[newkie]

I'm having trouble getting my head around the new variable speed limit signs we have in Hobart now. Specifically the ones on the approach to the city, that I have to go through to take DH to work in the mornings This morning I found that I was instructed to drive at 60km in the right hand lane of a two lane highway, of which at that time there was no other traffic to speak of, where 2 weeks ago I was doing 110km in that same spot (at that same time), we were then taken down to 50 shortly after (in a 70 zone), and the traffic was still negligible.

I'm assuming, seeing as Tassie is usually the last to get everything, that there are places on the mainland with these variable speed limit signs, do you just get used to them? I'm feeling put out that I'm now no longer able to use my own judgement of the traffic situation to vary my speed accordingly. I also feel slightly anxious on the approach to them, as it feels like they can change at any moment and I'll be caught out.

It's certainly making me rethink dropping DH at work in the mornings, I think maybe he should catch the bus

[*LucyE*]

SE Qld here and I have never seen them vary so much. The most is usually a 20km/h difference.

[newkie]

See 20km below what the normal zone is, is fine, and what I expected, but I was seriously baffled this morning at the 60 in the old 110 zone.

I'd really like to know if there is any evidence to show that they reduce car accidents or not. I drove past 2 rear enders in the variable zone on Wednesday, so I guess I'm not the only one not used to them.

[flopsy]

Are you talking about the neon type signs that can have a different speed limit posted depending on the conditions etc?

[TinMan]

Are there any night road works on that stretch of road and they just haven't switched over yet to the daytime speed?

[newkie]

They look like this: Signs

Surely someone else here gets annoyed at them? Or are they not as common as I thought they must be?

[greatwon2]

geez, hope these stay down south they sound confusing as all get out. I've never heard of it before and didn't hear anything about them going in anywhere in Tas , which is a wonder as we seem to like to have a winge about everything new latley lol

[newkie]

Nope, no night time works anywhere near it. And whilst looking for that photo, I found a newspaper article saying the limit can be reduced down to 40km in that area. Thankfully, it's usually only at peak times, and usually only on the approach to the bridge, but I still don't like them.

[newkie]

I am having a bit of a whinge, aren't I?

[Luxe]

I've seen them about Melbourne, mostly to indicate the 40km zones and the variable speeds on the freeways (westgate bridge and monash etc). Feels normal to me but then you get more speed changes in the city than the country.