Vicroads - New Rules From 9th November 2009...

[stealth-ish]

The portable gps devices wouldnt be considered illegal as they are "secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the vehicle" with the suction thingy.

Looking over these there aren't any real new rules, they have just modified existing rules or defined them more. Overtaking on Westgate has always been illegal, just so many people do it and are unaware of it.

My mum got booked about 8 years ago for moving her car into a different spot in the same block, so not a new rule as fair as I'm aware.

[W0rp3D]

W0rp3D - Don't take it so personally. Fact is a certain percentage of truck drivers are cock knockers. Same can be said for all drivers though. No one's saying you are.

to say that ALL trucks should use the left lane is an attack on ALL truck drivers, made even worse since its made by some one who has no idea what the situation is from the other perspective.

Overtaking on Westgate has always been illegal, just so many people do it and are unaware of it.

Care to point out those rules to me, the only rule that says you cannot overtake is when double white lines are dividing the lanes.

[Samon]

Care to point out those rules to me, the only rule that says you cannot overtake is when double white lines are dividing the lanes.

That's how I understand it too (i.e. as it currently stands).

Take this little stretch of road for example (Monbulk Rd, Kallista)... the whole way through the forest (except for one other tiny section) it's solid double lines... fair enough, overtaking would be crazy. Then you get to this one section of straight road and it becomes a single line... clearly that means they are differentiating that this section is safer to overtake... with these new laws, they really should make it double all the way... I mean what's the point of the single line if it's legally no different to a double? It's just gonna confuse people!

[bombtrack]

so is making then use the left lane the "proper solution"

Yes... slower vehicles should use the left lane. They do it and enforce it in some European countries and it works well. Why is this such a touchy subject?!

[R31Nismoid]

Because people in Australia are ignorant.

Works fine in PLENTY of other countries around the world... but no, you can't upset the aussie truckies...

[jakez88]

New number plate slogan for Victoria.... Victoria - The Nanny State, or Victoria - If it's entertaining or fun you can't do it here!!

so true man...i can understand some of the new driving laws but its getting pretty ridiculous.

[_Ryan_]

That's how I understand it too (i.e. as it currently stands).

Take this little stretch of road for example (Monbulk Rd, Kallista)... the whole way through the forest (except for one other tiny section) it's solid double lines... fair enough, overtaking would be crazy. Then you get to this one section of straight road and it becomes a single line... clearly that means they are differentiating that this section is safer to overtake... with these new laws, they really should make it double all the way... I mean what's the point of the single line if it's legally no different to a double? It's just gonna confuse people!

I know that road well, and I still would not overtake on it, even though I would like to. Seen bikes coming the other way at some CRAZY speeds hahaha

[Samon]

I know that road well, and I still would not overtake on it, even though I would like to. Seen bikes coming the other way at some CRAZY speeds hahaha

Really? I've overtaken there on numerous occations (I drive through there A LOT)... if as you come around the corner at the bottom you can't see anything coming for the whole stretch, you're usually safe to pull out, mash the loud pedal and then pull back in... I've only got myself into trouble there once, I kinda forgot I was only in the lancer, not the skyline, and pulled out with no grunt to pass... had to pull back in instead

[W0rp3D]

Yes... slower vehicles should use the left lane. They do it and enforce it in some European countries and it works well. Why is this such a touchy subject?!

Because people in Australia are ignorant.

Works fine in PLENTY of other countries around the world... but no, you can't upset the aussie truckies...

You got in one word nismoid "ignorant", which also sums up you initial comment and your view on truck drivers in general.

In other countries drivers are also more courteous and educated about driving around trucks, in australia the only aim is to get in front of the truck no matter what, maybe if drivers were a little more considerate and educated, better driver training all round, then the euro model would work but since we have to spend 80% of our time driving defensively to avoid ignorant retards then its never going to happen.

[R31Nismoid]

You've gotta start somewhere.

And what is the easiest place?

Simple isn't it?

[W0rp3D]

You've gotta start somewhere.

And what is the easiest place?

Simple isn't it?

changed your view have you, not so long ago you were saying that making trucks use the left hand lane is the "proper solution"...

I believe the start is better driver trainging in general which im sure most people would agree, the requirements to get a lisence has never been tough enough, but of course this will never happen so the car Vs truck debate will go on forever between car drivers who have never been in a truck and truck drivers who have to avoid those same people.

As for bombtracks comment about this being a touchy subject, these sort of generalized comments to me is the equivalant of the TT or ACA reports labeling all import drivers as drifting hoons that endanger every one every time they get in there car.

And for the record i believe that about 85% of truck drivers get a bum rap, i also would trust my life to most truck drivers and very few car drivers, if you spent as much time on the road as i do i believe you would agree, nismoid might even agreee....... maybe.....

[W0rp3D]

That's how I understand it too (i.e. as it currently stands).

