Safe Speed Forums

"Police cite slowpoke motorists" say a headline in our local paper in NZ.

The article goes on "The biggest problem we've had is slow drivers not pulling over and we've ticketed a number of people for that. People driving below the speed limit who would not pull over to clear mounting traffic queues behind them could be issued with a $150 fine for inconsiderate driving" says Senior Sergeant Stew Munro.

The speed limit being referred to is 100k, with 99% of these roads being single carriageway.

If the paper is correct in its reporting a senior sergeant is saying you must drive AT the speed limit, drive above it and get an $80 fine, drive below and get a $150 fine. Perhaps it's because NZ is on the other side of the world but this seems a bit daft.

Any suggestions for a letter in reply?

I suppose they're really talking about doing the equivalent of 30mph on a sparse motorway over here - could be deadly. I think a case of bad reporting rather than bad Policing!

I agree, is there any idea of the variance that is being talked about? Or does the article not mention it?

I believe that over here (UK) if you drive a slow vehicle (which you have a right to do, such as a JCB, Landie pulling trailer full of sheep etc, etc etc) but fail to make reasonable provision for faster traffic to pass when possible it can be considererd to be committing an offence! And quite rightly so IMO!

Now, the interesting question is...

Should HGV's (restricted to 40) be Required to pull over and allow cars/LGV's to pass when on single carrageway NSL roads whenever possible???

Similarly should LGV's (restricted to 50, Bizarrely!) on NSL roads also be required to do so! (I do BTW when I can do so safely and provided its not "Too" often )

_________________
"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

well if you've quoted the paper correctly then I really don't see a problem...



It doesn't say you have to drive at any given speed, it says you have to be CONSIDERATE and not hold other people up who may want to go faster than you.

I wish they'd do the same here.

Slight pedantic correction of terminology there, Dusty - an LGV is a large goods vehicle, not a light goods vehicle. The class you're describing is MGV or medium goods vehicles.

No, goods vehicles should not be expected to move over. There are precious few places where you can get out of the way in a 50' artic, and the length of time it takes to stop from and get back up to 40mph at 44tonne means that the truck would pose more of a hazard when pulling up / moving off than the frustration it causes by sticking to 40mph. That coupled with the fact that if trucks were expected to pull over every time they had a queue behind them, drivers would rapidly run out of hours before they could actually get anywhere...

Considering that the new breed of loadalls and tractors can make 40mph, the issue of farm and similar vehicles is also dwindling. If I recall its only vehicles travelling at less than 25mph (anyone?) that are obliged to pull over and even then, there's rarely anywhere safe and practical for them to do so.

_________________
Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

What we want is more passing places where an overtaking lane allows progress to be made by those that want (and are allowed) to make progress. Unfortunately these are being removed rather than being introduced at the same time that HGV limits are being increasingly enforced.

yep...passing places have to be the only way forwards for any vehicle.

_________________
Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.