Tasmanian speed limits to reduce to 90kmph

[tex]

That's right, the current government is planning to have every sealed roadway (Midlands and Bass Hwy the only exception) reduced to 90kmph.

Every gravel road limit will be reduced to 80kmph, no exception.

We have 8 weeks to lodge submissions opposing this new legislation.

The revised limits set to be in place by end 2011.

We have a panel of experts that are touting every 1kmph reduction in road speed equates to at least a 3% reduction in road trauma. Please.......

So 10kmph will equate to 30% reduction in road trauma.

If they say so.



The relevance for all you 'mainlanders'? Your own local gummits are watching this progress to law in Tasmania very closely indeed. You have been duely warned.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...13/3091557.htm

[TheZHLANE]

...... why

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by STANI

...... why

To increase driver fatigue and increase crashes, why else?

[wrongwaynorris]

Originally Posted by STANI

...... why

Maybe the girls are outrunning their brothers in their cars now .

[UNR8D]

is there a link to this on a formal website or another media beat up? I'm seriously curious, and if true when did Tasmania become a part of Victoria?...

[tex]

I will find it and post up.

[Resurrection]

Vote for the Greens and other leftist loonies and this is what you get.

[UNR8D]

Safer speeds consultation launch
Community consultation on a proposal to help save lives on Tasmania?s rural roads was launched today.

John Gledhill, Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Council, said that the Council was considering:

A reduction of the speed limit on rural sealed roads from 100 km/h to 90 km/h, unless otherwise signed.
A reduction of the speed limit on rural gravel and unsealed roads from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, unless otherwise signed.

"The Council is investigating these changes because expert advice indicates that lower speeds will lessen the number of serious crashes. On average we could expect to save 4 lives and 13 serious injuries every year on Tasmanian roads," Mr Gledhill said.

"Speed is the most contributing factor to injury in the event of a crash, the forces that are exerted on the human body at impact are closely related to the speed.

"International and national research shows that a reduction of 1 km/h in speed can lead to a 2-3% reduction in casualty crashes (which is where people are either injured or killed).

"By travelling 10 km/h slower, you could reduce your risk of being in a casualty crash by 20-30%," he said.

Mr Gledhill said that a high proportion of casualty crashes in Tasmania occurred on rural roads.

"From 2005 to 2009, 45% of fatalities and 41% of serious injuries in Tasmania occurred on rural roads," he said.

"The benefits of reduced rural speed limits have already been experienced first-hand in Tasmania.

"Results from Australia's first rural safer speeds demonstrations, in the Kingborough and Tasman Municipalities, have shown that reduced limits have had a positive and substantial impact upon the local community.

"For both sealed and gravel roads, over 80% of those surveyed either considered the new reduced limits to be appropriate or preferred further reductions."

Mr Gledhill said that the slower speeds would add very little to travel times.

"Research has shown that, if travelling at 90 km/h instead of 100 km/h, the increase in travel time on average is about 6%," he said.

"That means if your journey was supposed to take an hour, it would only take an extra three and a half minutes.

"There is also the added benefit of significant savings in terms of vehicle operating costs and greenhouse emissions. Fuel consumption increases significantly at speeds over 90 km/h. For example, travelling at 100km/h uses 10% more fuel than travelling at 90km/h.

"Driving at lower speeds will also reduce wear and tear on tyres and brakes, which will save you money on maintaining your vehicle.

Mr Gledhill said that some roads would retain the 100 km/h speed limit and that this would be evaluated as part of process.

Details of how members of the community can respond will be published in the three Tasmanian daily newspapers before Christmas or are available here.

The closing date for submissions is 18 February 2011

I cant openly say on a public forum what I want to do to the brain dead morons who dreamt this crap up to justify their own jobs.... I am really really getting angry with how this country is going currently, and no amount of correspondence or factual evidence that would support positive trends towards saving lives gets listened to... civil disobedience anyone?

[FPV8U]

Tex.. Your poor basterd!

i'd sign a petition but i don't think they would care about views from us mexicans.

[4Vman]

Poor Ian......

When's your next election?

[flappist]

Well the only good defence is attack.

Start inquiries as to how quickly these lives will be saved

If the answer is 10 to 20 years (which is what they will say to cover their bums) then attack them as talking crap as if that is the case then what is the point.

If the answer is immediately then publicly get them to put up or shut up. That is if there is NOT and immediate drop then they will resign their positions and admit they were wrong publicly (which they never will)

[Franco Cozzo]

Hopefully that doesn't come to Mexico.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Hopefully that doesn't come to Mexico.

We all know tasmanians can swin... We have Adelaide to prove it..!

