Police slam 130km/h Hume Hwy stunt By WHEELS Magazine

[csv8]

Police slam speed stunt: Melbourne to Sydney in 6.5 hours

Joshua Dowling National Motoring Editor
News Limited Network
September 17, 2013 12:00AM


POLICE have slammed as "reckless" a magazine stunt that commissioned a foreign journalist to drive from Melbourne to Sydney above the speed limit at 130km/h - slashing more than an hour off the journey and completing it in less than six-and-a-half hours.

In a campaign to increase the limit between the two capital cities, the latest issue of Wheels magazine boasts "we drove from Melbourne to Sydney at 130km/h, didn't die and didn't get booked".

Defending the stunt, Wheels editor Stephen Corby said: "We've been told for years drowsy drivers die, but increasing the speed limit would reduce fatigue.

"You're less likely to have a microsleep, less likely to wander off the road. We see it as a positive for road safety."

The magazine was prepared to pay for three speeding tickets before calling off the attempt, done on a Saturday, but was amazed to find it didn't once get stopped by police in Victoria or NSW.

Travelling 20km/h above the posted limit cut more than 70 minutes from the 800km journey between the northern outskirts of Melbourne and the south-western outskirts of Sydney on the Hume Highway, to just six hours and 23 minutes.

British journalist behind the wheel Ben Oliver slowed for more than a dozen speed cameras and stuck to the limit in all other speed zones except 110km/h sections.

"I've never arrived in a city with the sole intention of breaking the law before, but any sense of roguish glamour soon fades as I head out of Melbourne on the Hume Highway, flagrantly breaching Australian law by doing something that is considered perfectly safe and legal in other countries," wrote Oliver, even though he later admitted "I wouldn't advocate making the Hume 130km/h all the way".

Aside from speed-unlimited sections of German autobahn, most European countries have maximum speed limits of between 130km/h and 150km/h.

But Australian police are not impressed.


"This stunt has potentially endangered other people's lives. Speed is still one of the biggest killers on our roads," said NSW Police Assistant Commissioner, Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol, John Hartley.

"It's a deliberately reckless action. We take a dim view of what is clearly a stunt. It sends a bad message to other drivers and could have had tragic consequences."

Victoria Police Superintendent of road policing, Neville Taylor, added: "This has been a ridiculous high-risk stunt and is most certainly not an appropriate method of doing research into road safety initiatives. Speed is a significant contributor to one in three road traumas."

Despite the article amounting to a confession, police said they would not attempt to prosecute the foreign journalist - who has since returned to Britain - but did issue a warning to other overseas licence holders who flout the law.

"If the (foreign) driver had continued with that behaviour and been caught multiple times it would have come up on our police computer and he would have been placed under arrest and put before a court," said Mr Hartley.

Highway patrol officers regularly check the immigration status of foreign licence holders to ensure they are bona fide visitors rather than permanent residents trying to avoid fines, he said.

The lead-footed journalist said Victoria's near-zero tolerance to speeding "causes cars and trucks to bunch together as one overtakes another achingly slowly, terrified of getting pinged".

The author also "marvelled at the staggering wrongheadedness of the constant roadside signs warning drivers of the dangers of fatigue when an unnecessarily low limit forces them to remain behind the wheel for longer".

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay gave qualified support to the 130km/h campaign: "I think in certain conditions (130km/h) would be a speed that could be contemplated, but it is not a speed that the community would accept," he said.

Swedish car maker Volvo, the inventor of the three-point seatbelt and a road safety advocate, said it was aware its car was being used for the magazine's 130km/h stunt.

"We knew the nature of the story and we're comfortable with it," said Volvo Australia spokesman Oliver Peagam, who supplied a super-fast turbocharged sedan worth $110,000 for the exercise.

"It was more to illustrate the differing views on speed limits."

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

How fast are you going now? Top Speeds in Europe

France - 130km/h

Austria - 130km/h

Bulgaria - 140km/h

Denmark - 130km/h

Italy - 150km/h

The Netherlands - 130km/h

Poland - 140km/h

Germany - Unlimited, on selected roads

* Australia - 110km/h (130km/h on some sections of the NT)
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/n...-1226720458018

It just goes to prove what bs the cops and govco spin. I wouldn't advocate 130km as a blanket speed in OZ. Some roads yes. In QLD not many would be suitable..

