WHY SPEED SHOULD ACTUALLY BE INCREASED ON MANY ROADS
A leading motoring journalist claims our speed limits should be increased on many roads, without any added risk to personal or public safety.
Dylan Campbell, the editor of leading publication MOTOR magazine, claims the political push to make speed evil, and the enemy of reducing the road toll, is seriously simplistic and misplaced.
“Nobody wants more road accidents, but we also need to understand that vast sections of our motorways have been vastly improved during the past 20 to 30 years, and the vehicles we drive are setting new benchmarks in safety,” notes Dylan.
“It seems that there are countless entities pushing for lower speed limits, despite a majority of the population groaning every time a limit is lowered in the face of safer cars, safer roads and common sense. Perhaps we need to switch focus to driver training in the first place.
“Where we do have high quality roadways, let’s remember that it’s a speed limit. If a motorist does not feel comfortable at the limit, then go slower in the correct lane. Other motorists can then choose to use the overtaking lane, which graciously there are more of than ever.”
LET’S GET REAL ON SPEED AND SAFETY
 Campbell notes being limited to 80km/h on an almost empty inner-city four-lane freeway late at night, and argues that the 110km/h limit on quality major interstate freeways needs to be reviewed.
 The MOTOR editor has previously argued that authorities need to place greater focus on certified driver training, rather than the current system which sees generational ‘bad habits’ being passed on from parent to child.
 One of the benchmarks of motoring safety has been a country like Germany, where it’s a lot harder to get your licence in the first place. However, it’s also worth noting that the much lauded autobahn sees people safely commuting, in modern vehicles, at speeds of 180km/h.
 No doubt German-like speeds would be a ‘bridge too far’ for Australian rule-makers, but a poignant reminder that our slow-down-further fixation is seriously out-of-step with reality and there are other issues we need to be looking at.
MOTOR editor Dylan Campbell