Time To Get Political?? - Cars Speed Limited To 130 Km/h

[pah]

Hi all,

We should have seen this one coming a mile off.

Ford & Holden are being criticized for making high performance cars and there's even a call for cars to be speed limited to 130 km/h. That'll be great when we need a last few km/h to overtake a truck as an oncoming car emerges out of an unseen road dip!

These do-gooders don't say a word against makers such as Porsche and Ferrari making available high performance cars. What are they saying? The well healed can handle a powerful car but those of us on a lesser budget ought to be limited to pedal cars?

You can check out their criticism at this web site:

http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/story_page/0,8269,11263487%255E21822,00.html

If we sit on our bums, we the do-gooders might get their way. They shafted the XU2 and the Phase IV GTHO in the early 1970's. So what are we going to do?

If we successfully lobbied GMH to keep the V8 till 1998, we should be able to lobby against any stupid changes to road rules and speed laws.

Wheel Magazine has been running a campaign against the use of speed cameras to persecute motorists. Maybe we need to be a bit more oraginsed to support them in their campaign and to prevent the bannning of high performance Fords & Holdens?

Taking into consideration the taxes we pay, the government ought to upgrade our major freeways (Hume Freeway etc) to enable us to do a bit more than 110 km/h (maybe 130 km/h).

If we do nothing, we may not see the LS2 in the VE



PAH

[QIKMIK]

Check out this thread. We know about this goose and we all feel the same.

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=31377

Mick

[Plan B]

Limit all road cars to 110.... I don't care. If speed kills then ask the road designers why we all have to share one strip and pass each other within inches at a terminal velocity of 100k's even in the back streets set at 50k’s…. Then move along… Cars are amazing things….. Really!!!

[vh-holden]

morons

that's all i have to say

actually, i have more to say. i feel safer and more alert at around 130-140 in the vh than i do at 100.

[PJK]

What would be the point of speed limiting new cars to 130kmh when the existing millions of cars out there already will still be able to go more than 130.

[StormVX]

they could have the theory that you've gotta start somewhere.

[GTS JaZzA]

just what i was thinking PJK

[PJK]

they could have the theory that you've gotta start somewhere.

True StormVX - only problem is it would take at least 20 years to have a majority of speed limited cars and by then fuel will be so damn expensive we'll probably be driving gutless hybrid pieces of crap.


Cheers :D

[paulvdb]

Limit all road cars to 110.... I don't care. If speed kills then ask the road designers why we all have to share one strip and pass each other within inches at a terminal velocity of 100k's even in the back streets set at 50k’s…. Then move along… Cars are amazing things….. Really!!!

You DO need to care PlanB. This is an extension of our ability to believe all sorts of rubbish if packed well by a politician.

EXCESSIVE speed can lead to road deaths. "Speed" alone is a massively abused word. Just to re-iterate everything published out there....
Driving 60kph in the rain on a crappy road can be dangerous
Driving 150kph on a very good road in good conditions in a good car can be quite safe.
Driving 60kph in a Datsun Sunny is REALLY dangerous.
Driving 130kph in a modern commodore can be quite safe.

Drivers need the skills and experience to make their own judgements. Speed limits should be an advisary limit to guide the driver.

Drivers should be forced to drive safe cars - that means then that cars should be test every year. I think it's mad that there are states where this is not the case. These tests should be tough on old cars - we shouldn't see old bombs with serious engines and drum brakes on the roads.

Poor driving kills people - not speed. Excessive speeding is ONE of multiple problems that afflict poor drivers. Others include..
- Failing to indicate
- Not leaving enough room around their car
- Failing to look in the mirror
- Driving a dangerous car
- Poor judgement on road conditions
- Driving in an aggro manner
- etc.

The only way I think that you can reduce deaths then is to have strong controls on the SAFETY of vehicles allowed on the road (not a limiter - which is dangerous), give our drivers some REAL training, and have MOBILE police to spot the idiots (not speed cameras).

