Tis the end...

Unluckyalf · 30 Dec 2006 at 03:16

... of unrestricted speed limits on Australias Northern Territory roads.

As of the 1st of Jan, roads out of town will have maximum speed limit of 130kmh (around 80mph)

Thats about an increase of 4 hours journey time on a trip from Darwin to Alice.

Probably wont mean much to most of you im sure but it was fun while it lasted!
The NT is the last place in Australia to restrict the speed on open roads.

Also, as a result they have now formed a Police traffic unit!

Mickey_D · 30 Dec 2006 at 04:41

*looks for a quick flight to Australia and a rental of a Mazda Cosmo*

Damn, too expensive.....

Trojan · 30 Dec 2006 at 10:01

Is there any particular reason for this? Has there been a spate of high speed accidents or something recently?

PMKeates · 30 Dec 2006 at 10:42

The only way around this that I can see, is to get a really fast car. When you are going on a long journey in the NT, take your plates off once you are out of town, and go as fast as you want. If a "traffic cop" tries to stop you, just leave him for dust. Aus is so big I'd bet he'll never see you again!

Rhyzz · 30 Dec 2006 at 10:47

PMKeates said:
The only way around this that I can see, is to get a really fast car. When you are going on a long journey in the NT, take your plates off once you are out of town, and go as fast as you want. If a "traffic cop" tries to stop you, just leave him for dust. Aus is so big I'd bet he'll never see you again!

Until they get the helicopters out and you get sent down for 2 years

PMKeates · 30 Dec 2006 at 10:48

Rhyzz said:
Until they get the helicopters out and you get sent down for 2 years

I thought of that. Then I thought that it won't matter, as you'd be going faster than a helicopter - you'd be virtually unstoppable on an open road. Considering how far away the nearest helicopter would be, and the speed you'd be travelling, I'd be willing to bet that apart from a cleverly organised roadblock, you'd not get caught

Glaucus · 30 Dec 2006 at 10:58

PMKeates said:
I thought of that. Then I thought that it won't matter, as you'd be going faster than a helicopter - you'd be virtually unstoppable on an open road. Considering how far away the nearest helicopter would be, and the speed you'd be travelling, I'd be willing to bet that apart from a cleverly organised roadblock, you'd not get caught

You wont be going faster than a helicopter, the helicopter can also track you for tens of thousands of feet up, meaning he can see you miles into the distance. It's not like gone in 60's when they fly feet of you car.

PMKeates · 30 Dec 2006 at 11:04

AcidHell2 said:
You wont be going faster than a helicopter, the helicopter can also track you for tens of thousands of feet up, meaning he can see you miles into the distance. It's not like gone in 60's when they fly feet of you car.

The helicopters used by national police forces aren't usually that fast - usually around 160mph tops. You also have to remember that the NT is over half a million square miles in area, with a population of just 200,000 - 1,500 times less dense than the UK. There must be nothing for hours on end. I can't even imagine how they are going to properly police it :\

paradigm · 30 Dec 2006 at 11:06

PMKeates said:
I can't even imagine how they are going to properly police it :\

SPECS

Glaucus · 30 Dec 2006 at 11:08

PMKeates said:
The helicopters used by national police forces aren't usually that fast - usually around 160mph tops. You also have to remember that the NT is over half a million square miles in area, with a population of just 200,000 - 1,500 times less dense than the UK. There must be nothing for hours on end. I can't even imagine how they are going to properly police it :\

They wont proparly enforce it, however if you do get a helicopter after you. Then theres only 2 options.

1) drive ntill hellicopter has to fly back to refill.
2) dump the car and mingle in a very crowded place, like a shopping centre.

PMKeates · 30 Dec 2006 at 11:11

AcidHell2 said:
They wont proparly enforce it, however if you do get a helicopter after you. Then theres only 2 options.

1) drive ntill hellicopter has to fly back to refill.

This is the thing. I can't see how in the baron territory of NT that the helicopters will be useful. They'll be so inpractical out of town, bordering on useless.

Fusion · 30 Dec 2006 at 11:29

Didn't realise that you had unrestricted highways down there. I've read that the cops are red hot on speeding in general even out of town on long, empty stretches; is this true?

JayMax · 30 Dec 2006 at 11:57

I remember my CBR outrunning our Forces police helicopter a few years back.
And I also remember reading about those unrestricted roads in the NT - it was a couple of ZZR1100 riders iirc having a bit of a blast

Unluckyalf · 30 Dec 2006 at 13:22

Rhyzz said:
Until they get the helicopters out and you get sent down for 2 years

The new traffic unit they created only has 8 cars and 4 motorbikes for the whole of the NT. No helecopters here yet. There was even discussion about the Hospital having one but there arent enough serious accidents out of town to warrant one.
Saying that, once the $$$s start rolling in from the fines (that are being doubled on Jan 1st btw) then im sure a chopper will be on the cards.

The accident rate on the open highway isnt that bad i dont think. Its in town where alcohol and high powered cars are mixed there becomes a problem. We have strict drink driving laws here but they just dont seem to have been enforced at all until recently.
Apparently the NT has the highest risk in the developed world for being killed in a car accident, but then we do have the problem of Aboriginal folk sleeping on the tarmac because its nice and warm

Still, at least we dont have demerit points (yet) but the fines are going to be a bit hard..
Alcohol-related offences below 0.08 – fines doubled

* Fine increased from $100 to $200 for drink-driving offences

Speeding – all fines doubled

* Up to 15km/h – increased from $50 to $100
* Over 15km/h up to 30km/h – increased from $100 to $200
* Over 30km/h up to 45km/h – increased from $150 to $300
* Over 45km/h – additional ‘fine only' penalty of $500

Not wearing seatbelts – all fines doubled

* Driver or adult fails to wear seatbelt – increased from $100 to $200
* Driver fails to ensure person under 16 years wears seatbelt – increased from $120 to $240

Running traffic lights – fines increased

* Fail to obey red light – increased from $120 to $240
* Fail to obey yellow light – increased from $80 to $100

Repeat drink-driving offences – suspension of driver's licence

Regardless of any later court penalty:

* Immediate suspension for 3 months for second offence within 3 years
* Immediate suspension for 6 months for any subsequent offence within 3 years

Demerit point system

* Introduction of a demerit point system based on the national model