(joke people).

[GTENVY]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

We all know tasmanians can swin... We have Adelaide to prove it..!

(joke people).

Sometimes they even make it as far as W.A.

[Auslandau]

From the state that gave us Bob Brown ........ and the state that promotes the Targa Tasmania. So sad.

[TheInterceptor]

Bull to the sh+=.
Ive been to Tassie, there is no need for a reduction. Gravel roads to 80? The rented Corrola was absolutely fine doing around 100 on them.

But im wasting my breath, we all know the reasons behind this.

I'm going to go enjoy the last bits of driving freedom while i still can.......then its on ya bike mike.
We can only do so much individually.....

[JC]

Perhaps they should look at reducing the BAC limit instead though (my theory is a sober person on even a semi-decent road can travel safely at 100). Or just let the gene pool look after itself. If a driver can't control a car at the posted speed on a certain road, then they should find another way to go or travel at a slower speed but then they're holding up traffic, I suppose, which means more overtaking lanes need to be built, but that's expenditure, whereas dropping the speed limit is potential revenue for those travelling at safe speeds albeit over the posted limit.

[tex]

Guys, this is not just a Tasmanian fight we have on our hands. To be honest i wish it was.

Your respective governments will sieze the opportunity, and the momentum gained by what transpires down here.

Like I said, you have all been respectfuly warned.

I am stunned, but not surprised. This has been brewing for a while. The Scrubey infiltration to the greater society has been slow, but steady, and Tasmania has for whatever reason, seen fit to capitilise on the easy solution, the best solution for minimal infrastructure expendature and social resposibility.

Lets not fix the roads in Tasmnia, lets not train the drivers, lets not rid the tarmac of the mobile rubbish more often than not driven by the untrained, underdeveloped psychy demographic that take up a disproportinate number of the road toll. You may be able to tell that I am passionate about this issue, and right now, struggling to contain my language within the forum terms and conditions of use.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by tex

Guys, this is not just a Tasmanian fight we have on our hands. To be honest i wish it was.

Your respective governments will sieze the opportunity, and the momentum gained by what transpires down here.

Like I said, you have all been respectfuly warned.

I am stunned, but not surprised. This has been brewing for a while. The Scrubey infiltration to the greater society has been slow, but steady, and Tasmania has for whatever reason, seen fit to capitilise on the easy solution, the best solution for minimal infrastructure expendature and social resposibility.

Lets not fix the roads in Tasmnia, lets not train the drivers, lets not rid the tarmac of the mobile rubbish more often than not driven by the untrained, underdeveloped psychy demographic that take up a disproportinate number of the road toll. You may be able to tell that I am passionate about this issue, and right now, struggling to contain my language within the forum terms and conditions of use.

Spot on, all they need is precedence... Vote them out.

[Ford_The_Win]

That is absolute insanity! Who voted for those jokers?!!

[nuthin' fancy]

Originally Posted by mick_1010

That is absolute insanity! Who voted for those jokers?!!

Tasmanians

[Bucknaked]

Looks like I can cross off Tasmania off my list of places to visit.

[geckoGT]

"The Council is investigating these changes because expert advice indicates that lower speeds will lessen the number of serious crashes. On average we could expect to save 4 lives and 13 serious injuries every year on Tasmanian roads," Mr Gledhill said.

Ask them to make this "expert advice" open to the public, not in abbreviated form but the whole report.

"Speed is the most contributing factor to injury in the event of a crash, the forces that are exerted on the human body at impact are closely related to the speed.

This can be offset by the increased likelihood of crash due to fatigue.

"International and national research shows that a reduction of 1 km/h in speed can lead to a 2-3% reduction in casualty crashes (which is where people are either injured or killed).

I would like to see the stats on this and what speed ranges the largest difference in injury severity occurred. I would agree that a large difference will occur at 50-60 km/h for example, but a crash into a solid object at 90-100 km/h will make very little difference to injury rates as injury will occur at both speeds. This is due to the fact that even at 90 km/h, it far exceeds the crash protection mechanisms of even the safest modern car.

"By travelling 10 km/h slower, you could reduce your risk of being in a casualty crash by 20-30%," he said.

Again, is this at the 90-100 km/h range or is this a stat found at lower speeds and what roads were those statistics found on, urban, rural or combination?

Mr Gledhill said that a high proportion of casualty crashes in Tasmania occurred on rural roads.

As they do in all states due to increased speed and fatigue primarily. A 10 km/h reduction in speed may save a life or two in a crash but it may cause 20 more crashes. This phenomena has been experienced in the NT since they dropped the rural speed limit in 2006, they have seen an increase in the rural road toll (one of few states to increase).