[GTBenny]

Bad move by Wheels in my opinion. I support the higher speed limit but deliberately breaking the law and risking other drivers lives to support the theory is not a wise decision.

Benny.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by BABenny

Bad move by Wheels in my opinion.

Benny.

Don't agree..from the article "Speed is a significant contributor to one in three road traumas."
1 in 3 accidents is caused by speed. The police spend an exorbitant amount of time and money on it. As its the easiest to police/raise revenue. While the other 2 causes are given little attention....The money spent is out of proportion to the other causes.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by csv8

Don't agree..from the article "Speed is a significant contributor to one in three road traumas."
1 in 3 accidents is caused by speed.

Cant believe this piece of misinformation still gets peddled.

Speed is not a *cause* of 1 in 3 crashes, its only a *factor*.

What's the difference? Guy drives 70 in an 80 zone, has a crash. If the investigator concludes that the crash would not have occurred if he had been going even slower, speed is put down as a factor... despite the fact that the driver was not *speeding*.

The ATSB many years ago kept stats on crashes versus speed versus speed limits. If you accounted for the role of other contributors such as fatigue or DUI, speeding caused well below 10% (as low as 3% IIRC) of crashes.

Once the anti-speeding brigade started referencing said stats, said stats disappeared from the ATSB site .. make of that what you will....

[tweeked]

Originally Posted by BABenny

Bad move by Wheels in my opinion. I support the higher speed limit but deliberately breaking the law and risking other drivers lives to support the theory is not a wise decision.

Benny.

What else is there left to do? Try to talk sense to revenue addicted politicians and brainwashed senior police and the same old rhetoric is rolled out.

The only thing to do is a stunt like this - a few hundred thousand likes on Facebook unfortunately more powerful than facts......

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by BABenny

Bad move by Wheels in my opinion. I support the higher speed limit but deliberately breaking the law and risking other drivers lives to support the theory is not a wise decision.

Benny.

Yeah. They should of done 110. Then no one was at risk of being killed because the sign said so. The sign that's been up for how long? What type of cars did we drive when the 110 limit was introduce. How good where the freeways back then as well?

[nothin suss]

I'm sure the reporter was capable of handling the vehicle and the 130kph speed he was doing. It's the other motorists not expecting his closing speed that is the drama.
I'd love an increased speed limit but Aussies just weren't brought up and trained to do those speeds or anticipate others doing them. It'd be quite dangerous.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by nothin suss

I'm sure the reporter was capable of handling the vehicle and the 130kph speed he was doing. It's the other motorists not expecting his closing speed that is the drama.
I'd love an increased speed limit but Aussies just weren't brought up and trained to do those speeds or anticipate others doing them. It'd be quite dangerous.

Agree with this. One danger is that slower drivers don't stay in the left lane here in Aus, and don't look when they decide to pull out and overtake. Many drivers drive along happily with their minds in neutral, unlike in the UK where this driver came from.

I fully agree that driving at 130 kph is safer for the vehicle doing that speed where the road can handle that speed, because there is far less likelihood of that driver falling asleep. But there are other factors that also need to be considered. Including the kangaroos etc. as Full Noise mentioned.

[arronm]

With ridiculous high speed limits in those countries listed above, its amazing anyone from those places are still alive.

Probably find out there road toll is less than ours.

What we really need to stop is people texting while driving, now thats irresponsible.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by arronm

With ridiculous high speed limits in those countries listed above, its amazing anyone from those places are still alive.

Probably find out there road toll is less than ours.

What we really need to stop is people texting while driving, now thats irresponsible.

Increasing the speed limit just means you need to be mindful of idiots texting at 130 klm/h instead of 100 or 110.
With increased speed comes increased responsibility. The Europeans have been doing it for ages and they have "learned" to drive at that speed and their road courtesy is far and away so much better than ours. Less road hogging and tailgating and last minute lane switching at speed. Allowing victorians to drive at 130 just means more work for panel beaters and the coroner. Yes, I am from Vic. We are the worst drivers in Aus i reckon. No patience, bully tactics and road rage central. Do you really want us driving at 130 klm into your state........lol

[Fireblade]

Originally Posted by ESP

Increasing the speed limit just means you need to be mindful of idiots texting at 130 klm/h instead of 100 or 110.
With increased speed comes increased responsibility. The Europeans have been doing it for ages and they have "learned" to drive at that speed and their road courtesy is far and away so much better than ours. Less road hogging and tailgating and last minute lane switching at speed. Allowing victorians to drive at 130 just means more work for panel beaters and the coroner. Yes, I am from Vic. We are the worst drivers in Aus i reckon. No patience, bully tactics and road rage central. Do you really want us driving at 130 klm into your state........lol

Coming from SA the difference is way noticeable the other way, the Vic drivers are way more courteous and patient than drivers in SA.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Fireblade

Coming from SA the difference is way noticeable the other way, the Vic drivers are way more courteous and patient than drivers in SA.

