We all love the convenience of driving to and throw from work, a convenience of mobility to destinations without delay and without the reliance of public transport consuming a good portion of our daily routine.
I have been driving for over 20 years, owned 4 cars and even worked in city parking, as an experience driver, not of old age I feel it’s time to outlay some observations in relation to our transport main roads system.
The government argue, that the pacific highway is one of the most dangerous and deadly stretches of road in Australia, that between 1995 and 2009, over 400 people died on the highway and have outlined on numerous occasions that accidents are generally at fault of drivers, being the main contribution to death tolls or day to day insurance claims for vehicle damage, through reckless driving or speeding on our highways,.
Yet over the years our motorways division and government actually also have contributed as major liability players in the factors of everyday driver fatigue or stress, vehicle damage, carbon pollution of exhaust emissions, costs contributed to fuel consumption, not to mention putting the public at risk via unnecessary inclusions on our motorways.
Everyday a large number of the public in transit travel the M1, M2 and Gold Coast highways for the purpose of leisure, work or interstate travel etc. through such highways drivers generally can expect traffic lights, variations of speed limits, cameras, road works, traffic congestion and round-abounds; maybe all of the above in one hit from A to B.
Driving from Sydney to the Sunshine coast is a clear indication of what lack of intelligence our government and motorways divisions have on what they refer to a ‘road safety’.
It is obvious the government feels they need to ‘nappy wrap’ you in safety bubbles, with continuous speed variations as low as 50kms through small towns that barely touch the pacific highway, not to mention continual interchanges of limits of 70, 80, 90 100 and 110kms on multi-lane sections of highways.
Common sense would indicate that maintaining a continuous speed throughout is actually safer for all vehicles in motion, rather than introducing the probability of congestion or accidents with flow variations contributing to possible hazards.
Modern vehicles say from 1990s – current burn more fuel on 50kms than 80-110kms, once again another unnecessary carbon emissions build-up, these are highways not back streets or areas that school children are crossing the road.
There is only one local town on the M1 from Sydney to Sunshine Coast that consists of a school on one side of the pacific highway opposite the very small town, and has signs clearly situated outlining such times to observe.
Just to outline towns you edge through, rather than pass directly through, having unnecessary speed variations of 50kms are Frederickton, Macksville, Broadwater, Ulmarra, with Kempsy standing out as a town needing a new town plan consisting of a bypass as an obvious impression.
Through such variations comes in play variables, these variables can be outlined easy, you alter a limit to 50kms on a highway approaching towns, you are causing increased exhaust pollution, a health risk to local populations via extra fuel burn build-up; you create a scenario of banking of traffic, meaning that vehicles altered in speed backlog with other vehicles now catching up, congesting such areas, rather than free flowing.
Example: In 1989 Kempsey had a bus crash (in which 35 died), that led to the deaths of 55 people on the highway, one of the worst road accidents in Australia’s history. This may or may not have been contributed to the very fact of instant congestion approaching from Sydney to Brisbane via speeds of 100km reduced to 50kms; also contributing is a dangerous and very narrow bridge that all traffic requires crossing with the need to turn right directly off the other end for the purpose of passing through the town, only to continue on the M1. Such numerous factors and variables that can be a little daunting to people that have never passed through this area before.
There are a large number of fluctuations of speed adjustments throughout these highways, a clear view that maybe our government and motorways divisions are incompetent novice drivers or stating that we are incompetent novice drivers needing such speed limiting on open roads for the reference ‘road safety’.
You alternate speeds on highways such as the M1, M2, M3, Gold Coast or The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges (renamed February 11, 2010) you contribute to congestion on a daily bases.
The motorways division are the reason for major fuel loss, extra stress and tear of vehicles that may contribute to instability of safety of such vehicles, increased damage to roads and most of all responsible for accidents, even loss of life that may accrue through stop starts via speed fluctuations of not only congested main roads but highways without consistency.
It’s does not help flow any speed variations using ‘peak hour’ as an excuse to further congest areas, that would be quicker to exit congestion via returning and maintaining a consistent speed viable to highways.
One thing I do however notice is a considerable amount of small car owners with lack of confidence, lack of vehicle estimation abilities when it comes to parking and generally a factor of insecurity when on motorways, noticeably travelling anywhere as low as 20kms below the speed limit, a road safety hazard for free flowing traffic.
Another instance noticeable is seniors generally are not as responsive, let alone flexible coming of older age, being 60plus and are a contributing factor to lack of awareness behind their vehicles; beside their vehicles and especially in blind spots of their vehicles. The government may say that elderly are the safest drivers, but a national survey would prove the above statement to be correct in the majority factors.
There is no indication in the slightest on these motorways or main roads for a need for an alternative speed and/or flow because of obstructions for the purpose of road safety. The government and motorways division may argue that these adjustments reduce risk, but are in-hence the factor of risk, via reduction and a contributor of driver fatigue or stress.
On a final note, road works is something that could be conducted early hours of the morning, rather than during the day or evening. This is always continual and always impeding on people in transit, public or private on a regular base.
If you feel that it’s viable and safe during such hours with minimal disruption to the public, you’re an idiot…..
Brett J Hutton
Stryker’s Lounge AUS
