We often wondered why many cars were pulled over by police on the Tasman Highway between St Helens and St Mary’s Pass. Now we know. The route is a cornucopia for traffic fines. On one trip to the big smoke Joan said, “Buck, there are dozens of speed signs. How can people remember what the speed limit is? I can’t.”
To while away long trips we play games, just as we did when the children were young. For instance, do you have any idea how many road signs have bullet marks? We knew there were many. So we monitored signs between Scottsdale and St Helens and a few other destinations. Our last survey, some years ago, counted 21%. Or…do you know the percentage of empty houses on the roadside between Launceston and Hobart? The answer varies from 8-12 percent, which illustrates how rural areas are losing population. This does not count derelict buildings.
To the point, do you know how many speed signs there are between downtown St Helens and the beginning of St. Mary’s Pass? Of course you do not. The answer is 40 plus! We also know of a number of people who were mercifully stopped and ‘forgiven’ by kind police who seem to understand the problems of bad signage. This problem is endemic throughout Tasmania.
The signs come in the following denominations: 1. Simple speed signs. 2. Warning signs of ‘need to slow for corners’. 3. Warning signs of approaching slippery roads. 4. School hour warnings. In our survey, we counted only numbers 1 and 2.
We begin in downtown St Helens. First 50kph, then 60kph, then 60, 60, 60. Next 80 followed by warning signs of 45, 25, 45, 45, 55, 65 and 65 (these are between St Helens and Beaumaris). The signs are not consistent from the opposite direction. After each warning yellow sign the speed limit moves back to where it was at the previous sector. Counting all as new speed limits which adds ten more speed zones.
Then we travel around Dianas Basin and are confronted with a confusing sign, ‘End 80’! Does that mean I HAVE to go 100 or I should NOT go 80? Happily, Beaumaris does not confuse us as there are three signs, all state ‘80’…except we ‘End 60’ as we arrive in Scamander and move through, 60, 60, 60, 50, 50, 80, 55 before we move out into the FAST section in Upper Scamander: 80, 80, 80 and then 55 and 55 again. Then HEY! we can travel up to 100 to the 4 Mile turn and slow down again up St Mary’s Pass.
Confused? We would like to know two things: first, how many traffic tickets are given in this dangerous section of highway and second, how is it possible for anyone to NOT exceed the speed limit at one of these 40 and more points? We guess everyone is a criminal on a trip to Launceston or Hobart.
What this really amounts to is the age old bureaucratic approach to making laws: just make more, piggy-back a few more and then make more; THEN fine motorists for breaking the law. HEY, voila, the government of Tasmania has more money in its coffers. Simple. Yes. SIMPLE! Also MADDENING.
Postscript: We think the best example of the worst is travelling out of Scamander towards St Marys when ‘End 80’, is immediately followed by a ‘55’ warning. Confused? Yes… we guess even the police scratch their heads.
Do not expect forgiveness, the Government has a budget to meet and this is harvest season.