Agree, im from sa and cover most of vic including melbourne 4 times a year-the vics will allow you to merge when you indicate, they will move to the right hand freeway lane when they can see you in the on ramp
BUT
overtaking lanes are frustrating in victoria, you wait for ages for one but the first car to pass does so at a slooooowwwww rate of speed not wanting to get pinged. In sa an overtaking lane means you floor it, get past the slow vehicle quickly so other fast cars can clear the mobile chicane.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Fireblade

Coming from SA the difference is way noticeable the other way, the Vic drivers are way more courteous and patient than drivers in SA.

drive anything late model they will speed up and box you out...

however getting around in a 30yo banged up old bomb the last three months I've noticed courtesy is contagious....

indicate.. merge.. simple....

[Corzza]

Originally Posted by arronm

With ridiculous high speed limits in those countries listed above, its amazing anyone from those places are still alive.

Probably find out there road toll is less than ours.

What we really need to stop is people texting while driving, now thats irresponsible.

The thing is they mostly drive all new Euro cars over there, their MOT is very strict and older cars are off the road fairly quick.

Imagine here you have a 20 year old falcon/commy/camry doing 140km/h in the hands of 'good drivers'...?

[Wretched]

I support Wheels 100% on this. I hope they continue with this campaign.
I respect the police but really this rubbish about speed kills is getting out of hand.
It is not the single reason for deaths on the road and the facts back this up.
Biggest killer on AU roads is attitude. That needs to change.

[MAD]

"1 in 3 road trauma involve speed."
Speed above the posted limit, or excessive for the conditions, or just fast enough to hurt?
Hitting a pedestrian at 30km/h is going to have a serious impact, but it's not breaking the law.

"It's not a speed the community would accept"
Maybe that's because of how unashamedly it has been drummed in to everyone, not because it's wrong at all.

[Fireblade]

Originally Posted by MAD

"1 in 3 road trauma involve speed."
Speed above the posted limit, or excessive for the conditions, or just fast enough to hurt?
Hitting a pedestrian at 30km/h is going to have a serious impact, but it's not breaking the law.

"It's not a speed the community would accept"
Maybe that's because of how unashamedly it has been drummed in to everyone, not because it's wrong at all.

The pollies and police use this word "speed" involved in crashes a lot, do you know that that term means a vehicle moving not just over the limit speeding. They use the word "speed" to inflict fear in the general public thinking that speeding was involved or that they were in fact over the speed limit, but in actual fact they weren't, they use "speed was involved" because they found no other cause to the accident but still the vehicle involved wasn't going at or above the speed limit. Speed is deemed to be the vehicle moving and skews road statistics to show speed is the killer when more than likely it was inattention or fatigue but these can't be proven in a dead person.

It is revenue raising spin.

[Road Games]

Breaking the law ... Breaking the law daa daa... Breaking the law...

http://youtu.be/-VBZClrxDLQ

Or if ya have 2.34 to spare

http://youtu.be/0E60h1mXw5o

[PepeLePew]

Amused me...who'd have thought Volvo would get in on that one. Cheers to em

Wheels and Volvo have got people talking and thinking. Coffee table chatter '130!' and 'what the hell is a Polestar?'

[nb_351]

The way the Hume is now, after being all redone should go to supporting this push which is a good idea I think
Same with much of the highway to Brisbane, if the road is decent and up to handling it then it should be allowed
As long as people not willing or capable to do the speed stay out of the inside lane, and it should be limited to the inside lane so trucks or p platers can't interfere
Good to see they used a safe car to do it, although I'm surprised to see they didnt use a commodore

[DBourne]

Originally Posted by nb_351

The way the Hume is now, after being all redone should go to supporting this push which is a good idea I think
Same with much of the highway to Brisbane, if the road is decent and up to handling it then it should be allowed
As long as people not willing or capable to do the speed stay out of the inside lane, and it should be limited to the inside lane so trucks or p platers can't interfere
Good to see they used a safe car to do it, although I'm surprised to see they didnt use a commodore

Sections of the Hume, definitely. Any of the road to BNE, hell no.

