The open speed limit ‘trial’ on the Stuart Highway has been expanded to include another 60 kilometres of road.
Drivers will now be able to drive as fast as they deem appropriate along 300 kilometres of the highway in the Northern Territory.
The NT News reports that upgrades were undertaken to ensure the road was up to scratch before people were allowed to drive at unrestricted speeds. Works took five months to complete and cost $3.1 million.
“Pretty much between Alice Springs and Ali Curung now you will be able to see open speed limits,” said NT Chief Minister, Adam Giles. “Not only are we widening and strengthening the road we’re improving things such as righting the dips in the roads and putting better signage on the roads and that’s [making it] safer for all drivers.”
The open speed limit on selected parts of the Stuart Highway north of Alice Springs was reintroduced back in 2014 as a trial, and has since been expanded three times.
The government has plans to extend the open limit along more of the highway with the ultimate aim of seeing the open speed limits extend as far north as Katherine. Supporters of the open speed limits say motorists benefit from improved road conditions through investment in upgrades, and through drivers taking greater responsibility and driving to the prevailing road conditions.
40 yrs ago it was open. and not too many accidents from memory.
I used to go up that way to three ways when going Adel to Townsville
even 20 yrs ago. cruising at 130/140 on bike was comfortable economical and you tend to stay more alert.
130 to 150ish is a comfortable speed wher you are capable of long distance close attention.
Over that. You pushing the total attention ALL the time a bit.
We used to drive the Autobahns in Germany back in ’50’s and ’70’s.
all rippled concrete at first. (the noise alone kept you awake on Avons)
I had an old Porsche 4 cyl. then an Audi. we used to go along at around 100/110mph.and others used to go past us at up to 150 and more
MPH not km’s.
You always get the dicks though.
Rule of the roads in those days was. If you doing UNDER 150 DON’T go on outside lane. You’ll get wiped.
We could never do those speeds here. the road formations are nowhere near goof enuff.
130 to 150 safe enough and a damn site safer than the crawling speeds they make us do here for long distance.
Rule makers here are all idiots regarding distance driving.
Lots of miles but you have to crawl along them. taking forever at their road speeds.
and everybody falls asleep.
Totally agree! Travelling at 110k’s over long distances causes drivers to comatose at the wheel. I always try to be ‘a good boy’ at the start of a trip until staring at the road starts causing fatigue. Then I start pushing the limits, adrenaline kicks in and you quickly become alert again. The mantra “Speed Kills” is idiotic: Stupid drivers and driving beyond the conditions kill. We spend four months last year driving 9000km all over Europe. Germany has no speed limits in most places, in France and Italy you can do at least 130 clicks. If “speed killed” we should have seen thousands dead by the road side. We saw none! Not even ONE accident. The way people learn to drive in Australia is a joke:
Anyone, who wants to drive a motor vehicle should be made to attend a professional driving school with a mandatory amount of lessons. PLUS…an advanced course in defensive driving must be compulsory. I have done it and was AMAZED!
The way a lot of P-Platers behave and drive is abhorrent – they haven’t got a clue. That’s what kills…
Addendum to above. I was talkingkm’s not MPH on last sentence about speeds.
If they built out interstate rods all three lane with the law that NOBODY doing less than 130kmph Car, towing, or trucks. uses the outside lane
And the idiot drivers in this country obeyed.
We’d be a much safer country after a few got some instruction on it.
Hi Speed driving.
Most people living/visiting Europe US have done some.
I like the Idea about the open speed limits, but maybe I’m just a pessimist. I have been a Paramedic for 27 years and have traveled extensively on country roads, one thing that must be kept in mind is, in the case of an accident you can be a long way from any medical help. Its okay on the autobahn in Germany where medical help maybe just down the road, but on the Stuart Highway you could be hours from any medical assistance and we all know what that means.
Agree the speed zoning system caters for idiots in training. Lower speed..lower attention required…equals more accidents..then lower speed to compensate for incidents …bloody stupid. P platers banned from right hand side lanes on freeways…l platers should only be in left lane….police start booking motorists for not driving in left lanes when not overtaking…