Model Local Laws ReviewSubmission No 2 by
Traveston Residents Association Inc.
The Traveston Residents Association Inc (TRA) submits the following recommendations to be incorporated in Cooloola Shire Councils (CSC) submission to the State Government in review of it’s Model Local Laws.
TRA submits that the responsibility for rural road speed limitations be devolved to Cooloola Shire Council for roads within its boundaries We further submit that the State Government might wish to consider this submission with all Councils on a state wide basis.
Existing status
The present situation designates all rural roads at 100 kph unless otherwise signed. The consensus has been in the past that motorists drive on rural roads to a speed limit of 100kph or less dependent upon their own judgement of the condition of the road.
Suggested status
TRA submits that the condition of a great many rural roads are such that the speed limit philosophy is the reverse of what it should be. We submit that the maximum speed limit on rural roads should be 80 kph unless otherwise signed.
Instead of roads having a maximum speed of 100kph and downsized due to poor road conditions or the prevalence of accidents, particularly fatalities, we submit that the balance of acceptable safe speed should be upsized only upon qualified engineering expertise sanctions.
Alternatives
We further submit that road speeds should then be lifted to 100 kph only on roads certified as designed and constructed to the 100 kph standard, or governed to standards in between.
Responsibility
The designation of road eligibility to 100kph standard should be the responsibility of those responsible for the design construction and maintenance of such roads. There is no reason why members of the traffic control element (eg police etc) should not be part of a decision committee, however the final decision should rest with an engineering element. Council and or main roads representatives are ideally situated to fill this role.
Road Status Quo
As the situation stands we have sealed winding single lane roads designated as open speed (100kph), gravel roads designated as 100kph, small feeder roads that are open to 100kph. Some will say that drivers would be foolish to drive at 100 kph on a road that exhibits safety at only 80 kph, however the long list of accidents and fatalities show that a percentage of our driving populace do fall into that category.
The above may eventuate for reasons such as the exuberance of youth or just senseless bravado, unawareness of road hazards suddenly before the driver, inexperience of drivers not familiar with rural road conditions and pitfalls, or trucks working to a tight time agenda etc.
Why 80 and not 100
Upgrading from 80 kph as against downgrading from 100 kph may be looked upon by some as six of one or half a dozen of the other, however the setting of the higher limit is relevant to all feeder roads as well as arterial roads whereas the setting of the lower limit at least puts the minor feeder and access roads in a safer category as a base limit. In addition our minor roads are used more and more as the population grows, as tourism expands and by inter-regional travellers avoiding the highway. This latter point is more relevant with the proposed realignment of the Bruce Highway and limited highway access, diverting more traffic to the minor roads.
Rural roads present more immediate problems than urban roads with dust affecting visibility, trees and stumps along the road (immovable objects when hit and the cause of many fatalities in the rural area) and accumulations of loose gravel causing loss of control etc.
Many roads have become detour routes for highway traffic during highway accidents where the traffic is diverted in streams onto these minor roads. It must come as some surprise to highway travellers once diverted to such inferior roads to find the speed limit open to that of the well constructed and laned highway.
With the increase in population school bus facilities are increasing on the minor roads.
Sad Statistics
Statistics show that the majority of fatalities happen on rural roads. This factor alone is reason for looking seriously at the rural road limits. Many rural roads are well travelled arterial roads and are quite safe for 100kph, however local governments are struggling with the upgrading of roads to cater for the escalation of population and the increase in the inter shire travelling public and we submit that the majority of roads other than arterial can not be rated in any manner or form as 100 kph safety catergorised.
We submit that the foregoing is urgently in want of consideration especially in relation to safety and fatality and serious injury avoidance.
Submission prepared by
Jeff Lambert for and on behalf of Traveston Residents Association Inc.
September 2007
