The Northern Territory Government has announced it is to abolish speed limits on a 200-kilometre stretch of the Stuart Highway.
The 12-month trial on the Outback road between Alice Springs and Barrow Creek starts in February 2014. The statistics show that in the 10 years between 2001-2011, there were no speed related fatalities on this stretch of road.
“The Territory has a unique road network with a low traffic volume and this section of road has been identified as an appropriate trial section,” said Northern Territory transport minister, Peter Styles. “We are bringing responsibility back to motorists – they need to be able to drive to the road conditions and their capabilities.”
However, Mr Styles warned that the trial was not an invitation for people to drive recklessly.
“Be warned, police will continue to prosecute those who drive in a dangerous manner, and will be increasing enforcement of the non-wearing of seatbelts and drink driving,” he told Fairfax media.
Andrew McKellar, executive director of the Australian Automobile Association, told the ABC that the move was a backwards step.
“Increasing the speed limits will increase the risk and more people will die as a result,” he said. “It’s gambling with people’s lives… it is absolutely inevitable that people will die as a result.”
Open speed limits were abolished in 2006 and replaced by a maximum limit of 130km/h. From that time until 2012, more people died on Northern Territory roads (307) than in the six years before the change (292).
What do you think of the no-speed limit trial? Will you drive faster than you otherwise would have? Would you like to see this initiative replicated on other Outback stretches of road?
This utterly rediculos to increase the speed. – speed kills.
Speed doesn’t kill, stopping suddenly does. Inappropriate speed was the issue. When the limit was there, people tried to do the limit, now it is gone their mindset also changes. Good move on the NT Governments part. Higher speed limits with higher traffic volumes is inappropriate in the eastern states but when in most of WA, NT, west QLD, higher speeds are not an issue.
Well said Bob. We have been touring in Italy and it has the differentiated speed limits on their autostrasses. Majority of drivers drove to their ability and frustration of imposed limits was minimised.
Given that there have been more deaths with a speed limit than without and that the limit is already very high I can’t see how it will make much difference. People who feel the need for speed will go as fast as they like anyway.
We have driven through the NT before and after the introduced 130 klm limits and didn’t notice any real changes.The cost of fuel is probably the major controlling factor after the speed novelty wears off.
My guess is that only those stupid enough to push themselves and their machines to the limit will do so, the rest of us will drive within our limits and that of our machinery..
I have often said that if you can “Drive ” as distinct from just steering, you drive to the conditions, & speed limits are there to either raise money as it is in most cases, or to appease those who can’t drive & who need to be told at what speed it is safe to drive at. I say this as someone who was a Driver Testing Officer for the RTA, now RMS, for 26 years.
Having recently travelled north from Alice Springs in our motor home at around 100 k/hr, it was very obvious that many drivers had no understanding of closing distance or speed differential when coming up behind.
Time and again I would see a vehicle (many of them rented) approaching in my mirrors at high speed, to then see them brake heavily before frequently overtaking at inappropriate times.
I agree that unregulated speed on motorways or autobahns could be justified, but not on a 2 way road such as the Stuart.
Unfortunately, the ability to judge the speed of another vehicle either ahead or from behind seems to be something else that is not covered in licence testing.