Former deputy prime minister calls for 120km/h speed limits

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/former-deputy-prime-minister-calls-for-120kmh-speed-limits/story-e6frea8c-1226375618517?from=public_rss

THE speed limit on dual carriageways should be 120km/h, former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer says.

In Adelaide yesterday for the Engineering Leadership Conference yesterday, Mr Fisher said that by world standards it was "ridiculous" the limit was 110km/h.

"In Italy, it would be 130 without a blink," the former Nationals leader and Ambassador to the Holy See said.

Mr Fischer, right, said the highway from Adelaide to Melbourne was "magnificently engineered" and a limit of at least 120km/h should be trialled.

Road Safety Minister Jennifer Rankine said the State Government would not consider increasing the speed on the road.

"This risk is far too extreme and would put ... lives at risk," she said. "Research shows the risk of a casualty crash doubles if drivers are travelling at 120km/h compared to 110km/h."


RELATED COVERAGE
Fine regime targets hoon drivers Adelaide Now, 20 hours ago
The value of speed cameras Herald Sun, 11 Feb 2012
Baffling array of speed signs we face every day Courier Mail, 11 Nov 2011
P-Plater caught speeding at 184km/h Adelaide Now, 27 Oct 2011
Police reject Top Gear speed call Herald Sun, 29 Aug 2011

Motor Accident Commission General Manager Ben Tuffnall said he welcomed the debate.

"We respect Mr Fischer's visions ... however, we would refer him to the current research in relation to speeding.

"As speed increases, crash risk increases and crash severity increases. At very high speeds ... when a crash occurs the results are tragic."