VicRoads to overhaul speed zones
The statutory government authority sets out to rationalise and simplify speed limit zones, eliminating 70 and 90km/h signs in the processThe government body charged with road management in Victoria has reacted to public calls for a more consistent speed limit regime throughout the state.
But in outlining a simplified matrix of speed limit zones in Victoria, VicRoads has further reduced speeds on some sections of road, where it has been deemed there is a higher density of pedestrian traffic or more residential premises.
It's not all bad news, however, with the traffic authority recommending in its report — The Victorian Speed Limit Review — that municipalities apply a time-based 40km/h limit where currently school zones are subject to permanent (24-hour a day) 40km/h limits.
Also among the outcomes covered by the report is one that will see speed limits from 'collector roads' increase to 60km/h. In addition, road signage will be improved with less clutter and 80km/h buffer zones, between the 100km/h and 60km/h zones entering towns, will be no more. Instead, the 80km/h zone signage will be replaced by new signs reading '60 ahead' (pictured).
Of the 12 outcomes in the report, in response to 614 submissions received from the general public between August and October, 2011, two specifically relate to ending 70km/h and 90km/h zones in the state. 70km/h zones will become, according to need, an extension of an adjacent 60km/h or 80km/h zone. Similarly, 90km/h zones will be integrated with 80km/h or 100km/h zones.
The 12 outcomes are as listed below:
Change speed zones at locations identified by the community
- 165 respondents wanted lower limits in specific areas, 64 suggested raising limits
- VicRoads will make changes in consultation with police, the TAC and each municipality
Remove 80km/h buffer zones
- 56 submissions requested fewer speed limit zones
- Drivers have shown a preference to slow from the open-road limit for a town at their own discretion
Review 90km/h limit
- 37 respondents requested fewer speed limit thresholds
- 220 zones throughout the state are limited to this speed
- Many of the 90km/h zones are 'step-down' zones located between 100km/h and 80km/h zones
Review 70km/h limit
- 1872 zones throughout the state are limited to this speed
- In the longer term, they will become an extension of existing 60 or 80km/h zones for the sake of simplicity
- Changes to the 70km/h zones will be rolled out over a longer period
Reduce sign clutter
- 50 respondents wanted more electronic signage
- Confusing, unsightly, redundant, incorrectly-sized and contradictory signs will be removed/replaced
- Remove or relocate regulatory signs placed near advisory signs
Remove 'End Limit' signs
- To be replaced by regulatory speed limit signs
Guidelines for 40km/h pedestrian zones
- 75 respondents felt permanent 40km/h zones for schools were unnecessary
- School zones, strip shopping centres and residential precincts to be consolidated under one set of rules
- Limited to be lifted during off-peak times
- To incorporate current 50km/h zones
Increase speed limit on collector roads to 60km/h
- 23 respondents wanted higher speed limits across the state
- Collector roads link residential areas to the arterial road network
- Most collector roads in Victoria are currently subject to a 50km/h limit
VicRoads to launch a public awareness campaign to illustrate how speed limits are set
- Authority claims that many drivers are confused and believe they must adhere to speed limits even in dark, wet or otherwise dangerous circumstances
Increase awareness and encourage uptake of Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) devices
- On-board systems to alert drivers of prevailing speed limits are to be actively promoted by VicRoads
Raise awareness of need for lower speed limits
- Example of 80km/h limit on Monash Freeway is due to lack of emergency lanes
- VicRoads will display signage at each point to explain why the speed limit is lower than expected
The report also identified issues that were "outside the scope" of the review. These included roadworks speed limit zones, increased speed limits on freeways and speed camera tolerances. VicRoads advises drivers who have a complaint concerning a roadworks site that doesn't appear to be manned, but where a lower speed limit is enforced, to contact the department's Customer Service team on 13 11 71.
In response to the question posed by some respondents — 'why can't we have higher speed limits on our freeways, like the German autobahn?' — VicRoads claims that any benefit would be marginal and more than offset by increased fuel use, environmental concerns and the likelihood of crashes.
Raising the speed limit from 110km/h on a rural freeway to 120km/h would reduce the travel time on a 200km journey by just nine minutes, according to the report.
As for speed camera tolerances, the report explains that since July 2006 cars sold in Australia must comply with a specific ADR (Australian Design Rule) that stipulates an indicated speed must never be lower than the car's actual speed.
The report revealed that VicRoads will begin implementing the new speed limit framework from this financial year (2012/13), but the authority expects a number of the recommendations will take longer to complete. Speed limit changes have been officially published at a VicRoads web page for scrutiny by the public.
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