Setting speed limits - a US perspective

[Bassmatt]

There is no law against driving below the limit. There is however a law against impeding the flow of traffic.

With the volume of traffic these days it amounts to the same thing 99% of the time. But just for you I'll rephrase the question:
So, when was the last time you saw or heard of anyone being pulled over or ticketed for impeding the flow of traffic?
I recall the threat being made to ( i think) farmers driving tractors who were protesting about Rodney being included in the super city, or something, dont think anything was actioned though.

[onearmedbandit]

With the volume of traffic these days it amounts to the same thing 99% of the time. But just for you I'll rephrase the question:
So, when was the last time you saw or heard of anyone being pulled over or ticketed for impeding the flow of traffic?
I recall the threat being made to ( i think) farmers driving tractors who were protesting about Rodney being included in the super city, or something, dont think anything was actioned though.

Aw just faw liddle ole me? Gee thunks mister!

I understood you the first time, I just corrected you. No charge, this time. And I'm sure there are probably 10,000 tickets issued for speeding for every ticket handed out for 'impeding the flow of traffic'. But to answer your question, would've been about 10yrs ago I saw someone getting pulled for impeding the flow of traffic. And I can't say I've seen 10,000 occasions since of people being pulled over for anything.

[Bassmatt]

Aw just faw liddle ole me? Gee thunks mister!

I understood you the first time, I just corrected you. No charge, this time. And I'm sure there are probably 10,000 tickets issued for speeding for every ticket handed out for 'impeding the flow of traffic'. But to answer your question, would've been about 10yrs ago I saw someone getting pulled for impeding the flow of traffic. And I can't say I've seen 10,000 occasions since of people being pulled over for anything.

How many times have you been held up by a vehicle compared to seeing vehicles speeding? Iwould be maybe 2 or 3 for 1 around here in the last few years .I dont know what the drivers are like where you are but here in the retirement capital of NZ you will encounter long lines of traffic travelling at 70 or 80 ks two or three times on every half hour (should only take 20 mins) trip between my home and Tauranga or vice versa.

[trailblazer]

Really? You got a ticket for that? Or was it a ticket for your attitude?

Yip got a ticket for that. He was going to give me another ticket and a pink sticker for my suspension and i pointed out that i got a brand new vtnz wof at lunch time which was 3 hours before and had only just came from tauranga police station where they had removed the pink sticker so i thought it was unfair of him to issue another one. He then told me that it means absolutly nothing and that i could have modified my car between then and now. Then he looked over my whole car he evan checked all the lights and all he could fined was a tear in the seat and pulled the foam back a bit which exposed the frame of the seat. the tear was only 40mm long as we measured and took photo for our letter of complaint. I have been pulled over many times in my younger years with modified cars and i have a great respect for the police and never give them any attitude as I believe if your breaking the law you deserve to be caught. But this cop was on a power trip that i had never seen before in a police officer.

[Whynot]

How many times have you been held up by a vehicle compared to seeing vehicles speeding? Iwould be maybe 2 or 3 for 1 around here in the last few years .I dont know what the drivers are like where you are but here in the retirement capital of NZ you will encounter long lines of traffic travelling at 70 or 80 ks two or three times on every half hour (should only take 20 mins) trip between my home and Tauranga or vice versa.

ditto, i get held up at 70-80 at least twice a day on my commute.
last week i was in a queue doing 60-65 at least a few times as well.
didn't see anyone obviously speeding in that whole time.

[onearmedbandit]

Bit different down here then I think. For one we wouldn't have the volume of traffic, and secondly I would wager I see more people over the limit still (in any amount) then those that are travelling slow enough to considerably hold up traffic. Otherwise I just pass them.

[R-Soul]

I was interested to observe the difference between the SAffa approach to speed limits, and the Kiwis. The differences are probably due to the terrain . The Kiwis set a general speed limit of say 100kph, and then post speed recommendations on each corner, meaning that the true average speed is generally a LOT lower than the 100kph limit.

On the other hand, Saffa roads are initially designated as being a road "type" (eg highway, fast rural road, or urban road) straight off the bat, and then designed so that motorists can easily keep up to the speeds expected of that type of road - so for example for a motorway that means no sharp turns, no traffic lights, and double lane roads where possible, so that a speed of at least 120kph is pretty much always possible. For fast rural roads, that means no sharp turns, and ample warning for stops signs/traffic lights. Tunnels and excavations and brodges will be made to ensure that the passage along that road meets the required standards of that road type. Obviously "no sharp turns" is generally not possible in NZ because of the terrain and cost involved.

The point is that when you are on a motorway in SA, you can expect to keep a certain speed - this helps a lot with planning times for long journeys, and probably enusures that accidents are reduced as well. If they expected people to drive to the conditions, this might just be too much for some.

In exceptional circumstances, where a sharp turn is unavoidable, for e.g. in a gorge, then the entire speed limit is reduced, not just a slow down recommended.

In a way, it is a lot more "nanny stateish" in SA, but is probably also safer in general (at least for dealing with idiots). Then again, people just push their luck more, and speed at 180kph instead of 130kph, because they are pretty certain that the road will hold no surprises and they can go at least 120kph on that type of road safely.

I quite like the NZ way, because the idea of "driving to the conditons" is more ingrained, so if things get extreme, people have the mentality to adapt. You should see the carnage when a large rainstorm washes through Johannesburg... ("Why should I have slowed down to less than 120kph for 15m visibility conditions? The speed limit is 120!"). On the other hand, high speed travel seems to be a bit of an anomaly in NZ (at least on most of the north island - the parts that I have seen).

[MSTRS:Me]

...the NZ way...people have the mentality to adapt...

Surely he jests...

[oneofsix]

Surely he jests...

maybe he meant "the people are mental, will have to adapt". But we are talking about a S.African.

[Katman]

Obviously "no sharp turns" is generally not possible in NZ because of the terrain and cost involved.

South Africa doesn't have taniwhas that need to be paid off.

[PrincessBandit]

It means no crossing the yellow line, if you can overtake without crossing the line its perfectly ok.

Just makes the whole equation a bit tighter with less room for error.

Trouble is John, there's plenty of New Zealand car drivers would wouldn't think twice about intimidating a motorcyclist into moving over to the left.

Had it happen to me twice along busy roads on the way home from uni just this afternoon. I wasn't about to be bullied so held my line while making sure they could see my helmeted head turned stoically in their direction, even though my eyes were flicking back and forth between everything else around me.

I'm still amazed with the amount of kiwi drivers who fail to comprehend the "Passing on a three-laned road" situation.
They see a bit of yellow and say "you can't pass here".

I'm reluctant to overtake a car in my lane simply because I could without crossing "my side" of the yellow (unless I'm low speed filtering, and that's not usually where double yellows are). However, two lanes (including passing lane) with single yellow on the oncoming side is fair game as the yellow is not on your side, therefore allowing you to use it in the absence of any oncoming vehicles. At least that's how I've always read it...I could be wrong...