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 65standard
Officially Full-On Dubber
Posts: 373
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Location: Sydney, NSW
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| posted on January 5th, 2011 at 02:07 PM |
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Like you smiley, I have drum brakes all round and have the standard 15" x 4.5" bicycle wheels with 165 tyres, so I keep my distance, but there's
always someone who'll want to barge in from the right lane at the last second to make a left turn or take an exit.
Just some statistics from the RTA website for those that may be interested. These figures are for 2009:
1. NSW had 408 fatalities with a total of 42,952 crashes in the state.
2. There were a total of 821 crashes where people were swerving to avoid an animal. 297 crashes resulted in injuries.
3. 31 accidents involving mobile phones. 10 crashes resulting in injuries.
4. 784 accidents involving distractions within the vehicle. 1 accident was fatal while 239 crashes resulted in injuries.
5. 2,574 accidents involving distractions outside the vehicle. 11 crashes were fatal while 1,190 resulted in injuries.
6. Tyre failures resulted in 280 crashes with 1 crash being fatal and 96 crashes with injuries.
7. Speeding was involved in 7,147 crashes with 183 of those crashes being fatal and 3,000 resulting in injuries.
8. Alcohol was involved in 1,827 crashes. 85 of those crashes being fatal and 998 ith injuries.
9. Of the 42,952 crashes in NSW in 2009, 15,575 were on 2-way undivided roads, 4,748 were on dual carriage way (non-freeway) and 1,185 were on dual
carriage way (freeway).
10. A majority of the crashes were in metropolitan areas with 10,248 crashes in 50km/h and 11,545 crashes in 60km/h zones with a total of 88
fatalities just in those two speed zones.
11. In the country areas, there were 3,703 crashes in the 100km/h zone with 140 fatalities and 1,778 injuries.
Speed alone is not a factor, but the competence and common sense of people to act responsibly behind the wheel is a major factor. We seem to forget
that we are in control of 1-2 tonne projectiles riding on a tube of air with only a few inches of rubber in contact with the ground at any one time
and racing along at 100km/h or about 27 metres/second.
Just some food for thought.
Norman
[size=4]If it ain't broke, fix it till it is![/size]
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
Aircooled Master
Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138% - YIKES --
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 posted on January 5th, 2011 at 02:40 PM |
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I find when driving on dual lanes highways etc...
that when I try to keep a good distance behind the car in front.
someone will pull in front of Me...
and when its raining
I'm sure many people don't THINK at ALL....
and that their vehicle will NOT stop like it did the day before when it wasn't raining....'
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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Smiley
A.k.a.: Daniel Stephens
Veteran Volks Folk
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| posted on January 5th, 2011 at 03:25 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by 65standard
Like you smiley, I have drum brakes all round and have the standard 15" x 4.5" bicycle wheels with 165 tyres, so I keep my distance, but there's
always someone who'll want to barge in from the right lane at the last second to make a left turn or take an exit.
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Too right.
It's a pain in the ass trying to maintain a safe following distance when people see a spot that their car might fit and decide to put it there.
The one I hate the most is people swapping lanes so they are in front of me coming up to a set of lights then jumping on the brakes cause the light is
red/changing or there are cars taking off. People don't seem to realise that not all cars have the braking capability of their few year old block of
plastic. It really pains me when I see people doing this to trucks, cause it's just a pancake waiting to happen.
You shouldn't just drive to the ability of your car, but all the cars around you.
Are they an older vehicle?
Do they have drum brakes?
A trailer?
A heavy load?
All things to take into account while you're driving and assessing the road.
Driving is a privilege, not a right. As mentioned above, people seem to forget that they are in control of a few tons of steel, and only when it's
too late are they brought back down to earth.
Anyone and everyone that can get to a defensive driving course I would highly recommend it. It should be a mandatory part of obtaining a license.
I haven't been to one in a few years, I might look into going again at some stage this year.
Might be a good little day activity for some like minded dubbers to participate in 
Smiley 
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
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h
A.k.a.: Towely BuMpEr KING! ILLegal ALIEN on a roadtrip
Scirocco Rare
fractals - an ever changing lifestyle
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| posted on January 5th, 2011 at 06:36 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
....as I was doing 107MPH in an 80kmh zone...
Lee
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tisk tisk tisk lee..
n I thought you were a good, honest, law abiding, hall monitor type of fella..
there are HOON laws in place for your type round thems parts
oh the shame n not even watching the road at that..
oh dear, lee;
when good guys go bad.. 
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Wannavee
Insano Dub Head
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| posted on January 5th, 2011 at 08:22 PM |
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Cool Joel
My dad is 73 and has gradually got slower with age. Drives my mum nuts!
She is the same age and could qualify for an F1 grand prix! She's a nutbag in a car.Funny shit with her road raging the blue rinse people.
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rose
Veteran Volks Folk
doin it for d girls
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| posted on January 5th, 2011 at 09:11 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by 65standard
I would like to hear from anyone that can honestly say they keep their 5 seconds between them and the car in front.
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this is me I drive like it all the time as I want to be prepared to have extra space if I need to avoid some one's poor driving or something on the
road.
And when I'm driving my bug I leave a bigger gap so I have more space to stop in a hurry when I need to.
But when I do this idiots jump in and slow down what is the go with that.
Next time anyone goes down the F3 just observe how much space is between the cars there is no way a car can avoid a collision if the car in the front
has to slow in a hurry for some reason like an obstacle on the road.
Yes get the learner drivers off of the freeway where the speed limit is 110 klm
And lee you should go racing on the track not on our roads. Keep it safe.
[img][/img]
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
Aircooled Master
Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138% - YIKES --
Posts: 11654
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 posted on January 5th, 2011 at 11:53 PM |
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All VW Beetles sold in North America had drum brakes....
even the 1978 beetles...
and drum brakes are OK if You keep them adjusted up...
I believe the most important thing on a car is tyres....
Best car isn't much good with tyres with not much tread...
or not good tyres... IMHO...
I can lock up My brakes when I hit the pedal hard..
front and back.... but I try not to do that... lol
I don't race on the roads Rose...
but now that there are traffic lights in Scone.... ??
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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HappyDaze
A.k.a.: Greg Mackie
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
Superannuated
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| posted on January 6th, 2011 at 06:31 AM |
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You're right about tyres, Lee - not much use being able to lock up all 4 wheels, when the rubber (or the driver ,for that matter) aint up to it.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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Smiley
A.k.a.: Daniel Stephens
Veteran Volks Folk
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| posted on January 6th, 2011 at 06:46 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
and drum brakes are OK if You keep them adjusted up...
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Problem is they stop working when they're wet.
Smiley
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.
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donn
Wolfsburg Elder
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| posted on January 6th, 2011 at 08:50 AM |
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Have to disagree Lee, the most important part of a car is the driver, but then I am being sarcastic on purpose.  
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
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beetleboyjeff
A.k.a.: Jeff Walsh
Custom Title Time!
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| posted on January 6th, 2011 at 08:58 AM |
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I think the mechanical term for the driver is 'the nut that holds the steering wheel'. lol
From your ole' mate Jeff
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