shirleyt Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 I was caught speeding within 20 minutes of arriving , have been caught once since. I take more care of the limits these days! We had only been in the hire car 5 minutes before we got flashed. We actually managed to go through a red light. It was 2.00 in the morning, 4 kids in tow, loaded down with all our luggage. New car, new roads and trying to follow directions to rental after long flight. We were turning right and didn't realise we had to wait for the filter light to change. Next thing we know we had been flashed. The car hire company have already sent a 30 dollar fine to release our name to the police. Just waiting for the fine. It was bank holiday weekend so will the fine be twice as much? What will happen to the points? We are emigrating there next year? Do you think points within the first 5 minutes is a record ? It was a terrible start to what was a great holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirleyt Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 BTW I have a completely clean licence in the UK, I don't make a habit of running red lights. I saw the lights go green and went, without realising I couldn't turn right. I didn't realise how much Australians love their filter lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhampa Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 I managed $700 + in fines over 2 years... they would wait at the bottom of this steep hill, automatic car just crept over the limit by a few Ks and it was 1-0 to the cops... also been done by the mobile vans..... here in UK you can go 10 -15 MPH over the fixed ones, in oz it seems 5 kph over and its a nice tidy fine for ya.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legal angel Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Just got my first speeding fine after 30 years driving. Not a happy bunny. I thought the cameras at traffic lights just flashed if you went through a red light but its for speeding too, as I found out when I got the fine today, $75 but no demerit points, I think. I still have my irish licence, when I got the australian one last year I thought they might take it but they didn't, so when I go back in July, I'll just continue using the Irish one. The continuous change in speed limits drives me mad - 80km then 70km then back to 80km and down to 60km, all on the same road and within a few miles - why don't they just make up their minds. I use cruise control as well, I love it, but didn't have it on when I got the speeding ticket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moven Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Just got my first speeding fine after 30 years driving. Not a happy bunny. I thought the cameras at traffic lights just flashed if you went through a red light but its for speeding too, as I found out when I got the fine today, $75 but no demerit points, I think. I still have my irish licence, when I got the australian one last year I thought they might take it but they didn't, so when I go back in July, I'll just continue using the Irish one. The continuous change in speed limits drives me mad - 80km then 70km then back to 80km and down to 60km, all on the same road and within a few miles - why don't they just make up their minds. I use cruise control as well, I love it, but didn't have it on when I got the speeding ticket. From what I gather, the points are against your name and not your license. So, having an Irish & WA license doesn't add any advantage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakeboard1980 Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Yeah but its 50kph here in built up area which is less than 30mph isnt it? 70 or 80kph roads are equivalent of dual carriageways which were always 70mph weren't they...I cant remember now. I do remember the irish plod who gave me my 1st ticket told me the speeds were too slow here though! 50ks is 31 mph. When you compare the speed limits there is not a great deal of difference really. 80ks is 50mph and 110ks is 68 mph. Agree that the cops in Aus are everywhere to get you speeding but if you don't speed then you won't get a ticket, that's my thinking anyway. Drove in Aus for about 11-12 years and got done 3 times speeding, once by a cop and twice by cameras. Have driven for 5 years in the UK, and touch wood not been caught yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisme Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 I thought you started off with 12 points here in oz Definately start on zero, and are issued demerit points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Just got my first speeding fine after 30 years driving. Not a happy bunny. I thought the cameras at traffic lights just flashed if you went through a red light but its for speeding too, as I found out when I got the fine today, $75 but no demerit points, I think. I still have my irish licence, when I got the australian one last year I thought they might take it but they didn't, so when I go back in July, I'll just continue using the Irish one. The continuous change in speed limits drives me mad - 80km then 70km then back to 80km and down to 60km, all on the same road and within a few miles - why don't they just make up their minds. I use cruise control as well, I love it, but didn't have it on when I got the speeding ticket. If you have an Aussie licence and produce a UK or Irish one later , you can expect a fine for that too or at least a good rolloking if the cops in a decent mood. Cal x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabo Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 In NSW you can get up to 13 points - just so they can squeeze an extra fine in once you get up to 12. Cynical or wot? I thought you started off with 12 points here in oz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Well I have been driving for 27 years in this country and in the UK and have never got a speeding fine or even a parking ticket, completely clean licence. But I would have to agree, that the speed limits can be confusing. The freeway closest to us has the speed camera's on them regularly and people (including my OH) get caught out all the time, that said though if your not speeding you wont get caught out! I find it the most difficult in the 40 zones around the schools, HUUUUGE open roads and to try and keep the car under 40 is a nightmare. Our speedo on our car is approxiamatly 10k slower than the car is actually doing, my OH takes that into account so goes 10k faster, I dont so thats probably why I dont exceed the