Road safety incident

[KATWYN]

Hi, because I have had a few comments regarding
an incident last week that I thought was funny at the time - others
hearing it have expressed more of a concern .

I'm driving down the southern motorway. In the fast lane.

Doing 90kmph (apparently)

to cut a long story short, a detective in jeans and t-shirt driving a marked
patrol car pulls me over, ( theres also hardly any room to pull over too) flips out his badge and proceeds to tell me off

In the meantime lorrie trucks are zooming past and shaking my car etc

He said he could ticket me for doing 90 in a 100 lane, get into left lane etc etc

I laughed and said "How embarressing to be pulled over for driving to slow in a Holden SS !" he laughed and said he won't ticket me (but it would have been $150.00 - more than a speeding fine!)

Then he had to hatch a strategic plan for both of us, for us to pull out safely back onto the motorway without either of us getting taken out.....of which I very nearly did...even tho I floored the accelerator to get back into the traffic!!

What really was the danger here? Who put who at risk?

Me not watching my speedo and going that "extra" 10kmph or his actions?

[vifferman]

What really was the danger here? Who put who at risk?

Me not watching my speedo and going that "extra" 10kmph or his actions?

But that's often the way.
Both the tickets I've had in the last few years have been of that ilk; both were fair enough (I was well over the limit) but both involved more disruption to other traffic than my speeding caused.
First was a momentary burst in a passing lane to pass a 4WD behemoth that I'd been following for 10-15 minutes. Once past, I slowed again. The cop had to race after me for about 10km or more to apprehend me.
The second, there was no traffic going my way (except behind me), and the cop was going the other way. To catch me, he had to do a u-turn in traffic, then exceed by a goodly amount the speed I was doing to catch up to me.

While I don't condone my actions, it seems that even though the traffic laws being enforced have their basis in making the roads safer, the enforcement itself is often anything but safe, having lost sight of the goals and principles.


I'd say in your case it had nothing to do with rules, laws, safety, etc. - he was just pissed off because you were holding him up (i.e., he was being an impatient prick!)

[Dave Lobster]

Oh yes.. we all know one..

[Drum]

Traffic studies show that the 90th percentile speed on the southern motorway is 90 km/h, so he has a lot of ticketing to do.

[The Stranger:Me]

I must confess I hate slow people in the fast lane and must applaud any attempt to rectify this situation. However one really has to wonder if it had more to do with your sex and your hair colour.

[Grahameeboy]

That's bloody daft...100kph is a maximum speed and are there not signs on the motorway say 'Drive to the Conditions' so if it is busy then 100kph is probably to fast......if you get what I am trying to say.

Well he did not give you a ticket but for once have to say that the cop was just being a plonker.............

[Swoop]

Good on the copper.

I hope he also targets those people who drive at 80kph on the open road when clear and dry.

[Nasty]

The speed limit is just that a limit .. you do not have to drive at 100 kms just cos the limit is that ... yes driving slowly is wrong .. but driving according to the conditions at 90 is more than legal ... take note off the campaigns on now .. 100 is not a target .. etc ... they are proving their own stuff crap. Don't go too slow ... but go safely as close to the limit as possible ... is more than one lane there ?? so people going faster can pass? oh well .. I think the guy should get his head read and read his own campaigns.

[KATWYN]

it seems that even though the traffic laws being enforced have their basis in making the roads safer, the enforcement itself is often anything but safe, having lost sight of the goals and principles.

Yea thats it - the last bit about losing sight of the goals and principles.

I must confess I hate slow people in the fast lane and must applaud any attempt to rectify this situation. However one really has to wonder if it had more to do with your sex and your hair colour.

No, at least I hope not,I would expect a bit more professionalism than that. He seemed pretty intent on getting his point across about road safety, even if there was a slight double standard.

Good on the copper.
I hope he also targets those people who drive at 80kph on the open road when clear and dry.

Thats what this thread is all about. Other peoples opinions. I want to see both sides here

[Mom]

Agreeing with all your post so far guys, but wonder if the question is being asked asked about the safety of pulling someone of the motorway when there is no safe way to get back into the traffic flow. What is a plain clothed dectective doing on road duties anyway?.........were you wearing your "I am looking really cute clothes"?

And a bit of a lesson here, dont impede other traffic by travelling under the speed limit, yes .........to the conditions.........but one of the things I hate most is inconsiderate people that are not aware of what is going on around them.

[KATWYN]

and what about rubber neckers?? a potential disaster

[KATWYN]

Try driving within a 10 kmph limit either side of 100 kmph in a V8. It is almost impossible -unless you put it in cruise control

[Mom]

Try driving within a 10 kmph limit either side of 100 kmph in a V8. It is almost impossible -unless you put it in cruise control

I set my cruise control for about 109 on the open road/and motorway when it is flowing freely......just watch the old mirrors and if there is someone wanting to go a bit faster than that I will pull left and let them go, mind you I am often the one that has to "undertake" on the motorway to get round someone, or get up to serious demerit point speeds on the open road at overtaking opportunities because the arseholes speed up then!..........LOL

[Manxman]

While I don't condone my actions..

...for some weird reason, this comment is really funny...

ok back on topic.

[RT527]

I would have continued on until there was a safe place to pull over , or off the motorway, if in doubt dial *555 and tell the dispatcher that this is what you are doing...or if they dont answer dial 111 ask for police , tell them theres some prat trying to make you pull over in an unsafe place.