The Australian Government will abandon its proposal to reduce default speed limits on unsigned rural roads following overwhelming public feedback.
The proposal, developed under the National Road Safety Action Plan, received more than 11,000 submissions with strong opposition from rural communities, industry and everyday road users.
The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) welcomed the Federal Goverment’s decision following its recent criticism that lowering the speed limits of sealed and unsealed roads would increase safety and reduce road toll.
ALRTA President, Gerard Johnson, said the decision is common sense prevailing after a deeply flawed concept “failed to address the real drivers of road safety”.
“This was never a road safety solution – it was a distraction from the real issue,” he said.
“We thank the Government for listening to regional Australians.
“Scrapping this proposal is simply common sense.”
According to Johnson, the focus must now shift towards meaningful investment in rural road infrastructure, rather than measures which add complexity for drivers without improving safety outcomes.
He highlighted the commencement of works on the $500 million Beef Roads program in Queensland as a positive example of the type of investments which will deliver safety and productivity benefits.
“We are already seeing works start on the $500 million Beef Roads project in Queensland,” Johnson said.
“This is exactly what rural Australia needs – real, on-the-ground investment that makes roads safer, stronger and more reliable.”
“Better roads save lives. Better roads reduce crashes. Better roads improve productivity. Speed-limit changes do none of these things without the infrastructure to support them.”
The ALRTA is looking forward to working with all levels of government to progress practical, evidence-based safety measures that address the true causes of serious incidents on rural roads.
This includes chronic under-maintenance, deteriorating pavement conditions and limited funding for regional renewal.
“The Beef Roads program shows the way forward,” Johnson said.
“If we want safer roads, we need to invest in them. That’s how you get real safety outcomes.”
