Scenerio: – You are driving on a single lane road and approach a turn off to the right.

In numerous instances the RTA has: -
(1) Widened that section of road to allow you to move over to pass the car/s that are turning to the right in front of you. That wider section is usually painted to indicate that the section will soon end and to merge back into the ongoing single lane after the intersection.

(2) In other areas, the RTA already has numerous intersections changed to allow for a right hand turn lane and a safe area for merging traffic turning from that road on the right.

I am suggesting that the RTA urgently change the paint work for all intersections from the above scenerio (1) to (2). Initial priority given to Black spots and intersections where accidents have occured.

Picton road is a good example of both (1) & (2).

If divers followed the following guidelines accidents would decrease dramatically ,There is no such thing as a Dangerous road if drivers obeyed some basic rules only dangerous drivers.

Unfortunately most of the comlaining drivers have been brought up to expect to be able to drive at whatever speed and conditions they want

If the Following were followed
1: Drive to road,traffic and weather conditions
2:Don’t drive if they have alchohol in the blood
3:Don’t drive with Drugs in the System
4:Don’t drive While tired
5: Don’t drive too long ,particularly after work but take frequent Breaks
IF these rules were followed the road fatalities would decrease dramaticarly

In closing Allen should go back to the country of his ancestors and see the roads they drive on ,many of them the width of one of our lanes

The road has signposted; “Emergency Service U-Turn” bays, that some drivers treat as ‘private intersections’, say to illegally turn into a business, or to do an illegal U-Turn, often across the path of much faster closing traffic, and sometimes with the need to then accelerate quickly ‘away’ from that closing traffic, as in the case of an illegal U-Turn. This is an incredibly selfish, dangerous behaviour.

The answer here is that RTA are studying ‘gatelock’ systems that would be installed on each U-Turn bay. This action would take years to implement at current funding levels.

Another issue, is the requirement for additional median barrier to prevent or reduce the likelihood of cross-over crashes. In my personal EU insight view, I’d have it so applied ‘full-length’, without fail.

Those observations can be applied to many sections of the NSW Hume (Pacific Hwy and F6), which are both ‘freeway’ and ‘dual carriageway’ class.

The ‘freeway’ category of course has, thankfully, ‘grade-seperated interchanges’, rather than a ‘dual-carriageways’ inherently more dangerous ‘intersections’! Here, a one-stop higher limit/allowance simply cannot be applied.

We then need to improve on what is ‘standard, required equipment’ before contemplating a raise in speed-limit allowance, certainly as a whole-of-action behavioural program. This would mean adopting a hazard-warning triangle requirement for cars, vans and 4WD’s, certainly to the Euro/UN specification. (UNECE 27R).

Another, is to similarly adopt that those categories of vehicle also be required to carry, perhaps per passenger seat, (or at least ‘one’), a high-visibility ‘safety vest’ to EN471 Specification or AS equivalent. Done,- to aid in pedestrian AND road-user safety when attending broken-down vehicles and crash scenes.

The triangle and safety vest items are in EU – *required items*, in ALL NEW and EXISTING vehicles.

Regulations in each EU state then stipulate ‘use’ of same. Indeed, China has adopted the EU/UN warning triangle (UNECE 27R) as a national standard.

The triangle and safety vest items form part of a newly developing “UN Convention on Road Traffic, Signs & Signals”, which will replace earlier versions of same (the 49′ and 68′ plus amendments).

Australia needs to remove all reference at ADR13, “Part 8.5.1″. This item runs contrary to road safety and its existence is to me both offensive and represents sheer negligence – in the area of traffic safety.

This action would effectively mandate the ‘rear fog’ item for most all NEW MARKET vehicle categories; done – for those severe weather and dust conditions that so easily render standard tail-lamps utterly worthless or pointless. Enforcement of use is simply a matter for police.

Australian reliance on the use of hazard-warning lamps (ARR 221[e]) as defacto rear fog lamps, runs directly contrary to the existing UN Road Traffic Conventions on the use of hazard warning signals.

One day in AUS, we might start getting these important finer, simpler things ‘right’.

Can’t take the place too seriously till we do. IF the Commonwealth agencies cannot achieve these basic ‘updates’, then a state parliament *shall* do it for itself, in time. The NRMA would do well to support same, without fail in my view.

All official emphasis is on speed limiting.
THE REAL CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS IS DUE TO ATTENTION (or lack of), DISTRACTION, OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
We should drive according to the capability of our own skill and the handling ability of the vehicle. I favour advanced driving courses . (Our licensing system is totally unsatisfactory)
Basically all you have to do to hopefully survive on our roads is to STEER CORRECTLY to stay in the lane (look before you change lanes), and leaving sufficient BRAKING DISTANCE from the car ahead of you.
Many accidents reported in the news seem to be of single vehicles running off the road.
Reducing local speed limits will not stop drivers from falling asleep or steering off the road.
Motorists are faced with ever-changing speed limits .
DO WE NEED SO MANY DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS: 30, 40, 50, 60,70,80,90,100, THEN FINALLY 110 ?

Many countries overseas (Europe & UK) have just two 60 & 100km/hr with unrestricted or 130km/hr on Motorways; They are true maximums for Urban, Rural and Motorways respectively.
Our limits are set as LOWEST POSSIBLE.

(Most motorists are suspicious of the application of school zones: especially speed cameras to fund flashing lights which shouldhave been provided to notify to drivers whether it is a school day or in school times)
Why have school zones where NO Children cross the road? The times of operation does not need to be 1+1/2 to 2 hours long.

FINAL COMMENT : WHAT ARE POLICE CARS DOING HIDING BEHIND SHRUBS WITH TOY PISTOLS ?
They should be checking out what stupidity is going on the roads…….

As a younger man, I was a sometimes aggressive driver; the truth is, it made very little difference to travel time – a few minutes over several hundred K, perhaps – but a lot of difference to my unhappy passengers, and other road users. Nowadays, my off-the-shelf car has better handling, brakes, tyres, power-to-weight, safety – etc etc – than I could afford then. Theoretically, I could go faster, safer – but I don’t; that’s my choice.

The biggest safety (or danger) feature in the car is me – the driver.

I’ve taught quite a few people to drive now, and one of the things I impress on them is this: ‘paranoia is a useful state for a driver: your idiot is out there, the one who unknowingly wants to kill you – and at least six seconds a year, it’s you.’

I learned a valuable lesson from a passenger years ago. I was driving along when some idiot with wide wheels cut us off in a screech of tyres and a noisy fart of exhaust. As I drew breath to let loose, she commented: “That was so important to him – probably made his whole day!” I laughed and learned and decided that one idiot on the road was better than two.

Since then I have concentrated on being courteous to other drivers – a thousand subtleties that enable both of us to get where we’re going. When overtaking, I seek a good opportunity, not the first opportunity. I suspect that my travel times differ by less than a single red light’s wait. And I let other people have the angst.

Do governments harvest money off the unwary? Of course – and can justify it with fine dialogue. But all those tax buses and fixed ‘pay troll’ points do calm the traffic. So: that’s what my cruise control is for – cop control, calm control, able to watch for hazards without watching the speedometer.

Think about it – most of driving is not about managing the vehicle itself, it’s about coping with other drivers; other hazards, pedestrians, wildlife – so: courtesy and calm. And just a little bit of discreet fun where the visibility is good and the cops aren’t there (I hope!).

Also have your regular stop for breaks and rehydration for long journeys, but most of all, you get to your destination when you get there, not ‘X’ amount of time.

Be an alert driver, be a comfortable driver, be a safe driver. Enjoy your driving journey and the scenery, especially in this great country of ours!