In Australia, the federal government has put forward a plan to reduce the default speed limit on rural roads. This new initiative has been warmly welcomed by the advocacy group Safer Australian Roads and Highways. This new initiative comes as welcome news to people alarmed by the recent spike in road deaths. Last year, a record 1,294 people were killed on their roadways. Integrating a Safe System Approach The proposal has been incorporated in the National Road Safety Action Plan for 2023-25. It is intended to address the risks associated with the high number of unsigned and unsealed roads in Regional and Remote areas.
Peter Frazer, president of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, praised the group’s endorsement of the speed limit decrease as “a step in the right direction.” He said that their strong recommendation is to use lower speed limits. The suggested excess is 90 kilometers per hour (kph) to 70 kph. This proposal takes a step toward providing meaningful, long-term solutions to protect everyone who uses our roadways. We must treat spaces that aren’t safe for today’s default speed of 100 kph with the same level of care.
Increased Fatalities Raise Concerns
Unfortunately, recent data tells a different story. Between 2020 and 2024, road fatalities per 100,000 people rose by 10 percent. Most of these deaths happen on rural roadways, where we have a higher potential for unmarked and unmaintained roads. Kristy McBain, the new federal regional development minister responsible for road safety, has called for greater stakeholder consultation. She thinks that’s crucial to the success of this proposal. Despite the announcement, she has implored all those who care to participate in the now-perpetual public consultation process. Don’t delay—this opportunity ends on October 27th!
Frazer was clear in his support for speed reductions, especially on perilous highways. He remarked, “When we have dangerous roads, absolutely we should be talking about speed reduction so we can get people home safe.” He further asserted that maintaining a speed limit of 100 kph on such roads contributes to unsafe conditions, stating, “Setting a speed limit of 100 km/h is actually creating circumstances where people are going to get killed.”
Balancing Safety and Economic Concerns
Though the idea has garnered broad support from safety advocates, the measure has raised alarm among some stakeholders about its possible negative effects on the economy. Mark Parry highlighted that a blanket reduction in the default speed limit could lead to increased driver fatigue and higher transportation costs. He explained, “The cost to transport goods is related to the distance travelled and the time that takes.” Parry cautioned that just lowering freeway speed limits from 100 kph to 80 kph would have a drastic negative impact on logistics efficiency.
He added, “If you take 20 percent off the higher speed of 100 to 80, then clearly you’re going to increase the cost.” Parry suggested a clearer, more holistic approach to safety. For more effectiveness, he recommended employing targeted speed limits and clear signage at accident-prone locations to draw more awareness.
Tony Pasin, the federal member for Barker, expressed similar sentiments, pointing to the need to prevent deterioration of the roads. He stated, “We need to be spending sufficient money to maintain our roads in a safe and appropriate condition of repair.” His closing comments underscore the need for a holistic approach to prioritizing safety while making keeping transportation economically and physically viable for our future.
Public Consultation Underway
And the good news is that the federal government has released its proposal for public consultation. Currently, stakeholders and members of the public are invited to comment on the proposed amendments. The three month consultation period is indicative of wanting to hear a spectrum of opinions to help further shape their plan before it’s implemented.
