In reply to Kevin L’Huiller’s comments on drivers confining their speed to 80km/h may I tender the following observations for his consideration.
Please note the word “observations”, as my comments are based on an extensive driving history over 50 years.
Even now it is a rare week indeed that I do not travel at least 100km-plus on our highways; in my former professional career and attending sporting activities it was more 500km-plus.
So “observations’’, not opinions nor preferences. That which I observe regularly on our roads.
Mr L’Hullier, a vehicle travelling at 80km/h hour will and does cause a line-up of cars — whether they should or not is irrelevant.
Drivers are entitled to drive at 100km/h and so they will.
In the line-up of traffic that the slower driver has created there will be several drivers who lack the confidence to overtake, they simply won’t do it.
Most drivers have experienced the ‘dag’ that hangs off your rear, content for you to do the driving for both of them.
In the same line of traffic there will be drivers who will not or cannot be constrained, think appointments, family commitments or just plain aggressive driving.
Those drivers will attempt to overtake, possibly safely, possibly not.
Today I trialled overtaking a vehicle travelling at 80km/h at (and not exceeding, because we do live in the revenue state and you bumping your speed briefly up to say 120 to get in safely is, of course, a hanging offence) I was on the wrong side of the road, head-on territory, for 38 seconds and close to a kilometre travelled.
Fortunately it was early Sunday morning and there was little traffic on the road.
That is a rare situation, Mr L’Hullier, the vast majority of the time there is oncoming traffic in sight.
I would suggest that your policy of driving significantly below the legal speed limit promotes rather than prevents safe driving.
I note that you admonish drivers for “honking horns, rude gestures, tailgating and aggressive overtaking”. Is there any possibility that other drivers are trying to tell you something?
Saving $3.50 over 100km travelled? Enjoy your extraordinarily cheap coffee.
32°C