Australia's road safety landscape is on the brink of a significant transformation.

With the number of road-related accidents on the rise, experts called for a national reassessment of how drivers move on the road.

This sparked a discussion about ensuring the safety of all road users.

According to experts, 2023 became the deadliest year on Australian roads in a decade.

The Northern Territory saw a 170 per cent increase in road deaths within a year.

In addition, The Northern Territory and Western Australia currently have the highest default speed limits at 110 km/h.

On the other hand, the rest of Australia has a default speed limit of 100 km/h.

Researchers proposed lower speed limits for the safety of drivers and pedestrians across Australia. Image Credit: Shutterstock/Matthew Philip

These figures are not just numbers; they represent lives lost and families shattered.

With the alarming rise in road fatalities, the current default speed limits are under scrutiny.

The WA Centre for Road Safety Research, led by director Teresa Senserrick, has been advocating for reduced speed limits.

Senserrick highlighted the urgency of this issue, particularly in Western Australia.

She also emphasised the potential benefits of reduced speed limits nationwide.

Just in time for the state's road safety summit, Senserrick's message was clear: lowering speed limits will save lives.

'So when the country changed from miles per hour to kilometres per hour, all the states and territories rounded their default speed limit on rural roads to 100—except WA and the NT,' Senserrick explained.'

For reference, Tasmanian highways have lowered their speed limit to 90 km/h, and some have reduced to 80km/h.

She also pointed out that the default speed limits were set based on the 1970s standards.

However, with advancements in technology, increased population, and evolving road conditions, these speeds should be changed to prioritise the citizens' well-being.

The research-driven proposal indicated that a 10 km/h decrease in speed could reduce the risk of severe and fatal injuries by 28 per cent.

'It is about adapting to changes over time and saying that these speeds are no longer viable on the roads if we want to prioritise people's lives and well-being,' Senserrick stated.

Senserrick also drew parallels between the current speed debate and past attitudes towards drink-driving.

'Going back to the '70s and '80s, people did not generally believe that having several drinks and driving was risky,' she shared.

'That has now changed. People do agree that drinking too much is risky to drink and drive. We need to do the same approach with speed.'.

These changes on the road should promote safer roads in response to changing conditions

'Australia used to be in the top 10 of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in our roads' safety records; we were tracking to get into the top five and doing extremely well,' Senserrick shared.

'We now barely scrape into the top 20, and we are well below the average. We have got very, very far behind.'

All drivers must stay informed and prepared to adapt their driving habits.

The proposed changes are not just regulatory adjustments; they are life-saving measures that require the support and cooperation of drivers.

Key Takeaways

• Experts called for a reduction in the default speed limit on Australian roads to reduce road fatalities.
• Some regions, such as the Northern Territory and Western Australia, have default speed limits of 110 km/h, which are among the highest in the world.
• Road safety research suggested that lower speed limits could reduce the rates of severe crashes and deaths.
• Western Australia was urged to lead the way in lowering speed limits, with the potential for other states to follow suit to improve road safety.

Do you have a story or opinion about road safety and speed limits? Share them with us in the comments section below.

 

[Forklift]

Lowering the speed limits will only increase the number of dangerous drivers by causing frustration, more dangerous maneuvers and speeding which will result in more accidents and deaths.
I was a paramedic for over 23 years (at a rural station on an interstate highway) and the vast majority of motor vehicle accidents (mva) that we attended were at speeds below 100kph. Drivers dozing off and frustrated drivers pulling rash and risky maneuvers to pass slower drivers were the most common causes along with alcohol/drugs.
Personally, I have had my license since mid 1970, drove at the speed limit (when possible) and I have NEVER had an accident. A couple of near misses but the other driver was at fault.

Again, it's a case of the vast majority of law abiding people being penalized for the because of a minority of idiot and drunks. And just how many of these 'experts' (ex = unknown + spert = drip under pressure), actually drive and do they ever drive outside the city?

 

[Luckyus]

Prior to decimalization the speed limits of 100MPH were on roads/highways not suited to those speeds, for the example the Hume highway was the worst I have driven ant where in the western world.

