demerits is it worth it?

[Banditbandit]

i've noticed a lot of road works don't bother removing or altering signage when they are not working on it, i get 30km's when staff are there but later on a lot could be changed to 50 or 70 so it's tough to adhere to when you see a two km straight in the middle of nowhere that clearly isn't 30km/h when you're on it, I also note a lot now have signs warning you a there's a restriction ahead, wonder how consistent these are and do people get used to seeing the first sign as a warning, so if there isn't a warning one first they take a long time to slow at the actual sign?

The speed restrictions are only partly there for the safety of the road crew. Sure, that is a very important factor.

But they are also there to help repair the road. If there is no seal hen the speed restrictions keep down the damage on the surface. Any breaking, any gear change, and sharp turns, puts pressure on the loose surface and can damage it. Once there is a small amount of damage that quickly builds up, so a small rut is slightly bigger each time a vehicle passes over it - even at the required speed - but worse if it is a faster speed.

So a road crew can spend quite a bit of a day repairing the damage caused over night by speeding vehicles - and do that night after night.

There is a very rough section of road between Whakatane and Ohope. It's on a corner going down hill - bumpy as. No-one followed the speed limit, so the bumps are the result of cars putting too much pressure on the area of the road works, as the tyres pushed across the broken surface.

Now everyone complains about the rough road - not realising it is largely a result of their own actions, because "there was no road crew there at the time so there was no safety issue - so I didn't follow the speed limit."

[jasonu]

Off topic but related: I wish the police would focus on the temporary speed limits when there's roadworks on the Auckland motorway at night. It's bloody dangerous trying to do the temporary 50 km/h limit when everyone else is whizzing by at 100 km/h.

I now only feel safe to slow down to about 70 km/h for these signs because it is just too dangerous to go any slower. I'd rather have a ticket than be rear-ended by a car moving 50km/h faster than me.

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Or when the lazy cunts leave the temp speed signs out when the work is long completed.

[Honest Andy]

Or when the lazy cunts leave the temp speed signs out when the work is long completed.

Yeah that was us. We always left the signs behind at the end of the work. And cones and sandbags and piles of metal and the arrowtruck. Cos we were lazy cunts. Cunt.

[jasonu]

Cos we were lazy cunts.

Sounds about right.

[rastuscat]

i've noticed a lot of road works don't bother removing or altering signage when they are not working on it, i get 30km's when staff are there but later on a lot could be changed to 50 or 70 so it's tough to adhere to when you see a two km straight in the middle of nowhere that clearly isn't 30km/h when you're on it, I also note a lot now have signs warning you a there's a restriction ahead, wonder how consistent these are and do people get used to seeing the first sign as a warning, so if there isn't a warning one first they take a long time to slow at the actual sign?

Notably, the 30 kmh is often left in place to protect the road surface they are trying to repair. The faster cars and trucks go, the greater the damage done to new surfaces.

Whether workers are there or not.

I'm with you though, as it frustrates me the temporary limits that appear to be there for no reason at all. But that's mainly because I'm not a roading engineer, and I'm sure there are reasons I don't know about.

[Moi]

Notably, the 30 kmh is often left in place to protect the road surface they are trying to repair. The faster cars and trucks go, the greater the damage done to new surfaces.

Whether workers are there or not.

I'm with you though, as it frustrates me the temporary limits that appear to be there for no reason at all. But that's mainly because I'm not a roading engineer, and I'm sure there are reasons I don't know about.

There you go... there's a wee challenge for you, about road safety... educate the good folks of Selwyn as to why speed restrictions are used and why they may be left in place when "all the work seems to have been done".

Until I read bandit's post I hadn't thought of the damage to a road while it is being repaired, but once you think about it, it's obvious, just look at a corner on a gravel road... lovely set of corrugations.

[caspernz]

Might the place beginning with "M" be Mahoenui? There used to often be a HP car parked by the fire station. That was years ago but I still watch for it.

The temporary speed limits are dangerous now if at 40kph over, or whatever, you may be walking. It would be easy to exceed the magic number on road works so I take a lot more notice of those particular signs than I used to. As has been pointed out though, often they are completely unnecessary and seem to be an exercise in arse covering by the roading crew.

