Melbourne Tunnel Crash! WOA!!!

[CSP]

Graphic tunnel crash video shown to court | NEWS.com.au

The second video has a higher frame rate and is a much better angle. Unless something on his truck broke, i't's a clear example of not driving to the conditions (as you'll see every other vehicle was) or not paying attention.

That truckie (unless something malfunctioned on his truck) deserves to be locked away forever... What a complete idiot!!!

As a side note... I don't know the tunnel so don't know if there are any right lane exits as there are in Sydney (Bexley Rd exit eastbound on the M5 for example), but why the hell are the so many trucks in the right hand lane??

[hsvpunk]

nah no right lane exits.
i just saw some footage of tv before. pretty full on.

[Reaper]

Graphic tunnel crash video shown to court | NEWS.com.au

The second video has a higher frame rate and is a much better angle. Unless something on his truck broke, i't's a clear example of not driving to the conditions (as you'll see every other vehicle was) or not paying attention.

That truckie (unless something malfunctioned on his truck) deserves to be locked away forever... What a complete idiot!!!

As a side note... I don't know the tunnel so don't know if there are any right lane exits as there are in Sydney (Bexley Rd exit eastbound on the M5 for example), but why the hell are the so many trucks in the right hand lane??

The left hand lane only appears part way thru the tunnel and then diverts at the tunnel exit. Nearly all of the traffic is heading thru in the right hand 2 lanes. Not much exits to the left at the end of the tunnel.

Reaper

[tommo82]

but why the hell are the so many trucks in the right hand lane??

Simple. Because 99.5%* of truck drivers are dumb obnoxious arseholes who don't realise they're blocking traffic.

This is one of the reasons congestion is so bad in Melbourne on the Monash. It isn't the volume of traffic, it is the trucks spread out everywhere and the "catepillar" effect. When the traffic slows down, a chain of trucks will take longer to get up to speed than a row of cars.

I know it's not illegal for trucks to drive in the right lane, however it's just plain rude when they are 3 side by side; Especially in a tunnel, because as the tunnel nears the surface they always struggle up the hill and usually sit on 15-20km/h.


* Source: my daily driving experiences

[Cane_It]

Simple. Because 99.5%* of truck drivers are dumb obnoxious arseholes who don't realise they're blocking traffic.

This is one of the reasons congestion is so bad in Melbourne on the Monash. It isn't the volume of traffic, it is the trucks spread out everywhere and the "catepillar" effect. When the traffic slows down, a chain of trucks will take longer to get up to speed than a row of cars.

I know it's not illegal for trucks to drive in the right lane, however it's just plain rude when they are 3 side by side; Especially in a tunnel, because as the tunnel nears the surface they always struggle up the hill and usually sit on 15-20km/h.


* Source: my daily driving experiences

Exactly, got it in 1.


it'll be worse when they allow the 3 trailer road trains in metro melbourne, but thats what happens when the govts pulled the pin on funding rail infrastructure in the 80s

[CSP]

thats what happens when the govts pulled the pin on funding rail infrastructure in the 80s

Beat me to it... Australia used to have a great rail network. If it was brought back to is once great status or better, the volume of trucks would SERIOUSLY decline. Rail is MUCH safer, has MUCH higher capacity, is QUICKER and a lot SAFER.

[padrickz88]

Beat me to it... Australia used to have a great rail network. If it was brought back to is once great status or better, the volume of trucks would SERIOUSLY decline. Rail is MUCH safer, has MUCH higher capacity, is QUICKER and a lot SAFER.

and you get alot of truckies off the road that are high on speed..... (not all are, but a ****load if them take the crap)

X2 to tommo82

[Keepleft]

As a side note... I don't know the tunnel so don't know if there are any right lane exits as there are in Sydney (Bexley Rd exit eastbound on the M5 for example), but why the hell are the so many trucks in the right hand lane??

1. The right hand exits you mention are not to standard for a motorway class road in a place that has a 'keep left unless overtaking' requirement.

2. Victoria, does not adequately teach 'keep-left unless overtaking' in relation to motorway class roads bearing three-lanes. What they teach in their handbook is simply 'keep-left', which to many simply means the middle-lane is the left-lane, often when the left-lane proper is free of traffic for kilometres.

3. I have tried this year, to again, have Victoria include the NSW text, which tells road users to use the left lane first.