 

[Whereissnowy]

Just wondering how many deaths are directly speed related if they were travelling at 90 km per hour instead of 100km per hour. How many are illegal acts and how many over 100km per hour

 

[Mrtnst]

So it's all about the sudden rise in deaths on the roads in 2023.

What could possibly explain this, other than too much technology in modern vehicles?

How about:
1. 2023 being the first chance for the people to go out for driving holidays, since the start of the Covid Lockdowns,
2. The reduction in police due to officers being stood down for not being vaccinated,
3. The reduction of air travel both within and outside of Australia causing a massive rise in domestic holidays, and
4. The poor condition of roads that hadn't seen a shovel for years?

Of course there was a significant rise in that year.

As for the technology of modern vehicles compared to 1970s cars.

What about disc brakes, ABS and ANCAP ratings, to name a few 'safety improvements' imposed in the last five decades?

Was that just lies perpetrated by the government and industry to justify the cost of new vehicles and the increases in registration fees and fuel excises that supposedly paid for their implementation?

 

[devildodger66666666666666]

We have to have our cars roadworthy, I think it’s time state and federal govt made our roads car & truck worthy. With the exception of WA , SA majority of NSW Vic roads are absolute crap.
Vic and NSW need to realize that their state don’t finish at the outskirts of Sydney and Bendigo in Vic

 

[Rain72]

When alcohol restrictions were put in place, police were ordered to lie about the cause of accidents and claim they were alcohol-related when they weren't. I suspect the same is happening now to make speed a convenient scapegoat and justify a change that won't fix anything. Slow speeds can be as dangerous as high speeds in some situations. Driver impatience leads to road rage and dangerous attempts to overtake or take the right of way at an intersection when there isn't really sufficient time and the driver should yield.

As others have said, education is critical. So is enforcing laws against drug-affected driving, drink-driving, reckless driving, and road rage. But one thing that really bothers me is the increasing automation that is overruling driver decisions and making many drivers too reliant on technology rather than learning proper driving skills. Automated lane assist is one example. It pulls cars back into the lane when the driver sees a genuine need to move out of the lane to avoid an obstacle. It can be very hazardous on sharp bends.
The orange light and beep telling you when something is too close tempts many drivers to simply rely on it and not bother being alert to hazards. Every day we see someone do something really stupid and dangerous because they relied on that orange light!

 

[Arkycray]

Road speeds are NOT the problem, drivers are!

 

[pascoevale]

Ok the terrible condition of so many roads due to no maintenance reduces speed anyway you spend more time avoiding pot holes making it unsafe so food for thought councils and authorities just don’t bother fixing the issues making it worse so you can’t drive all that fast as for higher speed limits where one good way of reducing speed is don’t fix the roads if you go faster does damage to your car a lot of places are 40 kph now as well as school zones

 

[pascoevale]

When alcohol restrictions were put in place, police were ordered to lie about the cause of accidents and claim they were alcohol-related when they weren't. I suspect the same is happening now to make speed a convenient scapegoat and justify a change that won't fix anything. Slow speeds can be as dangerous as high speeds in some situations. Driver impatience leads to road rage and dangerous attempts to overtake or take the right of way at an intersection when there isn't really sufficient time and the driver should yield.

As others have said, education is critical. So is enforcing laws against drug-affected driving, drink-driving, reckless driving, and road rage. But one thing that really bothers me is the increasing automation that is overruling driver decisions and making many drivers too reliant on technology rather than learning proper driving skills. Automated lane assist is one example. It pulls cars back into the lane when the driver sees a genuine need to move out of the lane to avoid an obstacle. It can be very hazardous on sharp bends.
The orange light and beep telling you when something is too close tempts many drivers to simply rely on it and not bother being alert to hazards. Every day we see someone do something really stupid and dangerous because they relied on that orange light!

True good point

 

[David567]

Reducing the speed limits isn't go to prevent accidents. what will help is enforce the ADR to make speedos accurate again. Right now speedos can be out as muh as 10% plus 4kph out. This means we now have millions of drivers driving what they believe is 100kph but in fact they are travelling at anywhere between 86 and 100. The idiots who came up with this idea should be jailed as they are responsible for many of the increased accidents and deaths on our roads. Have you been on the highway lately and noticed how everyone is driving at different speeds ? This is worse than the few speeders.