Take this little stretch of road for example (Monbulk Rd, Kallista)... the whole way through the forest (except for one other tiny section) it's solid double lines... fair enough, overtaking would be crazy. Then you get to this one section of straight road and it becomes a single line... clearly that means they are differentiating that this section is safer to overtake... with these new laws, they really should make it double all the way... I mean what's the point of the single line if it's legally no different to a double? It's just gonna confuse people!

This is the victorian government your talking about, doing things properly is not part of there agenda, besides doing it this way leaves the door open for a bit of revenue raising from people who are not aware of the changes.

[BeEnAr]

W0rp3d you my fellow skyline driver are a hippocrite. You don't like people making comments generalising truck drivers and then you go and generalise the whole Victorian Government.

I think trucks should have to use the middle lanes that way us cars can go around on either side of you. Even truck drivers would prefer this as it's been brought up many times before about making trucks stay to the left. The bridge is hell and why, because of trucks taking their sweet ass times lugging their trailers up the incline. Should be no trucks allowed on there at all IMO.

As for the tunnel lane markings they even say on the overheads to "avoid changing lanes". It doesn't say not to, just says to avoid it and this was only brought into effect after the tunnel fire along with the then new 80KM/h speed limit on the westgate.

[Birds]

How about compulsory licence retesting for everyone, every 3 years. Shift some of that TAC budget over and subsidise it. Should be included in registration maybe...it's bullshit that you do one licence test and then you have 50 odd years of driving to forget the rules when most people only need 6 months. Imagine how many would fail a licence test 6 months after going for it? It would be the best "shit driver" filter you could implement.

Not enough people remember that a stop sign means give way to anything and everything including U turners. Not enough people remember to keep left unless overtaking.

[mistamidget]

And for the record i believe that about 85% of truck drivers get a bum rap,

God, how many times have I been stuck behind ALL 3 lanes of Canterbury road blocked by 3 trucks side by side doing 40kms/hr?

Most days. Today, in fact,

[W0rp3D]

W0rp3d you my fellow skyline driver are a hippocrite. You don't like people making comments generalising truck drivers and then you go and generalise the whole Victorian Government.

So your on the side of the government, it is your right to defend them as it is my right to defend my self, i dont think you will get many people following your support of the government.

I think trucks should have to use the middle lanes that way us cars can go around on either side of you. Even truck drivers would prefer this

Great idea, this is where i normally sit on the monash as it avoids slower people getting on and off the freeway and still leaves the right lane open for faster traffic.

Should be no trucks allowed on there at all IMO.

So your saying get trucks off the bridge and make them take surface roads and congest those instead of holding you up for another 1 minute max on the bridge??

[W0rp3D]

W0rp3d you my fellow skyline driver are a hippocrite. You don't like people making comments generalising truck drivers and then you go and generalise the whole Victorian Government.

If you go back and read my comments you would see that its more about people making judgments or putting forward a solution on a matter of which they have very limited knowledge, the general stereo typing of truck drivers and what people think of them does not really bother me as most of the time they come from people who are ignorant dip shits who have no clue, and yes i did make another generalization.

[KamikazeNinja34]

Brett, only speaking for myself...personally i have a lot of difficulty with trucks. Not because theyre heaps slow, because youre right....you get stuck behind an old nanny in her hyundai getz on the wrong day and its the same thing. Hell, when i attempt to do the speed limit on the bridge, knowing that theres cameras on it, i still get people gesturing at me rudely to shift lanes so they can continue on their way...rather than them switching lanes to avoid me. But thats another topic. Basically, personally, my problem with trucks is that its a well known fact that they have a number of blind spots...and being the smaller car in that equation, its only natural to be afraid that the driver of the truck may not see you and attempt to change lanes on top of you...because while this same thing occasionally happens with a car driver not paying attention, its safe to say that in that case the result might be less life threatening. You might be able to walk away. With a big, heavy truck, the odds of that are decreased.

3-4 lane streets are difficult to navigate, particularly for people like me from rural communities where the most lanes we have is 2...i occasionally have difficulty gauging which lane a car is in, and have had a few problems with changing into the middle lane at the same time as someone from the far left or right (depending which side im on) who have sped up to move into that lane while i have not, and almost hit me, which they feel gives them the right to toot their horn at me for cutting them off...city driving is an acquired skill for those of us not born there u know

[KamikazeNinja34]

On that note...the video shot by a woman while ACA was doing a study on traffic in the tunnel, where the truck and a Merc changed lanes at the same time, and the truck hit the merc, twisted it sideways, and pushed it along for over a km till the driver of the truck stopped cuz he "heard a scraping noise" because he didnt know hed hit a car...horrifying. And unfortunately something i think about every time i go through the burnley or domain...

[tavstar34]

Yeah Cassandra! That is how i feel when im near the trucks..

Truck stay in the middle lane, and u are allow change lanes if the truck is going slower then the speed limit. Simple.

Edited October 20, 2009 by tavstar34