The totally off-topic thread

[QF WP]

Lovely to see QF doing a great job for Samuel. Go #CaptainSamuel

Samuel's Wish - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMvUFvLa0BA

 

[JohnK]

FWIW, I tend to be happy driving safely and going the speed of other traffic. I am rarely in a hurry, after all - I am very important so people wait for me to arrive when I feel like it

Isn't it great to feel loved?

 

[Shelf]

That's not very comforting. How do you normally account for this / know what is the true speed you are doing? (Apart from finding a long length of track and getting someone to time you as you test your speedo)

Contact your local motoring body RAA, RACV etc. they have devices that can test your vehicle.

 

[serfty]

That's not very comforting. How do you normally account for this / know what is the true speed you are doing? (Apart from finding a long length of track and getting someone to time you as you test your speedo)

Prior to GPS indication (GPS is generally very accurate), one easy way was to find a stretch of freeway at a quiet time, speed up to an indicated 100kph, stick at that indicated speed and time how long it takes to get from one 5km distance marker to the next.

If the speedo was accurate, it should take exactly three minutes. 3:20 indicates about 10% over-reading and 2:45 indicates about 10% under-reading.

 

[JessicaTam]

There would be slight concerns with the accuracy of the GPS, wouldn't there? (Or I guess you could use the GPS to measure the distance travelled at a constant speed then calculate the time required to drive it...)

I use my GPS to indicate how much my speedo is out by. I travel at a set speed on a straight, level piece of road, then remember the difference.

E.g. I now know that if my speedo shows 107-108 then I am sitting on an actual speed of 100kph.

 

[JessicaTam]

Well blow me down, but what happens after recent discussions here?

3C proposes to 3A with an announcement over the PA from the CSM afterwards. Beer and wine offered to all.

OT but I may be getting a reputation as the FA gave me a strange look when I declined a glass of wine.

 

[JohnK]

JessicaTam refused a glass of wine?

Hmmm. Who are you and what have you done with JessicaTam?

 

[Simo]

JessicaTam refused a glass of wine?

Hmmm. Who are you and what have you done with JessicaTam?

Her account has been hacked...

 

[JessicaTam]

JessicaTam refused a glass of wine?

Hmmm. Who are you and what have you done with JessicaTam?

No, no. It really is me. I am sitting in the MEL J lounge enjoying a glass of white before jumping on the bus home.

 

[anat0l]

I had to refuse several offers for a drink of wine once.

It was so difficult to turn them all down.... but I had to drive after my flight.

 

[erkpod]

Well blow me down, but what happens after recent discussions here?

3C proposes to 3A with an announcement over the PA from the CSM afterwards. Beer and wine offered to all.

OT but I may be getting a reputation as the FA gave me a strange look when I declined a glass of wine.

Blackcat20 to the white courtesy phone....

 

[blackcat20]

Blackcat20 to the white courtesy phone....

Ummm, ok

 

[erkpod]

Ummm, ok

You weren't in seat 3A or 3C were you? LOL

 

[JessicaTam]

You weren't in seat 3A or 3C were you? LOL

No she wasn't. And if she was I doubt that I would have been able to decline a glass of wine.

 

[medhead]

Prior to GPS indication (GPS is generally very accurate), one easy way was to find a stretch of freeway at a quiet time, speed up to an indicated 100kph, stick at that indicated speed and time how long it takes to get from one 5km distance marker to the next.

If the speedo was accurate, it should take exactly three minutes. 3:20 indicates about 10% over-reading and 2:45 indicates about 10% under-reading.

There are also places that have 5x1km markers as a speedo check, for example heading north from Port Augusta. My car over reads the distance by about 50-100 m over 5 km, which suggests it under reports speed.

Plus of course states like Victoria also have free radar speed checkers on highways. Speed at a certain check point is displayed on a sign.

 

[blackcat20]

You weren't in seat 3A or 3C were you? LOL

nope

No she wasn't. And if she was I doubt that I would have been able to decline a glass of wine.

Are you suggesting I'm a bad influence?

 

[blackcat20]

Plus of course states like Victoria also have free radar speed checkers on highways. Speed at a certain check point is displayed on a sign.

Im not sure that we do anymore, I know the one on the Hume is gone. Too many complaints that it was inaccurate, leading to speeding fines.

 

[JessicaTam]

Are you suggesting I'm a bad influence?

Who? Moi?
.

 

[JohnM]

There are also places that have 5x1km markers as a speedo check, for example heading north from Port Augusta. My car over reads the distance by about 50-100 m over 5 km, which suggests it under reports speed.

Plus of course states like Victoria also have free radar speed checkers on highways. Speed at a certain check point is displayed on a sign.

If you have an iPhone get the Speedometer Plus app. Excellent portable way of checking a vehicle's speedo accuracy if it has no GPS. I imagine there's also an Android version.

 

[Rox]

+1 for the speedometer app, although it seems to chew up the battery.
The speed measuring lights are still working on the freeway from Geelong to Melbourne - I think it's at the Avalon turn off. They seem to be reasonably accurate.