4. On the NSW F3, we post signs on three-laned lengths of freeway requesting heavy vehicles to NOT use the right lane. "Trucks Use Left Two Lanes".

I have no comment on this driver.

None of this is surprising, and such will continue, involving trucks and not. Australian authorities are simply not in-tune to high-speed tuition and management.

[minux]

1. The right hand exits you mention are not to standard for a motorway class road in a place that has a 'keep left unless overtaking' requirement.

2. Victoria, does not adequately teach 'keep-left unless overtaking' in relation to motorway class roads bearing three-lanes. What they teach in their handbook is simply 'keep-left', which to many simply means the middle-lane is the left-lane, often when the left-lane proper is free of traffic for kilometres.

3. I have tried this year, to again, have Victoria include the NSW text, which tells road users to use the left lane first.

4. On the NSW F3, we post signs on three-laned lengths of freeway requesting heavy vehicles to NOT use the right lane. "Trucks Use Left Two Lanes".

I have no comment on this driver.

None of this is surprising, and such will continue, involving trucks and not. Australian authorities are simply not in-tune to high-speed tuition and management.

Erm, Keep Left is only on posted roads(Which this road does not have) or on speed zones over 80 km/h. That being said this road is 80km/h.

Seriously though, I am amazed it doesn't happen more often with how people lane jump in that tunnel, sometimes it is downright scary(from trucks and cars)

[Keepleft]

Erm, Keep Left is only on posted roads(Which this road does not have) or on speed zones over 80 km/h. That being said this road is 80km/h.

I know that, but 'keep left generally' and the fact this is a multi-lane road would indicate to all but the dumbest, that one should routinely practice keep left.

Put it this way, you wouldn't get the behaviour in Germany, but probably would in Russia.

The lane jumping is not so much an issue, as is the bunching-up effect.

People here drive to speed limits, come what may.

Nothing will change.

[Reaper]

You guys are totally ignoring the fact that that particular tunnel is set up for right lane bias. Nearly all of the traffic enters the tunnel in the r/h 2 lanes and just about all of it exits in the same lanes. Bugger all traffic uses the exit that is next to the end of the tunnel.

Reaper

[Keepleft]

You guys are totally ignoring the fact that that particular tunnel is set up for right lane bias. Nearly all of the traffic enters the tunnel in the r/h 2 lanes and just about all of it exits in the same lanes. Bugger all traffic uses the exit that is next to the end of the tunnel.

Reaper

Not at all, discussing for myself at least, I certainly recognise your point in regards this location.

Lane discipline, sitting too close to lead vehicles - in part owing the bunching-up effect (speed limit conditining = hectic driving), the lack of hazards being used 'automatically' by stopped traffic when the (or an) event occures, are all part of the safety issues not being fully realised. By no means the absolute result in outcome here.

We do need to focus on secondary crash prevention for all roads, atm, we generally run around scenes like headless chooks, no automatic wearing of safety vests, such as ingrained into EU state drivers, no triangle, no or very little evidence of 'ignition' being switched off in crashed vehicles to reduce risk of fire.

Though I have such text included into most AUS state driver handbooks.

For example, in the past week or so I've tried, again, to have VICROADS include the simple sentence for its "Road To Solo Driving" handbook vis; 'if available, wear a bright, reflective safety vest to aid in you pedestrian safety'. (Placed in context to the vehicle breakdown and crash-scene tuition).

(These vest items are mandatory suppy in EU cars, one per passenger seat, AND LAW then requires that they must be used by the roadside in most key EU states. Google an image search for 'EN471'. They cost as little as $6-00 here in OZ).

And so on.

Not that people are bad and evil, but 'the state' bears primary responsibility for giving us the full and proper tools of the road, and for driver ed.

We'll see what happens, I am hopeful they'll include the text this year. Ditto the triangle placement item.

I deal with NSW authorities mostly, we are at least progressive:-)

[minux]

Im not sure what safety vests and triangles would of done in this situation.

That being said, many companies we work for have a compliance audit on safety vests and triangles in all fleet vehicles, trucks cars, utes etc.

As for myself, if I broke down in that tunnel, I wouldnt need either of those, because there is no way in ****ing hell I would get out of my car lol.

[Grennan]

Seriously though, I am amazed it doesn't happen more often with how people lane jump in that tunnel, sometimes it is downright scary(from trucks and cars)

Yeah i agree that tunnel can be extremely duanting. Ive gone through it a few times and i dread it everytime. As soon as anyone changes lane its an absolute nightmare. Trucks are scarier in there though, despite the 80k limit and the cameras throughout the tunnel, they still speed through there and i truck on your arse in that tunnel is pretty frightening.