[dean]

I cant see that something like this would get passed. It would almost guarentee the demise of the Australian made car market. For imported cars, the additional tooling costs to manuafacure cars specifically for the Australian market would drive the prices through the roof. New car sales with these features would be severly be compromised. Id imagine every vechcle manufacurer would be voicing their opinion very loudly.

[Danv8]

After driving trucks with speed limiters is no picnic.
Now these vultures want to restrict cars to 130 kph? Give me an f'n break! I suppose they won't be happy when cars reach the same top speeds as electric wheelchairs. God I want to vomit just thinking about it.

[VX2VESS]

You DO need to care PlanB. This is an extension of our ability to believe all sorts of rubbish if packed well by a politician.

EXCESSIVE speed can lead to road deaths. "Speed" alone is a massively abused word. Just to re-iterate everything published out there....
Driving 60kph in the rain on a crappy road can be dangerous
Driving 150kph on a very good road in good conditions in a good car can be quite safe.
Driving 60kph in a Datsun Sunny is REALLY dangerous.
Driving 130kph in a modern commodore can be quite safe.

Drivers need the skills and experience to make their own judgements. Speed limits should be an advisary limit to guide the driver.

Drivers should be forced to drive safe cars - that means then that cars should be test every year. I think it's mad that there are states where this is not the case. These tests should be tough on old cars - we shouldn't see old bombs with serious engines and drum brakes on the roads.

Poor driving kills people - not speed. Excessive speeding is ONE of multiple problems that afflict poor drivers. Others include..
- Failing to indicate
- Not leaving enough room around their car
- Failing to look in the mirror
- Driving a dangerous car
- Poor judgement on road conditions
- Driving in an aggro manner
- etc.

The only way I think that you can reduce deaths then is to have strong controls on the SAFETY of vehicles allowed on the road (not a limiter - which is dangerous), give our drivers some REAL training, and have MOBILE police to spot the idiots (not speed cameras).

true for some drivers, imagine giving all drivers the go on advisory signs. some driver have no judgement at all. need to get rid of them....

[Black_vtss]

What a useless idea!
Yeah lets put speed limiters on all cars @ 130km/h - even if they could do that its not going to help. People would still be able to drive 130 in a 50 zone!

Get a life and stop ruining things for others, as said above it comes down to the driver.

[malur8260]

These do gooders are taking things to extremes! This is ridiculous!!!!
The first thing they ought to push for if they really want to make roads that bit safer is getting rid of all the unroadworthy cars getting around. I don't know what it's like for you guys on the mainland but down here in Tassie the amount of cars that are clearly unroadworthy is quite scary. Most of these cars would be more of a danger at speeds of 80 to 100 than a recent commodore/falcon at 150!!!

Think of all the safety features modern cars have (ie ABS, traction control etc) that older cars do not. If they want to be smart about it they should be limiting speeds of OLDER cars not newer, safer cars!

Just my 2c.

[spiritfc]

Think of all the safety features modern cars have (ie ABS, traction control etc) that older cars do not. If they want to be smart about it they should be limiting speeds of OLDER cars not newer, safer cars!

Just my 2c.

:stupid:

'Older' cars like my EH Holden have been on the road for 41 years where the speed limit has been the same as it is now yet roads were FAR poorer then they are now. There was no more serious accidents (per capita) then there is now. It has nothing to do with the age of the car, it's got to do with how a car is matained. My EH is just as well mantained as my new Calais yet I've seen VT commodores that are a heap of rubbish due to not being matained.
The Government should be clamping down at rego check time and making sure drivers are taught how to drive properly.