limit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewebweazel Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 The Speed limits in WA are doing my nut. I cannot see the point of driving 90kph on the Mitchell freeway, its a Freeway for goodness sake surely it should be in the 120 range. Living / Driving in WA with out getting fined is going to be tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabo Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I can see two points - firstly, its the law, secondly, you will use significantly less fuel. :GEEK: The Speed limits in WA are doing my nut. I cannot see the point of driving 90kph on the Mitchell freeway, its a Freeway for goodness sake surely it should be in the 120 range. Living / Driving in WA with out getting fined is going to be tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tisme Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 The Speed limits in WA are doing my nut. I cannot see the point of driving 90kph on the Mitchell freeway, its a Freeway for goodness sake surely it should be in the 120 range. Living / Driving in WA with out getting fined is going to be tough. The freeway is 100k's until you get close to the city then it drops to 80. When you get to Safety Bay road, it increases to 110k's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewebweazel Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I can see two points - firstly, its the law, secondly, you will use significantly less fuel. :GEEK: Maybe so but its still a pain!:biggrin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest17301 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Have driven really, really carefully all day...huge effort...quite tiring concentrating on keeping under the limit and constantly looking for speed signs....I am trying really hard to change my driving style now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Its bloomin hard work with a car up your ar*e and others cutting in front from the left and the right, and the the limits are 60,70,80,90,100,110 thats a lot of variables not seen 120 yet is that here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest17301 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 So intimidating when cars tailgating you....I must stick to my guns though can't afford not too! Need my license for my living! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Its bloomin hard work with a car up your ar*e and others cutting in front from the left and the right, and the the limits are 60,70,80,90,100,110 thats a lot of variables not seen 120 yet is that here? I think NT is the only state or territory with default speeds over 110 now but even then I think the top speed is only 130. Way too slow when you have a big distance to cover IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pintpot Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 In fairness the max speed the UK ever gets to is 70mph which is just over 110kph The difference is that the cops in the UK don't seem to give a monkey's if you're doing up to 80-85mph. You have to keep your eye out for cameras but at least the fixed ones are very visible (yellow) and they still give you a bit of leeway over the limit - about 10% I've only ever been done for speeding once in the UK, by an unmarked car, who booked me for 90mph on a 70mph dual carriageway. The fact I'd been overtaking on the inside at up to 110mph shortly beforehand (on a motorbike) and he made it clear he'd seen that but wasn't going to do me for it made me quite happy to take a small 3 points and 60 quid slap on the wrist. Enforcement here is, I believe, errr, *slightly* more strenuous...... ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quinkla Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I thought the way to avoid fines and demerits was to walk and take public transport.... .... Until I got busted for jaywalking last week. At least I didn't tell the policeman what I thought of him as that is a $230 on the spot fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandJon Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 If someone tailgates me I slow down. And down. And down. They drop back (even a little bit) and I speed up, they come closer again and I slow down. Eventually they get the hint - or overtake, either way they're off my ar$e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pintpot Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I thought the way to avoid fines and demerits was to walk and take public transport.... .... Until I got busted for jaywalking last week. At least I didn't tell the policeman what I thought of him as that is a $230 on the spot fine. Can't stand jaywalking laws, and the enforcement of them is even worse A sure sign of a jurisdiction that has policing priorities all wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingun Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Been driving 20years in the uk/Europe no speeding fines or points. Just been here 6months and I get a fine plus one demerits point for doing 105 in a 100 zone which happened to be a not so busy 4 lane tollway (city link in Melbourne )!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKC Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I am still on my UK license (been here over 3 years, we were on a 457, just got PR last month so I have a few weeks to sort it out), but I have never had a fine for anything. However, I have been known to speed. There are a couple of roads locally which I drive on regularly, which are 70kph limits, that I am sure would have been 60mph limits in the UK. They are straight, easy roads to drive on. I do try to stick to 70, but as someone else said with the hills it can be quite difficult! On the couple of occasions when I have definitely been speeding and could have been caught, someone has flashed me to warn me that there are police ahead. People do that quite a lot around here. I have tried to use the cruise control in my car, particularly in the 40kph zones around schools, but I can't work out how to use it, no matter how many times I am shown! OH has three points for speeding, and he got a letter in the post about going through a red light and was told that if he did it again he would be given three more points and a fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojobluesox Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Hello, I am in the Uk and I am moving to OZ in a few months. I have 6pts currently....will the points go with me...or do they get lost in the sea somewhere ;-) Also what are the car insurance costs like over there compared to UK? Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.