[Cane_It]

"keep left" on a multilane freeway eg the monash, presents its own problems in heavy traffic;

1: vehicles merging onto the freeway will have to find a suitable gap in heavy traffic, impossible, so traffic backs up on the on ramp.

2: keeping trucks in the middle lane until they are approaching their exit would would free up the right lane for cars and make merging on and off the freeway easier.

I think both of these things would help traffic on the monash.

[AirStrike]

Not at all, discussing for myself at least, I certainly recognise your point in regards this location.

Lane discipline, sitting too close to lead vehicles - in part owing the bunching-up effect (speed limit conditining = hectic driving), the lack of hazards being used 'automatically' by stopped traffic when the (or an) event occures, are all part of the safety issues not being fully realised. By no means the absolute result in outcome here.

We do need to focus on secondary crash prevention for all roads, atm, we generally run around scenes like headless chooks, no automatic wearing of safety vests, such as ingrained into EU state drivers, no triangle, no or very little evidence of 'ignition' being switched off in crashed vehicles to reduce risk of fire.

Though I have such text included into most AUS state driver handbooks.

For example, in the past week or so I've tried, again, to have VICROADS include the simple sentence for its "Road To Solo Driving" handbook vis; 'if available, wear a bright, reflective safety vest to aid in you pedestrian safety'. (Placed in context to the vehicle breakdown and crash-scene tuition).

(These vest items are mandatory suppy in EU cars, one per passenger seat, AND LAW then requires that they must be used by the roadside in most key EU states. Google an image search for 'EN471'. They cost as little as $6-00 here in OZ).

And so on.

Not that people are bad and evil, but 'the state' bears primary responsibility for giving us the full and proper tools of the road, and for driver ed.

We'll see what happens, I am hopeful they'll include the text this year. Ditto the triangle placement item.

I deal with NSW authorities mostly, we are at least progressive:-)

OMG, and there we have it! Managed to slip in a freaking triangle reference!! How would a bloody triangle of helped here? Think your a bit off topic.

[Reaper]

Not at all, discussing for myself at least, I certainly recognise your point in regards this location.

Lane discipline, sitting too close to lead vehicles - in part owing the bunching-up effect (speed limit conditining = hectic driving), the lack of hazards being used 'automatically' by stopped traffic when the (or an) event occures, are all part of the safety issues not being fully realised. By no means the absolute result in outcome here.

We do need to focus on secondary crash prevention for all roads, atm, we generally run around scenes like headless chooks, no automatic wearing of safety vests, such as ingrained into EU state drivers, no triangle, no or very little evidence of 'ignition' being switched off in crashed vehicles to reduce risk of fire.

Though I have such text included into most AUS state driver handbooks.

For example, in the past week or so I've tried, again, to have VICROADS include the simple sentence for its "Road To Solo Driving" handbook vis; 'if available, wear a bright, reflective safety vest to aid in you pedestrian safety'. (Placed in context to the vehicle breakdown and crash-scene tuition).

(These vest items are mandatory suppy in EU cars, one per passenger seat, AND LAW then requires that they must be used by the roadside in most key EU states. Google an image search for 'EN471'. They cost as little as $6-00 here in OZ).

And so on.

Not that people are bad and evil, but 'the state' bears primary responsibility for giving us the full and proper tools of the road, and for driver ed.

We'll see what happens, I am hopeful they'll include the text this year. Ditto the triangle placement item.

I deal with NSW authorities mostly, we are at least progressive:-)

Have you been eating carbon paper??? I don't see how any vest or triangle would have saved anybody from a semi trailer bouncing off everything in sight like a pinball game.

Reaper

[CSP]

(These vest items are mandatory suppy in EU cars, one per passenger seat, AND LAW then requires that they must be used by the roadside in most key EU states. Google an image search for 'EN471'. They cost as little as $6-00 here in OZ).

Define "most". Because I have family living a few EU countries and NONE of them are aware of such a law. Their cars (which I have travelled in quite a number of times) weren't sold with any vests!

Oh and by the way, they're EU countries not EU states.

[Rufus®]

Have you been eating carbon paper??? I don't see how any vest or triangle would have saved anybody from a semi trailer bouncing off everything in sight like a pinball game.

