Speed Limit Safety

A motoring journalist, Jordan Mulach, has raised the question of whether higher speed limits on highways can lower the Australian road toll.

This sounds improbable but Mulach provides some interesting statistics to support his case.

He states of the 1,189 people killed on Australian roads last year only 152 fatalities occurred on 110km/h roads, whereas:

• 370 deaths happened in 100km/h zones, and

• 319 deaths in 60 or 70km/h zones, and

• 195 fatalities on roads limited to 80 or 90km/h.

This is not compelling analysis or proof of “cause and effect”, but the numbers are worth further investigation.

The main argument for higher speed limits on highways is boredom and fatigue experienced on good roads where drivers feel the limit is excessively low.

However, Mulach acknowledges that we would need to improve driver skill and behaviour in Australia before we could match the discipline displayed in countries like Germany, where they have no speed limits on designated freeways yet achieve high levels of safety.

Notwithstanding this interesting question, we encourage everyone to exercise extra care and courtesy on the roads over our busy Christmas holiday season.

*Acknowledgement: Based on article by Jordan Mulach in drive.com.au web news 17 August 2023