[rocks-crewman]

Speaking of Wheels (this months issue), have you guys read the article about how most of the speed limit signs in Australia (with the exception of Qld and S.A if I remember correctly) are not in compliance with the Australian Standard! Those of us out at the coal face know how you can get the strap big time if Aust standards are not complied with, funny how organisations such as the RTA can choose to ignore them in the interest of more revenue. In the immortal words of Ted Bulpitt - "no wonder this country is in such a mess!"
One can only wonder how this "oversight" affects fine revenue, traffic jams, traffic 'accidents' (I prefer to call them incidents as most of them are no accident) and therefore injuries, fatalities etc.

[Sidewindr]

Oh no goodness me .. can reach 100kph in second gear ..

My 1995 vehicle can reach 110kph in 1st gear, will do a standing quarter in 9-10sec and has a top speed in excess of 300kph .. it's a motorbike :) I don't see them up in arms about these stats fir these vehicles .. :rolleyes: And what of the later model big bikes with even better performance .. :booty:

[r8ls1]

Scruby Dooby Doo (Gooder) .......

130 speed limit will be gone in a 'flash' :booty:

[RamRod]

Nothing and Edit can't fix......

[IIV8II]

Nothing and Edit can't fix......
lol.. I was gunna say the same... Tuna? Delco? Sam?... :D

[scat2k3]

Even if this lunacy was implemented, it would take 5 seconds for a new industry to be born to get around it. Just look at the 100 kph speed limited trucks. Thats worked really well hasn't it? :rolleyes:

Cheers,

Scott

[smoke]

Ssshhh! Sidewndr! They will hear you and start picking on motorbikes AGAIN! :D They read our posts, find out what we like, then try to ban it :( Thats why I LOVE pudy cats, 4cyl. cars, pollies, lower speed limits and "queer eye 4 the straight guy" :lol:

[cutter bob]

bloody tree loving hippys (greenies)... they will stop at nothing :mad:
i wish some one would revoke there speaking previlages

[Rorym]

My good friend the late Gregg Hansford campaigned and nearly succeeded in making L platers do a mandatory advanced drivers training school at his school in Mt Cotton or wherever it needed to be done to improve their skills. It was well under way with Ian and myself with Gregg lobbying certain pollies to get things happening to save the kids. Then he died, and with him his dream. You are right, bad drivers kill, not speed. I find it interesting that the Euro countries that have a lane with an unlimited speed limit like Italy and Germany on their autobarns have a lower death toll on the roads per head of poulation than Australia. But then our guys answer is add another 500 speed cameras and get more money, bugger teaching them how to drive properly, they (us, the joe average public) are a bunch of wankers anyway, lets take their money. Full stop.
Rory
P.S. ( Looking up) I AM STILL BEATING THE DRUM HARRY! :yup:

[snapper05]

I'll gladly give my opinion on the subject, just as soon as I've served my 6 month driving ban...for 'speeding'. :rolleyes:

I forwarded the article to all of my HSV/LS1 mates at work (OK, OK and a guy with a TT Soarer). I can't see it happening. They'd lose too much revenue from the people caught at 131km/h+

And as others have pointed out, I'm sure its nothing the ingenuity of the aftermarket can't sort out :)

[Rorym]

My dear son, you obviously didnt live through the Super Car Scare of 72 ..or endure the next 10 years of crap slow assmatic (I know what I mean) cars we had at our disposal because the manufacturers had a political dump in their pants when their government contracts were threatened.
R

[FireyVT]

Don't forget the unroadworthy drivers :D

[debencha]

i think suzuki took it on themselves to speed limit there bikes now to 297kph .very responsible..if they limit new cars to 130 might improve resale of older vehicles.100 k's doesnt work real well with trucks i've followed a few doing 130ish.i'm dreading the day that the cars computer is constantly reporting to the satilite system your wereabouts and speed that you are doing,debiting your bank acount/creditcard.what a revenue raiser that would be..just my 2 bob.....

[Knight Phlier]

i'm dreading the day that the cars computer is constantly reporting to the satilite system your wereabouts and speed that you are doing,debiting your bank acount/creditcard.what a revenue raiser that would be..just my 2 bob.....