Reaper

Simple, the truck driver should have jumped out, run back 2 or 3 kms, before the entrance to the tunnel, and put his little triangle out, thus warning everyone that there was a broken down truck somewhere! no? lol

[Grennan]

Have you ever driven in that tunnel? You would be absolutely INSANE to get out of your car, let alone a truck that takes up more room in that place.

Then you say walk a couple of K's up the tunnel and put a triangle down... well if your game enough to walk against traffic in the burnley tunnel, ill buy you a beer right before your commited to the asylum.

[Rufus®]

yeah i have driven it, hence the "no? lol" part of my post. It was a joke / sarcasm, because placing a triangle at the scene would have done nothing to prevent the accident.

but you can still buy me the beer if you really want..

[CSP]

It wasn't an accident - it was a crash!

[Keepleft]

Define "most". Because I have family living a few EU countries and NONE of them are aware of such a law. Their cars (which I have travelled in quite a number of times) weren't sold with any vests!

Germany, France, Italy Spain, Hungary - the vest to EN471. In Germany it is *law* that you must wear the device.

Spain complains of cheap, inferior 'copies'.....
Its early years of implementation. The triangle side of things is complete. You tell me the location and I'll go through the channels to find out exacting detail for that jurisdiction (sorry country).

Oh and by the way, they're EU countries not EU states.

Duh, you nationalist you:-)

Btw 'states parties' is UN Speak for 'countries'. In EU Speak, applies ditto, 'states of the union' - if you follow.

Next complaint?

If you wish to make a political thread about the EU, feel free.

OMG, and there we have it! Managed to slip in a freaking triangle reference!! How would a bloody triangle of helped here? Think your a bit off topic.

Hate much? Off topic? No, but I am not suggesting you hop out and run back towards traffic waving your arms about in a tunnel without shoulders, apply the hazards - yes.

Rem at law we'd stipulate vis; 'if it is safe to do so'. I am talking about the greater picture here.

Have you been eating carbon paper??? I don't see how any vest or triangle would have saved anybody from a semi trailer bouncing off everything in sight like a pinball game.

Reaper

Per above.

Simple, the truck driver should have jumped out, run back 2 or 3 kms, before the entrance to the tunnel, and put his little triangle out, thus warning everyone that there was a broken down truck somewhere! no? lol

Well, it all depends on the prevailing circumstances, road and traffic. I'd reckon tunnels are one location where we'd not mandate so, IF it came to some form of mandatory placement.

Personally, I am for voluntary placement (of a triangle at say a break-down), generally, BUT 'the device' must be supplied with the car, as it is in the EU market and now in China, AND as now supported in a new UN Road Traffic Convention that is under development. (Vests too).

One last thing about triangles - when "Aussies" think triangles, they think of the rubbish used by truckies. I am talking about the better quality item, not our US market specification sourced AS3790 junk.

[xlr8_87]

I don't know how you got talking about that triangle, as its completely irrelevant in this situation, and obviously judging by your signature you're trying to sell them

back on topic of the actual truck... they said in the news only half of its brake cylinders were working

[Keepleft]

I don't know how you got talking about that triangle, as its completely irrelevant in this situation, and obviously judging by your signature you're trying to sell them

back on topic of the actual truck... they said in the news only half of its brake cylinders were working

You make the assertion, so I'll answer it, as I periodically have it raised in the multitude of motoring forums where I am a member. Heck, even the ladies at EB (a parenting forum) allow it after clarification. "Oooh that nasty man is trying to sell something". And so it goes.....

It is "road safety advocacy", read and comprehend it, read also the WA Transport Pdf link as to the advice you can take, when in the situation that you would normally use the item/s. My only suggestion is that you go buy one, I genuinely hope you never ever get to use it.

I have used the devices a number of years to protect crash-scenes, bodies and injured persons on all road categories, from freeway class to suburban 50's. These things aid safety, without them the emergency services would be invisible, think about it, - not that difficult.

I AM NOT, in any way shape or form - involved in either of the two companies. IF you know of another co that carries the UN triangle item, I'd be happy to know about it. (I'll use em in my Sigs:-)

I certainly make NO money whatsoever from my Sig, here or elsewhere, and I certainly do not sell you anything. Further, nobody here pays my income.

I agree though, we'll get further back on track here.

The brake cylinder issue is an interest, you folk might recall the nasty F3 Mooney Mooney crash a few years back?!