Highway speed limit to remain at 110kph

[jeffooi]

THE STAR
Tuesday, November 05, 2002

Highway speed limit to remain at 110kph

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry has turned down a suggestion by the Works Ministry to raise the speed limit on highways from 110kph to 120kph.

Transport Ministry parliamentary secretary Donald Lim said studies have shown that the 120kph speed limit was not suitable for Malaysian highways.

“Some local cars such as the Perodua models have smaller horsepower and such a high speed may be dangerous,” he said.


FULL STORY:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...eed&sec=nation

[inertia]

In a trip down south to Johor Bahru along the highway, my dad was travelling at 110kmh and then came along this Mercedes, which I found out is the S500 model. The driver is driving very fast, travelling at around 130 kmh, thus overtaking us. I don't mind this super powerful car travelling at this speed, but then, when I looked further I saw a Kancil behind the Merc, and it's on the right lane, chasing after the Merc and trying to overtake the Merc.

Nevertheless, the MERCEDES S500 gave way to the Kancil which insisted on chasing and overtaking the Merc.

I was just wondering what kind of engine the Kancil is using and I doubt it's stability and speed. I could see the car shaking heavily while overtaking the Merc. (then Kancil looks as if is about to fly off)

Whatever it is, I would urge all Malaysians to drive safely. Think of the consequences of an accident.

[joker2107]

many moons ago i was doing 140kmh in a subaru travelling from PD to s'ban. a little white dot appeared in my rear view mirror and soon it zoomed past me without effort. needless tosay, it was a kancil.
the point is not so much how fast a vehicle can run but how safe a vehicle is. for a kancil, its not safe, even at 80kph. at 120kph, even passengers in a volvo, bmw, merc benz are not safe if there is a crash.

[shali]

I see someone had commented on the Kancil speeding at 130km/h or so. I don't mean to sound mendacious, but at 130km for a souped up Kancil is not that fast. A works Kancil can zap you at or near 160km/h.

Now on a different note:

The usual speed limit of a given road stretch is determined when you take into account of an extremely bad and vicious thunder storm - ribut taufan, when you are driving. After driving in such difficult conditions, try going faster than 110 and you get the picture.

So don't easily say 110km is too slow (I know it's irritating, I have tried 225km/h in a Porche). It was set on the assumption that you were driving on that stretch during a very bad weather, with water pool everywhere. If you drive over 110km in bad downpour, you will aquaplane and...simply...die, ABS or not.

[joker2107]

speed fiends like me is only one side of the coin. more importantly is the drivers who think that as long as they do not exceed the speed limit they are god. they do not realise that doing 70 on a 110 stretch is as dangerous as doing 160. i would daringly blame road hoggers for more accidents than speedsters. within the city i speed to catch up on time wasted behind drivers who can't decide if they wanna go straight or make a turn or to beat the idiots who crawl approaching a green light and then speed up to just beat the red.

for the average car on msian roads, top speed may be well over 150kph. but such speed ability does not have corresponding and supporting road holding dynamics cos the vehicles are simply not meant for it. try taking a 20 degree curve at 110 even on dry roads (not in shali's porsche). capable speeds are much higher than normal operating speeds so that the engine does not have to slog at extreme limits whence life span is threatened.

since shali mentioned thunder storms, to all readers who still use their hazard lights while driving in the rain, please please please disconnect your hazard lights immediately after reading this. its not only illegal, but running hazard lights causes dis-illusions and are more dangerous than running 120 on wet roads with purpose built wet rubbers.

[shali]

Joker2107 - I can't put it better than you. I suspect that you are a knowlegeable chap, and who knows, we might meet one fine day.

Correction though - I do NOT own a Porche. It was a friend's 911 Carera and I have tried all, but failed to steal the car

[xweird]

What would you say if this person going slow in the city is because he/she is not familiar with the roads? Maybe it's his/her first time there? Maybe lar...

As for hazard lights, yes I agree that they should only be used if your car is stationary. But recently going on PLUS highway in a heavy rain, I notice that even when car lights are switched on, they can barely be seen (rear lights). Maybe this is why some people put hazard lights on.

As for going 70 on a 110 stretch, it's OK, provided you stay at the slow lane.