Permanent speed limit exceeded by 40 km/h you've got an automatic 28 day suspension of licence. For a temporary limit you get it at 50 km/h over. Not suggesting anyone goes faster thru works, but there's a bit of wiggle room...

The speed restrictions are only partly there for the safety of the road crew. Sure, that is a very important factor.

But they are also there to help repair the road. If there is no seal hen the speed restrictions keep down the damage on the surface. Any breaking, any gear change, and sharp turns, puts pressure on the loose surface and can damage it. Once there is a small amount of damage that quickly builds up, so a small rut is slightly bigger each time a vehicle passes over it - even at the required speed - but worse if it is a faster speed.

So a road crew can spend quite a bit of a day repairing the damage caused over night by speeding vehicles - and do that night after night.

There is a very rough section of road between Whakatane and Ohope. It's on a corner going down hill - bumpy as. No-one followed the speed limit, so the bumps are the result of cars putting too much pressure on the area of the road works, as the tyres pushed across the broken surface.

Now everyone complains about the rough road - not realising it is largely a result of their own actions, because "there was no road crew there at the time so there was no safety issue - so I didn't follow the speed limit."

Have heard this same story many times from the roadworks crews. As a career trucker it's damn annoying when fellow truckers boot thru works at pace, then when the seal has gone down they'll bitch about it being bumpy or lumpy. Never mind how many truckers don't slow down much at all, then get annoyed when our lads run thru at the limit, can't put this down to ignorance of why the temporary limits are there. Plain arrogance and don't give a hoot about anyone else sums it up. We had a car run into the back of one of our units thru a 30 km/h new chip section a while back, make of that what you wish, as the truck was rolling thru at the limit... No damage to trailer (heavy DG bumpers are nice) yet car needed to be towed

[FJRider]

I was just answering the OP's question as to whether it's worth writing a letter.

Regardless, to be 30 over a temporary speed limit is putting yourself in a position to be pinged.

Of course it's worthwhile him writing the letter ... his grammar does need work ... so a bit of "official" letter writing is bound to help that ...

31 (ish) km/hr over the limit ... he gambled on not getting caught (as many do) and lost. It happens ... such is life ...

[FJRider]

Oh, tosh.

OP needs to spend a couple of grand on a lawyer - at least.

Guaranteed to win.

Or ... the cheaper option of paying the fine.

But ... he has his principals to be staunch to ... he has (by his own admission) pretty hard done by ...

[Honest Andy]

Sounds about right.

I spose I should've known not to waste perfectly good sarcasm on a seppo

[Old Steve]

OP, it may be worth writing in. If you feel there was insufficient distance from seeing the sign to allow you to slow down in time. Tell them you were doing 100 km/hr, saw the sign, activated your brakes and had slowed down to 81 by the time you'd entered the restricted speed area, and were still slowing when you were ticketed.

Its worth a letter, but if they turn you down then just suck it up and pay the fine.

[jellywrestler]

Notably, the 30 kmh is often left in place to protect the road surface they are trying to repair. The faster cars and trucks go, the greater the damage done to new surfaces.

Whether workers are there or not.

I'm with you though, as it frustrates me the temporary limits that appear to be there for no reason at all. But that's mainly because I'm not a roading engineer, and I'm sure there are reasons I don't know about.

i am aware of the 30km'h on fresh seal to stop it ripping up, but there are times when the speed when unstaffed should be increased.

[ruaphu]

Sorry bud, but ya just got nailed by one by the best and strictest roading officers in the land. Many have been nailed by this chap, in a section of highway prone to accidents. Quite frankly, good on him. And before ya whine, he’s got me too.

The fact you ignored mandatory speed signs for a roading works area...... tuff, ya fucked up, deal with it.

Road workers have to put up with shit from piss poor roads users every bloody day. Look at it from their perspective, your shit could cost them their life. Think about that, respect what roadies do and slow down. Shit, it may just avoid a big fuck up for you or a roadie.

Have fun, stay shiny side up and wave to our roadie friends........... after all, these grafters make and maintain our sacred alter of fun................. tarmac.

Btw, if ya offended cos ya know im right, lol




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[GazzaH]

Pay the thrill tax and practice being more observant.

[rastuscat]

.........practice being more observant.

That would involve taking responsibility.

This is KB.

Mutually exclusive.