Sydney M4 speed cameras

[phantomxrt]

Absolutely agree. The pelicans who drive in the fast lane deserve to have the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits.

But, and this is not intended disrespectfully, many times the people who are hogging that lane are actually overtaking. It's just that the speed limits are so draconianly enforced, that many people begin an overtaking manoeuvre, only to find that a serious increase in speed is needed to move into a position to move back into the lane. So they stay put, sometimes on Cruise Control, and inch ahead gradually.

It's been said that if you stay in the fast lane on a German autobahn, you'll be wiped out by a faster vehicle. That may well be true, and people consequently overtake, then move the hell out of the lane quickly to avoid being rammed. Well, the difference here is that there is no risk of being wiped out, because the limits are so low.

So there's a) no motivation to move left quickly (I.e. no risk of a fast car wiping you off the map), and b) the fear of enforcement if you give your car a squirt and move back asap.

Just my humble opinion.

[plonky]

  phantomxrt said:

Absolutely agree. The pelicans who drive in the fast lane deserve to have the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits.

But, and this is not intended disrespectfully, many times the people who are hogging that lane are actually overtaking. It's just that the speed limits are so draconianly enforced, that many people begin an overtaking manoeuvre, only to find that a serious increase in speed is needed to move into a position to move back into the lane. So they stay put, sometimes on Cruise Control, and inch ahead gradually.

It's been said that if you stay in the fast lane on a German autobahn, you'll be wiped out by a faster vehicle. That may well be true, and people consequently overtake, then move the hell out of the lane quickly to avoid being rammed. Well, the difference here is that there is no risk of being wiped out, because the limits are so low.

So there's a) no motivation to move left quickly (I.e. no risk of a fast car wiping you off the map), and b) the fear of enforcement if you give your car a squirt and move back asap.

Just my humble opinion.

Phantom, you're humble opinion is very true.

I actually watch people pull out into the No. 3 lane and as I sit behind them they stick exactly to the speed limit which makes the overtaking manouevre three times longer than it should be.

Not enough people have been breached for staying in the No.3 lane and most people have been indoctrinated about the "Speed kills" mantra and therefore clog up the lanes.

[Macktheknife]

  plonky said:

  phantomxrt said:

Absolutely agree. The pelicans who drive in the fast lane deserve to have the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits.

But, and this is not intended disrespectfully, many times the people who are hogging that lane are actually overtaking. It's just that the speed limits are so draconianly enforced, that many people begin an overtaking manoeuvre, only to find that a serious increase in speed is needed to move into a position to move back into the lane. So they stay put, sometimes on Cruise Control, and inch ahead gradually.

It's been said that if you stay in the fast lane on a German autobahn, you'll be wiped out by a faster vehicle. That may well be true, and people consequently overtake, then move the hell out of the lane quickly to avoid being rammed. Well, the difference here is that there is no risk of being wiped out, because the limits are so low.

So there's a) no motivation to move left quickly (I.e. no risk of a fast car wiping you off the map), and b) the fear of enforcement if you give your car a squirt and move back asap.

Just my humble opinion.

Phantom, you're humble opinion is very true.

I actually watch people pull out into the No. 3 lane and as I sit behind them they stick exactly to the speed limit which makes the overtaking manouevre three times longer than it should be.

Not enough people have been breached for staying in the No.3 lane and most people have been indoctrinated about the "Speed kills" mantra and therefore clog up the lanes.

I wish you guys would stop reading my mind mail.......... :lol:

[newxr]

  plonky said:

  phantomxrt said:

Absolutely agree. The pelicans who drive in the fast lane deserve to have the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits.

But, and this is not intended disrespectfully, many times the people who are hogging that lane are actually overtaking. It's just that the speed limits are so draconianly enforced, that many people begin an overtaking manoeuvre, only to find that a serious increase in speed is needed to move into a position to move back into the lane. So they stay put, sometimes on Cruise Control, and inch ahead gradually.

It's been said that if you stay in the fast lane on a German autobahn, you'll be wiped out by a faster vehicle. That may well be true, and people consequently overtake, then move the hell out of the lane quickly to avoid being rammed. Well, the difference here is that there is no risk of being wiped out, because the limits are so low.

So there's a) no motivation to move left quickly (I.e. no risk of a fast car wiping you off the map), and b) the fear of enforcement if you give your car a squirt and move back asap.

Just my humble opinion.

Phantom, you're humble opinion is very true.

I actually watch people pull out into the No. 3 lane and as I sit behind them they stick exactly to the speed limit which makes the overtaking manouevre three times longer than it should be.

Not enough people have been breached for staying in the No.3 lane and most people have been indoctrinated about the "Speed kills" mantra and therefore clog up the lanes.

Alas - I was speeding to overtake SAFELY just doesn't cut it when it comes to the folkes in blue - sorry plonky but its TRUE!!!

[Lumpen]

  newxr said:

Alas - I was speeding to overtake SAFELY just doesn't cut it when it comes to the folkes in blue - sorry plonky but its TRUE!!!

I take the chance and will accept the consequences. I have always been taught to Overtake, get round and back in as soon as possible, the less time you spend on the wrong side of the road the better in my opinion.

And the people who speed up when you overtake them? I just go faster, I know that as soon as I'm in front they'll slow back down to 80 or whatever they were doing beforehand.

IF I get pinged, I'll explain this to the officer, when he shakes his head I take it fair cop, losing 3 points is nothing (to me) in comparison to dark undies or a crumpled car due to a head on because I was overtaking slowly...

[plonky]

When I have written out breaches to people who have said "But I was overtaking" I take a lot of things into account.

Firstly we have the capability to see what speed the car was that was being overtaken, and secondly, once the overtaking manouvre has been completed you should return the car to the prevailing limit as soon as possible.

There's no point trying the "But I was overtaking" argument when you have ccompleted the manouvre and the car that has been overtaken is 200metres or more behind you.

[Macktheknife]

  plonky said:

There's no point trying the "But I was overtaking" argument when you have ccompleted the manouvre and the car that has been overtaken is 200metres or more behind you.

But...but...what if we are really really nice and polite....

And... and....

Damn....

[Grant]

Funny story about a mate and the M4 toll cameras. One morning while I'm in the car with him, he gets stuck in the etag lane. He freaks out and then starts getting worked up and asking what right they have to charge for the use of a road anyway.

Three months later I hop in the car with him again and he sails throught the etag lane (still with no etag) and I ask him what he's doing. He tells me since he never received the first fine, he figured the cameras weren't on so he'd been using it every day to and from work. Needless to say, he arrives home a week or so later to 110ish fines bundled up with an elastic band stuck on top of his letterbox.

I hear the conversation to try and get out of the fines was a cracker.....