call-for-ruling-on-rural-speed-limits

http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/general/call-for-ruling-on-rural-speed-limits/2407119.aspx?src=rss

Road users advocacy group RACT has called on the state government to make a final decision on lowering rural speed limits.
Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne is considering recommendations from the Road Safety Advisory Council handed to him in October.

The council has recommended that the default speed limit on sealed rural roads be reduced from 100km/h to 90km/h with some exceptions.

The list of exempt roads has not been released but The Examiner understands that the East Tamar Highway between Launceston and George Town, the West Tamar Highway between Launceston and Legana and Illawarra Road between Perth and the Bass Highway will remain at 100km/h.

The maximum speed allowed on gravel rural roads will be 80km/h while highways with a 110km/h speed limit will not be affected.

The recommendation is based on research suggesting that when drivers travel 10km/h slower, the risk of being in a casualty crash is reduced by 20 to 30 per cent.

The RACT resisted a blanket reduction of the default speed limit.

Chief executive Harvey Lennon said there might be some advantage in lowering the speed limit on some roads but high-visibility police patrols and driver education for secondary students would be more effective at reducing the crash rate.

A Monash University study examining the road alignment, crash risk and width of the shoulder was used to help determine which roads were safe for use at 100km/h.

``What the RACT will be pushing for is other key or high-volume roads that don't reach the required safety standard - they'll be the focus of attention in the next two, three, four years,'' Mr Lennon said.

The council has also recommended scrapping end speed limit signs.

``The RACT is concerned that as we approach the end of 2011 there still isn't an announcement about the alternative to end speed limit signs,'' Mr Lennon said.

Local Government Association of Tasmania chief executive Allan Garcia, who represents councils on the Road Safety Advisory Council, said some rural municipalities were concerned that the lower speed limit would increase driving times.

However, he said the recommendation was based on sound research and engineering studies.