Northern Territory Speed Limits Proposed

The comments by Professor Ian Johnson from the Accident Research Centre at Monash University saying that the speed limit on Territory Roads should be 100 km/h is likely used by the Territory Government as a smoke screen to introduce speed limits in the Territory according the Opposition Transport spokeswoman Fay Miller.

"The Government appears to be positioning itself to impose speed limits and they will dress it up to be a compromise when they do.”, Opposition Transport spokeswoman Fay Miller said today.

"What they appear to be doing is flagging the introduction of a slightly faster speed limit so that they can claim that they have protected Territorians from people like Professor Johnson.

"People need to remember that it is this Government that has the discretion to impose speed limits and nobody else.

"A quick review of the media releases of the Accident Research Centre at Monash reveals that they have concerns about speed, motor scooters, the dangers of playtime and the risks of climbing a ladder.

"It is the job of that Centre to find danger and they put a great deal of effort into doing so. It is the job of Government to balance those risks with the demands of daily life. The open speed limit on Territory roads is an expectation that Territorians have for good and practical reasons. Professor Johnson says that it would be better to be on the road for an extra four hours than travelling at 140 km/h. An extra four hours driving means driving at night and in this part of the world that really is dangerous.

"It is this Government and nobody else that will inflict speed restrictions on Territorians. If they do so the CLP will oppose those speed restrictions.”

2006-09-29