other side of a traffic island. Im not just talking on the other side of a double white line, Im talking across maybe 10-15m of land with a gully in it. I have no problem with doing the posted speed limit, but I have a problem when you drop your speed right down, have everyone pass you, only to come across an ‘End roadwork’ sign before youve even seen any roadworks to begin with. This is what causes people to become complacent.

I also wonder, if police can enforce speed limits around road workers, it would be nice if someone could enforce the roadworkers to actually work. The times I do seem to pass roadworks it seems the crew are sitting around having breakfast/lunch/cuppa.

A 40 kph limit is just that, a limit. Dvaey, I think people being impatient is the problem with speeding through road work areas. I travel through the Tharwa Drive roadworks daily and I’m nearly always amazed at the distance gained by the vehicle in front of me, and then by the large line forming behind me. I challenge drivers to stick to the limit for the entire legnth of a road work site and see if they really find it difficult to stay under the limit.

As for the tail and headlights, I think it is a real safety point especially in foggy weather. While I check my tail and headlights, it is not something I have been vigilant about as regularly as I should do. This thread has really brought this to my attention and I hope others follow suit. Given the amount of traffic competing in the “public service 500” of a morning when fog is at its worst, tail lights do become important in avoiding prangs.

I was there when the Soccer Club was robbed. No one noticed until after it had happened. The trivia night comp had just ended when they did it. They should have done it while it was still going on and they would have had less witnesses.

caf said :

The 40km/h signs at roadworks don’t mean “40km/h, if in your personal opinion it’s justified, otherwise just, you know, do what you feel like”.

+1

The 40km/h signs at roadworks don’t mean “40km/h, if in your personal opinion it’s justified, otherwise just, you know, do what you feel like”.

I came south down Yamba drive today and my only comment was ‘I can see why people ignore roadwork signs’. There was one sign on the left indicating the right lane was closed, and one on the right side, indicating the left lane was closed. Then was a 40km/hr speed limit. Upon approaching the roadworks site, it turns out the roadworks were completely on the other side of the island between the lanes.

This is the reason why people ignore roadworks signs and get impatient, because so often theyre setup incorrectly or giving misinformation, that when they do give essential information it can be easily overlooked until its too late.
Also, as for the guy caught doing ’90km/hr in a 40km/hr zone’, that simply means 10km/hr over the original signposted limit, not the massive 50km/hr thats so-implied.. especially if it was in a non-roadworks situation like I described above.

peterh said :

People usually are quick to point out to others when there is a problem with brake lights or indicators. I had a bulb go yesterday – in the trip to a car parts place, 5 people mentioned it to me at the lights. all ok now.

When a bulb blew in one of my brake lights I only knew because one of my friends told me as I was reversing out of his place, since a service was due soon I left it till then. I think I was driving with one of the front turn indicators out for a fortnight, as it was flashing doubletime that long which was fixed by replacing the bulb once a workmate told me it was out.

I must look too intimidating at the lights – or I’m so short that neighbouring drivers are wondering where the driver is?

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

It’s not really surprising that there’s a fair number of defective cars on the road. How often are they inspected?

Even in NSW our late model range rover friend wouldn’t have to get checked until vehicle is 5 years old I understand.

It’s not really surprising that there’s a fair number of defective cars on the road. How often are they inspected?

Richardson St has also had lots of people ignoring the No right turn between 7 & 9am sign- some even did it this week in full view of the police and then were affronted when they got fines. The street also has a Local traffic only sign. People are using it during the Tharwa Drive duplication in order to try and get a few cars earlier in the queue when they rejoin Tharwa Drive at the Mentone view roundabout- because after bitching about needing the duplication done for years apparently its too hard to just be patient and wait in the queue while the roadworks are on. Also, going 40km/hr in the roadworks zone is apparently too hard too, despite the road conditions being difficult and dangerous at any faster speed 24 hours a day. Morons.

Jivrashia said :

The locations targeted included Archibald St (Lyneham),

I think this was on top of booking people turning in to Archibald St from Mouat St at a no right turn sign (8am ~ 9:30am weekdays). This blitz is quite regular (every 2~3months) so be wary, or don’t do it.
Also turning in to Goodwin St from Mouat St. Same deal.

I got pulled over here a couple of months back. Even though I lived in the next street i still didn’t count as ‘local traffic’. The policeman said he would check my record and if I had a good driving record I’d get a warning, and if not a fine.
I was cheering that I only got a warning as I’ve been fined for speeding before and thought that would count as poor driving record.