Even though the technology could be developed to do that today, it would be a complete invasion of privacy. It would be as bad as a computer chip to ID humans.

[Grif]

Hey hollywood got 1 thing right in its movies... I-Robot with the cars being fully automated and to actualy drive it manually would be like taboo! :eek: What a wonderful world we live in or soon to come. :rolleyes:

[AussieTone]

If they limit cars to 130kph they will have to lower the maximum speed limit otherwise they miss out on the big fines and points ;)

[pah]

Oh no goodness me .. can reach 100kph in second gear ..

My 1995 vehicle can reach 110kph in 1st gear, will do a standing quarter in 9-10sec and has a top speed in excess of 300kph .. it's a motorbike :) I don't see them up in arms about these stats fir these vehicles .. :rolleyes: And what of the later model big bikes with even better performance .. :booty:


I asked Two Wheels why they don't publish performance figures (0-100 km/h & SS 400m) for the bikes that they test. They told me it's because they don't want to draw the attention of the do-gooders.

Fast bikes never cop much flack from the press. Neither do expensive wheels like Porsches and Ferraris but that's probably because the Newspaper boss owns one or more of these. It wouldn't do to start a scare campaign against the expensive wheels that the boss drives would it?

Perhaps fast cars are safe for the rich but not for those of us who can only afford Holdens & Falcons?

We can sit down and moan till the cows come home. If we're fair dinkum, we will start lobbying the right people in an orgainised manner.

I say again, the motor mags (Wheels & Motor) ORGANISED a lobby group to keep Holden building V8's and that campaign worked.

Any of our number want to run for parliament? The shooters have their reps in government. Perhaps they are more committed to their cause or better organised (or both) than us???

If we're fair dinkum, we'd need to enlist the support of Ford drivers, WRX drivers and other rice burner pilots (they're not necessarily the enemy).



PAH

[brujeria]

Taken from

http://www.walk.com.au/pedestriancouncil/Page.asp?PageID=333


There is no doubt Mr Scruby believes in adhering to the letter of the law. He cites the Australian Road Rules and associated fines like a mantra.

He interrupted our two-hour interview on no less than 10 occasions to point out parking illegalities in Manly.

“Our major issue is that dangerous parking is equally as lethal as dangerous driving,” Mr Scruby said. “It can have the same effect. It just hasn't got through to the community.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dangerous parking hey? Maybe Scruby should lobby for all cars to be 1m by 1m in size and covered in foam rubber.

[ABS]

Harold Scruby is a dickhead, end of story. The problem is the media believes that he is an expert and that his private company funded by the taxpayers of Australia is a completely unbiased source of information for everything to do with the automotive industry.

[pah]

Maybe it's the case that the media don't give a rats about anything other than ratings and sales of their rags.

Perhaps we ought to boycot ANY and ALL media products that target the quick cars that we can afford (remembering that they avoid like the plague ANY criticism of the quick cars that their media mogal bosses drive).

It's a shame that we can't find a coalition of high profile people (maybe retired racers) to run for parliament under a pro-motoring banner. It's not unheard of - Gricey was a member of parliament.

I think we need pro-motoring representatives. Forgive me for doubting the resolve of Labor and the Liberals. If they have any commitment to true road safety, I think that they would work together to fix dangerous roads like the Princes Highway down the NSW South Coast. In my opinion, current "road safety" activities (persecution) merely creates the illusion of the authorities doing something.

At the very least, we ought to be able to collaborate with other interested groups such as Motor Magazine, Wheels, Ford Forums, etc to lobby the Federal and State politicians to achieve some sensible reforms:

* Full 4 lane Highways between capital cities.
* A sensible tolerance before speed tickets issued (because we want to watch the road not our speedos - and we might drift over the limits by a few km/h's
* Upgrade major freeways to make them safe at higher speeds (maybe 130 km/h
* Sod off the head-line grabbing grandstanders who want to make political mileage out of non issues that can't be enforced.




PAH




PAH