RM0.02

[inertia]

Something about hazard lights... I have seen cars of some big shots. Located at the bumper of the car, you will be able to see that they have this badge to indicate that they are ahli parlimen or a car belonging to a judge (some mahkamah thing..... , anyone seen this b4?) They are not accompanied by any police.

I have seen these cars of big shots travelling at fast speed (around 140 kmh)and with hazard lights switched on. Not raining. and it's night time. To keep it short, they are driving fast, hazard lights are on, and they keep on flashing their lights to ask others to make way.

mamma mia. I think KL to JB in 2 hours time ??

About slow drivers, I agree with xweird. If they are on the fast lane, it's dangerous !! Some people just don't know they are slow perhaps. That's why fast drivers should be wary at all times, and therefore, don't speed coz they are such drivers around.

[kwchang]

One more sen on the hazard light maniacs who are, I believe, very frightened people in driving rain wishing and hoping that some idiot express bus won't run them down just because their tiny tail lights are practically invisible in a heavy downpour.

The solution, however, is not to flash the hazard lights BUT simply to affix a REAR FOG-LAMP. Take note of BMWs and Mercs (and maybe Volvos too)- they are all fitted with this extra red tail-light that is exceptionally bright. This only comes on if the driver switches on his fog-lamps. In heavy rain (or fog), this is highly efficient to help in being noticed. It does not flash to create the illusion of a broken down vehicle.

Just as the third brake light, I think JPJ should make this a mandatory appliance in all vehicles.

[jeffooi]

NEW SUNDAY TIMES
Sunday, November 10, 2002

Traffic fines: Raise speed limit, says Malacca CM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9: BOTH had outstanding traffic fines. But while Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain apologised for not paying up, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam wanted the speed limit raised to 160kph for luxury cars.

...In Malacca, Mohd Ali said the current speed limit of 110kph was no longer suitable, and proposed that it be capped at 160kph downwards, depending on the capacity of the cars.

He said it was not suitable for high-powered cars like Mercedes Benz and BMWs to travel at slow speed on highways.

FULL STORY:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/N...82239/Article/

[joker2107]

i'd love him, that tuk mar. i'll be waiting for the autobahns down south. look forward to taking my eyes off the speedo whenever i'm between alor gajah and ayer keroh. i woudn't mind the toll then.

[jeffooi]

Please spare a minute to take a poll at www.usj.com.my:

POLL QUESTION:
Posted on Nov 11, 2002

Must V.V.I.P.s be allowed special speed limit of 160kph on the expressways small-car owners are using?

( 1 ) Yes - they risk they pay
( 2 ) Yes - they rush as they are busy
( 3 ) No - they risk others
( 4 ) Say NO to double standards

[joker2107]

( 5 ) Yes - the replacement for VVIPS is too slow.

PS sorry Jeff, its kind of hard for a joker to not laugh out loud.

[CH]

Ahah! Now you are talking!

I cannot forget that between Alor Gajah and Air Keroh, the stretch is having a speed limit of 90 km/h for the reason that the stretch is having a side wind - angin lintang, which claimed to be strong and dangerous to fast moving vehicles. And not to mention a lot of people receive speeding tickets for driving 110 km/h along that stretch.

Talking about that, the indicator for the wind along that stretch has been missing for quite a while - is it because now the wind is no longer a danger to moving vehicles or our cars are more resistant to side winds?

[Roy883]

I personally and honestly feel that instead of focussing on the debate of whether or not we should increase the speed limit to 120kph,... what the authorities should be looking at, is correcting all the absurd speed limits in some spots in the country. Along the North-South Highway, there are numerous spots that are only 90kph and honestly this doesn't seem to make sense.

Secondly, before we even consider increasing the limit to 120kph, let's first concentrate on the safety of our highways first. The trucks and lorries that travel the highway are sometimes so poorly lit that they are a hazard to other motorists. In Australia, the trucks are well-lit. Buses too travel at break-neck speeds. If JPJ can first reduce irresponsible motorists on the highways, then we can look at increasing the speed limits.

I am not against the increase but I strongly feel that some fundamentals have to be looked into first before we address secondarym issues.