Outback speed limits will be abolished on a 200 kilometre stretch of the Stuart Highway as part of a 12 month trial that starts in February 2014.
Northern Territory transport minister Peter Styles says the outback drive between Alice Springs and Barrow Creek was an ideal place for the trial.
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, he says. In the ten years between 2001-2011 there wasnt any speed related fatalities on this stretch of road.
The NT government will remove speed limits on a 200km stretch of the Stuart Highway. Photo: Glenn Campbell
Mr Styles says the limitless road was not an invitation for people to drive recklessly.
We are bringing responsibility back to motorists they need to be able to drive to the road conditions and their capabilities, he says. 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 which remain the major causes of fatalities and serious injuries on Territory roads.
Learner and provisional drivers will have to adhere to limits placed on their licences, and heavy vehicles will continue to face restrictions.
The Country Liberal Party currently holds power in the Territory, and it has moved to overturn blanket speed limits introduced by previous Labor leadership.
NT Chief Minister Adam Giles told Fairfax Mediain May that reviews of speed limits will be evidence-based.
Mr Styles says authorities will study the outcomes of the 12-month trial that starts on February 1, 2014.
Ray Wyatt, branch secretary for the Transport Workers Union in South Australia and the Northern Territory, did not welcome news of the trial.
Life is more valuable than people going quicker from A to B, he says. The faster you go, the more damage will occur in an accident. It raises the risk.
Andrew McKellar, executive director of the Australian Automobile Association, told the ABC that the move was a step backward.
"Increasing the speed limits will increase the risk and more people will die as a result," he says.
"It's gambling with people's lives... it is absolutely inevitable that people will die as a result."
Open speed limits were abolishedby the former Territory Labor Government 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).
The Territory isn't alone in considering raising speed limits - nearly 2000 Queenslanders petitioned their state government for increased maximum limits earlier this year.
-- Edited by copper1 on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 10:57:37 PM
Dougwe said
02:12 PM Oct 16, 2013
Gee, I struggle with having to do 110 in a 110 zone, just not comfortable with speed these days for some reason.
Maybe it's something to do with having to keep to strict time frames for many years in my working days and being able to travel at a speed to suit my lifestyle now without upsetting those behind me.
Bent Axle Bob said
03:10 PM Oct 16, 2013
I'm a bit the same these days too Doug. 6000kms from Perth to Yeppoon and I don't think I hit 110 anytime. Plodded along at I guess an average of around 80/85kmph. But gee, some of the speed restrictions I saw were ridiculous. 60k zone 5 kms past a 3 house settlement , nothing else around....no school. no kids, no cattle...???????????. Having driven in the territory, I think 130kmph is fast enough. Engines can overheat, tires fail at higher speeds and temperatures and results of accidents will be more catastrophic. Imagine a B double breaking loose at those speeds?
Yuglamron said
03:57 PM Oct 16, 2013
So now we will have those with high power cars seeing just how fast they will go. The big problems someone rightly poses, Heat, Tyres not up to the job, traffic separation animals on the road, any sort of debris. They going to send road sweepers down the road to clean it daily?
How many people will try with inadequate driving skills to get to extremely high speeds. The distance travelled at these high speeds means you have to look so far ahead to drive with any sort of control.
One road I will avoid for sure.
Gerty Dancer said
04:29 PM Oct 16, 2013
Wont make any difference to our speed, but we will be passed more now! Hope nobody hits an animal on the road at that speed.
Baz421 said
04:46 PM Oct 16, 2013
Bent Axle Bob wrote:
I'm a bit the same these days too Doug. 6000kms from Perth to Yeppoon and I don't think I hit 110 anytime. Plodded along at I guess an average of around 80/85kmph. But gee, some of the speed restrictions I saw were ridiculous. 60k zone 5 kms past a 3 house settlement , nothing else around....no school. no kids, no cattle...???????????. Having driven in the territory, I think 130kmph is fast enough. Engines can overheat, tires fail at higher speeds and temperatures and results of accidents will be more catastrophic. Imagine a B double breaking loose at those speeds?
Doesn't apply to B Doubles Bob
dorian said
04:50 PM Oct 16, 2013
I suspect that part of the impetus for the change may have been the Solar Challenge that uses the same stretch of road. One of the solar powered vehicles was hit with a 10-minute penalty for exceeding the speed limit. The average speed for the 3000km route has exceeded 100kph in previous years.
Baz421 said
05:01 PM Oct 16, 2013
dorian wrote:
I suspect that part of the impetus for the change may have been the Solar Challenge that uses the same stretch of road. One of the solar powered vehicles was hit with a 10-minute penalty for exceeding the speed limit. The average speed for the 3000km route has exceeded 100kph in previous years.
Dorian the main reason I believe is that it didn't reduce the road toll as all the "experts" predicted,,,, BUT INCREASED the road toll by increased travel time over same distance,, ie speed related incidences were replaced with fatigue related incidences.