 

[Leedel]

Reducing the speed won't work! Mobile phones are a large culprit, along with ignorance. I've been a professional truck driver for 45+ years and driven over the world and people need proper tuition and phones taken away
Europe have the autobahn and little problems.

 

[Phantom55]

it doesn't matter how much you fine people speed will happen...if you want to reduce the accident toll...take the licence for any speeding or drink/drug driving offence,no money or little money just take the licence for a month for first offence 2 month 2nd offence etc it will reduce the speed behaviour....maybe not the accident rate as nothing will stop accidents (the world over) traffic and accidents are a fact of human and driving behaviour the world over.....revenue raising just aggravates people and doesn't aid safe driving behaviour

 

[alfred3031]

it is amazing with all the technology in our cars now that more accidents are happening. All cars have to be roadworthy but apparantly the roads do not have to be car-worthy especially in Victoria, they are an absolute disgrace, more so on regional roads. so much for the Big Build in Victoria how about some regional road fixups

 

[natalielocket]

The condition of roads in Victoria makes them unsafe at any speed !Latest technology in cars is wasted when road surface damages tyres,wheels and suspension!

QLD, From north Gympie. Roads full of pot holes, not enough passing lanes, and slow drivers speeding up at the few passing lanes, then slowing down, back on single.

 

[vozit]

Experts say different things in different places. In Germany 130 kph is for the slow lane.
What about
- fixing the roads properly. It's not working what's happening now. After heavyish rains suburban roads have potholes & are patched up!! And generally are not smooth; unless they've just had the temporary fix.
- A mandatory defensive driving course for everyone. It's not just emergency services personnel that need it.
- Actually keep left unless overtaking is helpful.
- Tailgaters clog up our roads.
Constantly I seen traffic begin to clear once people leave a gap, & flow properly once that 2 second gap is enacted, & I'm on the road a lot in my work. To get around a corner get close, otherwise back off PLEASE.

Frustrating that many traffic jams seem to be avoidable.
Don't lower speed limits. People are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel.

 

[Robert Shackel]

Speed limits are not the problem, it the nut behind the wheel, to many looking at mobile phones, to many on drugs, and not paying attention, to many road side bill boards, and the state of highways they are f--ked.

 

[diesel dan]

Agreed totally with you. The by-passing of towns has not only increased the speeds on the motor ways but has left small towns with no income from passing tourists. There are not enough shaded rest areas in areas such as when travelling north to the NT or QLD just as examples. Registration checks on vehicles is a joke when you see vehicles with shocking rusty areas on the cars, bald tyres, cracked or no windscreen, lights that don't work or some have lights missing alltogether. The registration renewable checker needs to be assessed. Might finally catch vehicles that are totally unroadworthy & shouldn't be on the road at all.

Not all states have annual roadworthy checks, unroadworthy vehicles are primarily an indictment on the owners who do not have enough respect for their families who travel in those vehicles and other road users who are put at risk, secondly, the authorities who fail to take unsafe vehicles off the roads.

 

[ganesha]

It's not the speed limits that is a problem, but the cars themselves. Too many high tech gadgets with fiddly controls, and that big screen for navigation plus the ever increasing number of road signs all distract from driving a car. In Denmark a county conducted a trial removing all road signs and traffic signals. Lo and behold, the accident rate dropped! In Germany, it's not the unlimited speed limit freeways that have most accidents it's the country roads with an 80 limit. If you drive fast, there is no way you are going to fall asleep. But especially here in country Queensland if you have to sit on 100km/h falling asleep on the wheel is the real danger. I talk from experience here, having to drive daily for my work.

 

[neil chaplin]

REduce the maximum speed for new drivers, old and new. Govern all vehicles to have a maximum speed limit. Its been done in thye past and only requires an adapted and locked meter.

 

[Towing]

Vehicle motors have way too much power in them and easily capable of going a lot faster than we are supposed to after changing the manufacture of motors for general use. Trucks have what is known as "governers" attached to their motors or other part that prevents them going over 100kph. Maybe they should be put on cars too but some irresponsible people work out how to deactivate them. Problem is they won't build more powerful motors just for emergency service vehicles.