Many submissions received as part of Queensland’s speed limit review show limits are thought to be too low
September 20, 2013
More than 3,300 people have had their say on speed limits across Queensland roads with most submissions relating to speed limits being too low or too high.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson says the high level of participation in the speed review shows several areas of concern exist.
“About 52 per cent of the submissions identified speed limits being too low and 32 per cent being too high,” he says.
“Most of the remaining submissions focussed on too many speed limit changes on a section of road.”
Emerson says the submissions show the need to conduct the first major review of state speed limits since 1997.
Over the next month the department will narrow the list down to 100 roads to be reviewed as part of the Road Safety Action Plan.
“Safety engineers will then consider the potential for lower or higher speed limits where the road conditions have changed since the limit was initially set,” says Emerson.
The Bruce Highway was mentioned in 4.5 per cent of the responses, followed by the Pacific Motorway with 2.9 per cent of responses and the Warrego Highway with 1.6 per cent.
Emerson says the Bruce Highway responses reflect its importance to the economy and need to keep traffic and industry flowing.
The majority of submissions came from the Brisbane Metro area with more than 36 per cent, followed by the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Cairns.
The speed review is one of 60 actions announced in June as part of the Newman Government’s $350 million, two-year Road Safety Action Plan.
The plan also includes $82 million a year to fast-track road safety treatments, $2 million a year on cycle safety treatments and-going roll out of flashing lights at over 300 schools.
Submissions closed at midnight on September 13 and the total number of submissions received was 3,375.