I lived there for 25 years and travelled Territory wide for work so don't see any problems with this trial at least.
Remember it's not every road that is unlimited and heavy vehicles still have the same restrictions.
Bent Axle Bob said
05:12 PM Oct 16, 2013
Used B double as a general example. However, I have been passed many, many times by "speed limited 100kmph" laden heavy combinations. while sitting at legal 110kmph.
dorian said
05:35 PM Oct 16, 2013
I wasn't offering an opinion as to the merits or otherwise of the changes. It just occurred to me that the performance of the solar powered vehicles was limited by the road rules rather than their technology. Hence there may have been some behind-the-scenes lobbying in this regard.
Baz421 said
05:54 PM Oct 16, 2013
dorian wrote:
I wasn't offering an opinion as to the merits or otherwise of the changes. It just occurred to me that the performance of the solar powered vehicles was limited by the road rules rather than their technology. Hence there may have been some behind-the-scenes lobbying in this regard.
Yes there are special arragements for Solar cars as there was for the Canonball Run in the 90's,,, ie relaxed import restrictions, non compliance with ADR's etc etc.
BTSV_Berni said
12:27 AM Oct 17, 2013
Don't worry about overheating. Only very important thing to keep in mind is the speed rating of your tyres and that's it.
Regards, Berni
Wombat 280 said
01:45 AM Oct 17, 2013
Bent Axle Bob wrote:
Used B double as a general example. However, I have been passed many, many times by "speed limited 100kmph" laden heavy combinations. while sitting at legal 110kmph.
Not sure what's going on but I'm the same, doing 110 and get rounded up and left behind by fuel tankers ,B Doubles and I suppose soon here in NSW B Triples
Bunkerbob said
05:42 AM Oct 17, 2013
Speed for trucks will still be 100 or 90 as previously. It is only for cars & bikes that lose that thrill of "breaking the law". And you're right, things can turn real bad real quick when you are going fast. Imagine skippy at 150, or worse, the one you don't see.
kiwijims said
06:20 AM Oct 17, 2013
We travelled through the Northern Territory recently, towing our caravan at a stately speed of between 85 - 90 kph
This speed suited us fine as we were in no great hurry to get anywhere and it was surprising what one could see,
with-out having to keep the eyes glued to the road all the time.
We had just entered a long stretch of straight road when all of a sudden,
a 4x4 towing a caravan that was no shorter than 8m in length, shot past us like we were standing still,
within 5 minutes they were out of sight,
I hate to guess what speed they were sitting on, they sure wanted to be somewhere in one heck of a hurry.
I recall saying to the Wife,....just imagine the mess if they blew a tire now,
The Wife's reply was,...He probably has to be back at work tomorrow, so he can make the next payment on that very expensive looking rig !!!
"NUP" I don't see the sense in increasing the speed limit,
It only makes it legal for these idiots to increase the risk of accidents, which quiet often cause the death or injury of other motorists on the highways.
That's me "Bobs Worth" anyway.
kiwijims
johnq said
11:15 AM Oct 17, 2013
kiwijims
+1
Your bob's worth and my 2c not needed.
Baz421 said
05:20 PM Oct 17, 2013
kiwijims wrote:
We travelled through the Northern Territory recently, towing our caravan at a stately speed of between 85 - 90 kph
This speed suited us fine as we were in no great hurry to get anywhere and it was surprising what one could see, with-out having to keep the eyes glued to the road all the time.
We had just entered a long stretch of straight road when all of a sudden, a 4x4 towing a caravan that was no shorter than 8m in length, shot past us like we were standing still, within 5 minutes they were out of sight, I hate to guess what speed they were sitting on, they sure wanted to be somewhere in one heck of a hurry. I recall saying to the Wife,....just imagine the mess if they blew a tire now,
The Wife's reply was,...He probably has to be back at work tomorrow, so he can make the next payment on that very expensive looking rig !!!
"NUP" I don't see the sense in increasing the speed limit, It only makes it legal for these idiots to increase the risk of accidents, which quiet often cause the death or injury of other motorists on the highways.
That's me "Bobs Worth" anyway.
kiwijims
Yep they're out there,,, was on the SE Freeway in Adelaide Hills doing the 110 k a sposted,,, 4by and big van flew past,,, maybe 130 or more.
Peter_n_Margaret said
01:50 AM Oct 19, 2013
Yesterday in Germany..........the rain was only light :)
Outback speed limits will be abolished on a 200 kilometre stretch of the Stuart Highway as part of a 12 month trial that starts in February 2014.
Northern Territory transport minister Peter Styles says the outback drive between Alice Springs and Barrow Creek was an ideal place for the trial.
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, he says. In the ten years between 2001-2011 there wasnt any speed related fatalities on this stretch of road.
