Comments on: New road laws for Victoria from November

By: leian Cycles

leian Cycles — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:16:33 +0000

I am sure they are also talking about the rear red fog light/s that a lot of people who don’t read there owners car/truck book know they have turned on.
I am amazed as to how many drivers do not know of rear fog light/s that are now fitted vehicles on most new vehicles.
Next time you see a single red light on the right side of a vehicle that is as bright and dazzling as a brake light and is continually on annoying you; remember this is a fog light also. please make sure yours is turned OFF on clear nights.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:44:15 +0000

Dear Tram Driver

It is wonderful that you can initiate fines against car drivers. Where do concerned citizen go to get some action against tram divers who break the law – or is it legal for trams to go through red lights and speed?

I live and work near the Glen Huntly tram depot and I am becoming very concerned about the way some tram drivers behave (who knows it might always be the same driver but I doubt it).

Try these examples:
I had to brake suddenly and back up urgently (despite facing a green light) to avoid a tram hiting me when he was determined to keep on going with a right turn from Hawthorn Rd into Glen Huntly Rd – which he started after the lights went red for him.

I have followed a tram on Hawthorn Rd during mid-afternoon who must have been doing 65kmh plus as he was going away from me doing 60kmh (GPS measured)

At the tram stop outside Elsternwick station a tram takes off across the pedestian crossing well afetr the lights had gone red.

Several instances of trams taking off from stationary at Hawthorn Rd and Kooyong Rd after the traffic lights they were facing had turned red – and they disn’t have any tarm lights allopwing them to go!

No to mention stopping behind cars trying to reverse park in Glen Huntly Rd and continuosly ringing their bell to harass the car drivers into moving on

What is the story with aggro tram drivers

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:18:48 +0000

The wording of the changes in relation to bicycles is sloppy!

eg.
Seat and helmet
A bicycle passenger must wear an approved bicycle helmet and sit on a proper seat when riding on a bicycle.

Therefore a bicycle rider could be committing an offence if they stand on the pedals to absorb road shock or stand up to climb a hill.

By: Maverick

Maverick — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:36:10 +0000

I dont get the thing with the car headlights!! all motorcycles have their headlights on day or night (they cant be turned off), why cant cars have theirs on? i get angry with cars on high beam at night when you oncoming to it, but i would think that you would be able to see a car much better during the day if they had their light on also

By: What

What — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:23:18 +0000

More rules. The road traffic act used to be a few pages, something that all drivers could memorise. Now the road traffic act is a bloody thesis and no one has a chance of committing the whole thing to memory. Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law, yet how would it be possible to know all laws and bi-laws that our leaders come up with. time to change our number plates. “Victoria – The nanny state”

By: AlbertK21

AlbertK21 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:39:35 +0000

Given that there are next to no police cars or policing of Victorian roads, the govn can pass any law it likes – no enforcement – no impact. The only way this lazy govn will enforce if it can use some technology, preferably stealth, to enforce. Victorian roads must be about the most dangerous in the country – no annual road worthy checks, overtaking on the inside etc.

By: Tram Driver

Tram Driver — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:40:02 +0000

Thanks Bor’ka, its my pleasure…. Hookturns are only implemented in city of Melbourne streets and in Clarendon Street South Melbourne. Every other street has normal right turn from right lane policy. have a good one and take care out there.

By: Tram Driver

Tram Driver — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:35:21 +0000

Reckless1, we are supposed to sound the Gong when we are passing some parked vehicles especially large vehicles because we experience many people who just walk out in front of trams (quite often with headphones on or talking on their mobile phone). There is really no such thing as excessive gonging as we are a heavy vehicle with no room for error due to no steering ability. Its better to sound the gong a few times than hit someone who hasnt looked out for traffic or isn’t really paying attenttion. There wouldn’t be a tram driver with a few years driving behind them who hasnt had a close call with a pedestrian or another motorist who hasn’t seen us approaching and that is the most common excuse when a accident occurs despite a tram being in the vicinity of 30 metres long about 8 foot in height and unmistakable for a heavy vehicle. So basically its not playing with the gong its warning people of danger.

By: Dazzle

Dazzle — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:12:28 +0000

Agree. Stupid to ban them. They’re probably banned because of all the whingers in Australia or an easy way to raise revenue. Foglights are useless in fog, so they shouldn’t even be called foglights; should be renamed ‘ultra low beams’ They cast a low, short beam, and can’t affect vision of drivers coming in the opposite direction. I’ve noticed the majority of them to be the case. Only a small percentage of them are misaligned; there are more low beam headlights that are misaligned than these ‘ultra low beam lights’.

By: Hilly

Hilly — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:49:15 +0000

Foglights are not always orange as there is yellow as well. Heavy trucks and FWDS are the worst offenders.