Clown Killer said :

I only drive about 30,000km a year but I would not be able to remember the last time I saw a car with only one headlight or a defective set of brake lights.

If 20% was right, then there would be at least 26,000 cars on ACT roads with that defect (based on one car per household over 130000 households). Further, going back to the original post, if from a sample of over 4000 vehicles the police managed just over 400 infringement notices, why were they ignoring the other 10% of cars with bung headlights or tail lights. I just don’t buy it.

I always see cars with only one break light working, or one headlight dimmer than the other.
Also – don’t forget that some of the cars also could have been given a warning for having a headlight out etc.

The locations targeted included Archibald St (Lyneham),

I think this was on top of booking people turning in to Archibald St from Mouat St at a no right turn sign (8am ~ 9:30am weekdays). This blitz is quite regular (every 2~3months) so be wary, or don’t do it.
Also turning in to Goodwin St from Mouat St. Same deal.

I only drive about 30,000km a year but I would not be able to remember the last time I saw a car with only one headlight or a defective set of brake lights.

If 20% was right, then there would be at least 26,000 cars on ACT roads with that defect (based on one car per household over 130000 households). Further, going back to the original post, if from a sample of over 4000 vehicles the police managed just over 400 infringement notices, why were they ignoring the other 10% of cars with bung headlights or tail lights. I just don’t buy it.

SheepGroper said :

peterh said :

Fog in the day is usually a good time to discover that the idiot in front of you has been able to lash out on a doof doof stereo, but cannot afford to fix their brake lights, probably by replacing the bulbs…

Maybe they don’t know a bulb blew? It should be obvious if a headlight doesn’t work at night, but even if you check once a week it could be days before you realise an indicator or brake light has gone.

People usually are quick to point out to others when there is a problem with brake lights or indicators. I had a bulb go yesterday – in the trip to a car parts place, 5 people mentioned it to me at the lights. all ok now.

peterh said :

Fog in the day is usually a good time to discover that the idiot in front of you has been able to lash out on a doof doof stereo, but cannot afford to fix their brake lights, probably by replacing the bulbs…

Maybe they don’t know a bulb blew? It should be obvious if a headlight doesn’t work at night, but even if you check once a week it could be days before you realise an indicator or brake light has gone.

Clown Killer said :

Around 20% of vechiles I see each night are defective in the headlight/taillight department.

I’m going to call you on that one. One in five vehicles have either a defective headlight or tail-light? Bullsh!t.

CK, I spend a lot of my time in a car as well, and TP3000 is pretty well spot on re the headlights and tail lights. fog in the day is usually a good time to discover that the idiot in front of you has been able to lash out on a doof doof stereo, but cannot afford to fix their brake lights, probably by replacing the bulbs…

Around 20% of vechiles I see each night are defective in the headlight/taillight department.

I’m going to call you on that one. One in five vehicles have either a defective headlight or tail-light? Bullsh!t.

They don’t only do it in June, TP3000. I agree with your other points though.

Tooks said :

It’s used as a bit of a shortcut to avoid traffic delays on Tharwa Drive.

It has always been used a shortcut before the roadworks. Which is why I am surprised that they didn’t scrap the roundabout at Mentone View & Tharwa Drive when they started the duplication. They could of even just made it a left turn only road & sped things up through Conder.

But I wonder why the Police were surprised at such a high number of illegal vechiles. Maybe because they only do it in June of each year. Around 20% of vechiles I see each night are defective in the headlight/taillight department. Then another 5% without number plates & another 10% speeding or braking road rules. Just to clear it up I am on a big green/orange vechile that sees everything all day long.

One of the defected vehicles yesterday included a late model Range Rover which had all the layers of rubber missing from a tyre, and the tyre’s steel belts fully exposed. This vehicle received a major defect notice and had to be towed away.

With a bit of shopping around you can pick up one of these noble beasts for a fraction of the original purchase price – but that’s not much good if you then cant afford to stump up the $450-odd to replace a worn tyre.

Sorry for the staff and patrons to go through that ordeal but if you insist on having the very front reception doubling as your pokie change counter added no visible security it may occasionally happen.

It’s used as a bit of a shortcut to avoid traffic delays on Tharwa Drive.

Why Richardson Crescent in Conder? It’s just a small street , from what I can see in Google Maps.