It's amazing how much of a joke that road is in this day and age.

[MAD]

The new sections of the Calder including all the bypasses to Bendigo could easily have a limit of 130km/h.

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by MAD

The new sections of the Calder including all the bypasses to Bendigo could easily have a limit of 130km/h.

Yes and No, you couldn't have a speed limit of 130 on the Calder with Black ice as frequent as it is around some sections and with all the Black spots that the public has been calling for yr's to be fixed like the Calder Alt at Ravenswood for one, alot of work would still need to be done before speeds were allowed to be increased.

Having so many different speed's along a small section of hwy would be a breading ground for Revenue as it speaks, alot like going from one side of Bendigo to the other not to long ago, there were 40klm , 50klm, 60 klm sections on the one road, this caused so much grief that they have since scrapped the 50klm in some part's to make it all 60klm now unless 40klm at school times.

But I see what your saying it would be good to have a faster speed on what seems to be a good hwy but I still think alot need's to be done before that can happen.

[BadMax]

The 'stunt' proves that the Hume is capable of higher speed limits. IIRC our average age of vehicle is about 10 years now. We're talking VY/BA territory, don't you think those vehicle are more than capable of being driven at consistent speeds of 130kph? Our road regulations have barely changed in 50 years, in fact speed limits have declined in many instances even though cars have improved in many ways.

Police are only slamming the article as they drove from Melbourne to Sydney floating the law and didn't get picked up once. I see it as egg on their face not Wheels.

[opto]

Speed doesn't kill or injure, it's the impact of an accident. The idea that speed kills means at 30 kmh, you are going to kill. stupid propaganda. Why is it "Safe" to do 130 Kmh in the Northern territory on the highways, but not in Victoria, NSW, SA, QLD, WA ????

[in_xcess]

Irresponsible to promote these speeds... main dilemma is the poor driver training in Aust.

I thank the Army for teaching me to drive safely and on how to handle many types of vehicles. Our young drivers today know ***** about driving so to pull stunts like this sends the wrong message to them.

130kmh is fine when advanced driver training is compulsory for all and ipsative driver assessment every 5 years is legislated - that's when you'll see the road toll drop.

[Syndrome]

The Hume Highway is the main artery between Australia's two largest population centres. With this road dual carriage for it's full length, it is crazy to think that it could not be rated at 130km/h. No need for high speed rail when a simple change to the speed limit can cut a couple hours off the trip.

[poppa smurf]

ah! yes the old "speed is innocent".

reminds me of the feller jumping off a 40 story building, got past the 10th floor at terminal velocity and was asked if he was okay, " so far, so good".

however he had a problem when he reached the bottom, a factor he didn't consider when he took the leap so far above and therein lies the problem.

speed will not kill but the unknown will, slow traffic, kangaroo, rabbit, fog, pothole, blowout, the idiot factor.

far less room for a mistake at higher speed, that is a fact.

I wonder how many other morons are going to emulate this fool and try their luck.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

ah! yes the old "speed is innocent".

reminds me of the feller jumping off a 40 story building, got past the 10th floor at terminal velocity and was asked if he was okay, " so far, so good".

however he had a problem when he reached the bottom, a factor he didn't consider when he took the leap so far above and therein lies the problem.

speed will not kill but the unknown will, slow traffic, kangaroo, rabbit, fog, pothole, blowout, the idiot factor.

far less room for a mistake at higher speed, that is a fact.

I wonder how many other morons are going to emulate this fool and try their luck.

Those unknowns will be there whether you're traveling at 50km/h or 130km/h.
The difference is how much more the driver is paying attention.
The proposed speed is not significantly more than the current speed limit and is only proposed for roads deemed suitable for these speeds.

If these hazards are preventing us from moving to this new limit then should we not further reduce the speed limit? 110km/h is still a high risk.
Are we the only country that suffers these hazards?

If the driver does not feel comfortable driving at 130km/h; like any other road he/she can reduce it to something they are more comfortable traveling at.

[Brazen]

In Europe they have the trucks speed limited to 90 so the speed differential is quite large. I remember being in Italy having an old nonna driving me to the hotel sitting on 160kmh in a VW Transporter van.

110 is painfully slow for such a vast country like Australia. 130 for cars, 100 for trucks. I think that is appropriate.