"From 2005 to 2009, 45% of fatalities and 41% of serious injuries in Tasmania occurred on rural roads," he said.

Again, in line with all other states.

"The benefits of reduced rural speed limits have already been experienced first-hand in Tasmania.

"Results from Australia's first rural safer speeds demonstrations, in the Kingborough and Tasman Municipalities, have shown that reduced limits have had a positive and substantial impact upon the local community.

What were the reductions and how far were people traveling. A reduction in local speed limits will not induce the fatigue issues a statewide reduction will so this evidence is flawed.

"For both sealed and gravel roads, over 80% of those surveyed either considered the new reduced limits to be appropriate or preferred further reductions.

Who was surveyed and what were the demographics of the survey group?

Mr Gledhill said that the slower speeds would add very little to travel times.

"Research has shown that, if travelling at 90 km/h instead of 100 km/h, the increase in travel time on average is about 6%," he said.

Which equates to a 6% increase in fatigue and therefore fatigue related crashes, the offset of those few lives saved commences.

"That means if your journey was supposed to take an hour, it would only take an extra three and a half minutes.

And statistically you are more likely to crash within 5 mins from your place of residence, will that figure now be 8.5 mins?

"There is also the added benefit of significant savings in terms of vehicle operating costs and greenhouse emissions. Fuel consumption increases significantly at speeds over 90 km/h. For example, travelling at 100km/h uses 10% more fuel than travelling at 90km/h.

What a load of utter garbage, this depends on the car. My typhoon sits on about 8-9l/100 km at 100 km/h, 90 km/h makes no difference, it actually appears to sit a bit higher at 80 because it does not get into top gear.

"Driving at lower speeds will also reduce wear and tear on tyres and brakes, which will save you money on maintaining your vehicle.

Clutching at straws here, with that speed reduction the saving here would be miniscule and not noteworthy. If they were talking a reduction from 200-100 it would be a point but not 100-90.

Mr Gledhill said that some roads would retain the 100 km/h speed limit and that this would be evaluated as part of process.

For now.

[Jack91]

Heard it on the radio today, what a joke. Whats really stupid about it though is that dirt and gravel roads here are in better condition than the Bass and Midland highways.

[UNR8D]

where do we partition and or place our subjective comments/thoughts relating to this, I for one will be happy to 'once again' write in to the appropriate regulatory bodies and give them an email they can use for training purposes at a later date... seriously though seems the nosier you are the more you get done... lets get noisy!!

[tex]

I will be making contact with the local enthusiast car clubs down here, and I will begin rallying the like minded togther.

This forum is a starting point.

I sincerely hope the moderation team will allow me to make public - in an appropriate forum, in an appropriate thread the details for lodging personal submissions.

I will post the contact details for the relevant political parties, the relevant public submissions website / email address.

I would ask that all forum members think seriously about the ramifications of what is happening down here, and consider it in the wider context of the nation as a whole.

Your actions in the coming weeks / months will havea long term and fundimental influence on the way we operate our motorcars in this country in the future.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by tex

I will be making contact with the local enthusiast car clubs down here, and I will begin rallying the like minded togther.

This forum is a starting point.

I sincerely hope the moderation team will allow me to make public - in an appropriate forum, in an appropriate thread the details for lodging personal submissions.

I will post the contact details for the relevant political parties, the relevant public submissions website / email address.

I would ask that all forum members think seriously about the ramifications of what is happening down here, and consider it in the wider context of the nation as a whole.

Your actions in the coming weeks / months will havea long term and fundimental influence on the way we operate our motorcars in this country in the future.

Best of luck with it Tex but make sure you dont go down the same blazen trails others have gone with these things before you...
Think VERY carefully before doing anything and try to see how your actions maybe perceived by others, especially considering you may need them on your side.

[tex]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Best of luck with it Tex but make sure you dont go down the same blazen trails others have gone with these things before you...
Think VERY carefully before doing anything and try to see how your actions maybe perceived by others, especially considering you may need them on your side.

Thanks Norm.

I am fortunate that I have a very close friend in state politics, holds a senior role, and I will seek his counsel in the next few days. Without his advice I will be just another noisey enthusiast....

Bridge burning is not my thing, I will no doubt rely on the support from people that at face value, may in fact be those at the root of the problem...

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by tex

Thanks Norm.

I am fortunate that I have a very close friend in state politics, holds a senior role, and I will seek his counsel in the next few days.

Career suicide.

[Jack91]

Behind it 100%, post up some phone numbers and addresses of their offices. I do about 400km/week of rural 100 zones, will affect me hugely.