The NT government will remove speed limits on a 200km stretch of the Stuart Highway. Photo: Glenn Campbell
The current maximum speed limit throughout the Northern Territory is 130km/h.
We are bringing responsibility back to motorists they need to be able to drive to the road conditions and their capabilities, he says. 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 which remain the major causes of fatalities and serious injuries on Territory roads.
Learner and provisional drivers will have to adhere to limits placed on their licences, and heavy vehicles will continue to face restrictions.
The Country Liberal Party currently holds power in the Territory, and it has moved to overturn blanket speed limits introduced by previous Labor leadership.
NT Chief Minister Adam Giles told Fairfax Mediain May that reviews of speed limits will be evidence-based.
Mr Styles says authorities will study the outcomes of the 12-month trial that starts on February 1, 2014.
Ray Wyatt, branch secretary for the Transport Workers Union in South Australia and the Northern Territory, did not welcome news of the trial.
Life is more valuable than people going quicker from A to B, he says. The faster you go, the more damage will occur in an accident. It raises the risk.
Andrew McKellar, executive director of the Australian Automobile Association, told the ABC that the move was a step backward.
"Increasing the speed limits will increase the risk and more people will die as a result," he says.
"It's gambling with people's lives... it is absolutely inevitable that people will die as a result."
Open speed limits were abolished by the former Territory Labor Government 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).
The Territory isn't alone in considering raising speed limits - nearly 2000 Queenslanders petitioned their state government for increased maximum limits earlier this year.
-- Edited by copper1 on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 10:57:37 PM
Maybe it's something to do with having to keep to strict time frames for many years in my working days and being able to travel at a speed to suit my lifestyle now without upsetting those behind me.
I'm a bit the same these days too Doug. 6000kms from Perth to Yeppoon and I don't think I hit 110 anytime. Plodded along at I guess an average of around 80/85kmph. But gee, some of the speed restrictions I saw were ridiculous. 60k zone 5 kms past a 3 house settlement , nothing else around....no school. no kids, no cattle...???????????. Having driven in the territory, I think 130kmph is fast enough. Engines can overheat, tires fail at higher speeds and temperatures and results of accidents will be more catastrophic. Imagine a B double breaking loose at those speeds?
So now we will have those with high power cars seeing just how fast they will go. The big problems someone rightly poses, Heat, Tyres not up to the job, traffic separation animals on the road, any sort of debris. They going to send road sweepers down the road to clean it daily?
How many people will try with inadequate driving skills to get to extremely high speeds. The distance travelled at these high speeds means you have to look so far ahead to drive with any sort of control.
One road I will avoid for sure.
Doesn't apply to B Doubles Bob
Dorian the main reason I believe is that it didn't reduce the road toll as all the "experts" predicted,,,, BUT INCREASED the road toll by increased travel time over same distance,, ie speed related incidences were replaced with fatigue related incidences.
I lived there for 25 years and travelled Territory wide for work so don't see any problems with this trial at least.
Remember it's not every road that is unlimited and heavy vehicles still have the same restrictions.
Yes there are special arragements for Solar cars as there was for the Canonball Run in the 90's,,, ie relaxed import restrictions, non compliance with ADR's etc etc.
Regards, Berni
Not sure what's going on but I'm the same, doing 110 and get rounded up and left behind by fuel tankers ,B Doubles and I suppose soon here in NSW B Triples
Speed for trucks will still be 100 or 90 as previously. It is only for cars & bikes that lose that thrill of "breaking the law". And you're right, things can turn real bad real quick when you are going fast. Imagine skippy at 150, or worse, the one you don't see.
This speed suited us fine as we were in no great hurry to get anywhere and it was surprising what one could see,
with-out having to keep the eyes glued to the road all the time.
We had just entered a long stretch of straight road when all of a sudden,
a 4x4 towing a caravan that was no shorter than 8m in length, shot past us like we were standing still,
within 5 minutes they were out of sight,
I hate to guess what speed they were sitting on, they sure wanted to be somewhere in one heck of a hurry.
I recall saying to the Wife,....just imagine the mess if they blew a tire now,
The Wife's reply was,...He probably has to be back at work tomorrow, so he can make the next payment on that very expensive looking rig !!!
"NUP" I don't see the sense in increasing the speed limit,
It only makes it legal for these idiots to increase the risk of accidents, which quiet often cause the death or injury of other motorists on the highways.
That's me "Bobs Worth" anyway.
kiwijims
kiwijims
+1
Your bob's worth and my 2c not needed.
Yep they're out there,,, was on the SE Freeway in Adelaide Hills doing the 110 k a sposted,,, 4by and big van flew past,,, maybe 130 or more.
Yesterday in Germany..........the rain was only light :)
No kangaroos to worry about, only deer :)
Cheers,
Peter