Details Last Updated: Friday, 22 October 2021 13:20 Residents concerned with vehicles speeding in their street often ask us to reduce the speed limit. Below you can find information about how speed limits are set and the most effective way to deal with speeding. Show Default speed limitsIn February 2003 the default local street speed limit of 50km/h in built-up areas was adopted as legislated by the State of Queensland. If you are on a local street, in a built-up area within Toowoomba or our regional townships, you must travel no faster than 50km/h and drive to the conditions. If you are in a rural area, the default open rural road speed limit is 100km/h. 50km/h speed signs have been installed in some areas, particularly around hospitals or major parks where there is a level of activity on the road fronting the park. Under the State’s local streets speed limit guidelines, it is not standard practice to install 50km/h speed signs. The Queensland road rules indicate that if a street in a built-up area is not signed then the driver is to assume it is a 50km/h speed limit. It would be impractical to sign every 50km/h residential street within the Toowoomba Region. Complaints from residents regarding motorists driving faster than the speed limit in their local streets are fairly common. When traffic counts are undertaken it is found that the majority of vehicles are actually travelling within the speed limit. Dealing with speedingSpeeding is a common behavioural issue throughout the urban and rural road network, irrespective of whether the street is an arterial road, a collector road, a residential street or an open country road. Speeding is an issue that is best addressed in a road safety sense through enforcement and education, rather than with traffic calming devices which can create noise issues and access problems for residents. Vehicles speeding and/or hooning on streets is a police matter and should be reported to local police by telephoning Policelink on 131 444. How speed limits are setSpeed limits are set in accordance with strict guidelines, in partnership with the Department of Transport & Main Roads and Queensland Police Services, so that speed limits throughout Queensland are consistent and realistic. These guidelines also indicate that realistic and credible speed limits will be observed by the majority of road users. Unrealistic speed limits that are too low may attract poor levels of compliance. Speed limits take into consideration the road environment, crash history and traffic volumes. Speed limits cannot be posted for unsealed (gravel) roads, as drivers need to drive to the conditions of the road, which can vary day by day. The driver must travel at a speed that is safe for the road surface, appropriate to their driving skills and suitable for the vehicle they are driving. General enquiriesIf you have any enquiries regarding speed limits please contact our Road Operations Branch via email on: or by phone on 131 872. To print this information or save as a PDF, select the green printer icon at the top of the article. Posted by Admin on 13 August 2021 If you're driving in Queensland outside of a built-up area, the speed limit is 100km/hr unless stated otherwise. Queensland is an incredible location to visit, travel around and explore, so driving here is a great experience. It's also a brilliant way to see the country and check out some of the most beautiful sights Australia has to offer. However, sticking to the speed limit is crucial and it's important you understand the rules of the road in Queensland before driving. So, let's take a look at speed limits in more detail. Speed limits in built-up areasIf you're driving through a town or city in Queensland, it is important to stick to the speed limit and remain alert while driving. The speed limit in built-up areas is 50km/h unless otherwise stated. If you're driving in an area with a streetlight system, you should also never drive over 50km/h unless signs say otherwise. There are some roads in Queensland that carry traffic through these suburban areas, and these may have a speed limit of 60km or higher, however, this will be clearly signposted on the road. The speed limit on local streets is also 50km/h, which is a street that is used to provide direct access to private properties. How do you know if you're driving in a built-up area?The definition of a built-up area in Queensland is one that has a system of street lighting, so roads that have different limits will be clearly marked. If you're on a street that has several houses, this is sometimes referred to as a local street, and it would be unwise to ever go any faster than 50km/h. It's always wise to air on the side of caution and drive as safely as possible if you're new to driving in Queensland. It's also important to remain cautious as speeding is defined as driving higher than the speed limit or at a speed that is inappropriate to the driving conditions. This could include speeding in rain, heavy traffic or fog. The consequences of speedingDriving over the speed limit is a serious offence and could cause risks to other road users, pedestrians and cause serious harm or even death. Even if you are driving on a quiet road outside of a built-up area, you must stick to the speed limit. There are also severe legal consequences to speeding on a road outside a built-up area unless otherwise signed, including losing your driving licence, fines, demerit points and more. Find out moreIf you are ever unsure what the speed limit is, don't drive above 50km/h in a built-up area and don't drive over 100km/h outside of a built-up area. For more advice on driving regulations in Queensland, head to Queensland Transport Road Rules for Everyday Driving. This will ensure you know everything you need to before hiring a vehicle. This article needs additional citations for verification.(March 2022) Speed limits in Australia range from 5 km/h (3.1 mph) shared zones to 130 km/h (81 mph). Speed limit signage is in km/h since metrication on 1 July 1974. All speed limits (with the sole exception of the South Australian school and roadworks zones which are signposted at 25 km/h) are multiples of 10 km/h – the last digit in all speed signs is zero.[1][disputed ] Speed limits are set by state and territory legislation albeit with co-ordination and discussion between governments.
Most urban freeways in Australia have speed limits of 80, 90, 100 or 110 km/h. This example is of the EastLink tolled freeway in Melbourne. 130 km/h speed limits are found on the Stuart, Barkly, Victoria and Arnhem Highways in the Northern Territory 35 km/h speed advisory sign above a keep left sign Australian states and territories use two "default" speed limits. These apply automatically in the absence of 'posted' speed restriction signage. The two default speed limits are:
Common speed zones below the default built up area 50 km/h limit are:
Common speed zones above the default limits are:
The "END" speed limit sign is increasingly used throughout Australia to signal the end of a posted speed restriction, or built-up area "default" speed-limit leading to the jurisdiction's "rural" default speed limit. It contains the word "END" and a number in a black circle beneath this, representing the ceasing speed-limit. It is typically used where, according to AS1742.4 the road beyond has certain hazards such as hidden driveways, poor camber, soft edges and other hazards where the road authority feels a posted speed limit sign might be too dangerous or otherwise unwarranted. It is intended therefore to invoke particular caution. This sign is used as a direct replacement for the slash-through speed derestriction signs common in Europe and elsewhere. Speed limits are enforced in all areas of the country. Tolerance is about 6 km/h in urban areas and 9 km/h on highways depending on regulations of respective state such that driver driving on or below the tolerance speed will not receive a ticket.[5] This is the case in South Australia and other states have similar tolerances. One exception is Victoria where they will deduct 2–4 km/h in from the speed reading such that reasonable doubt is credited to the driver.[6] especially in light of the fact that earlier Australian Design Rules specified that vehicle speedometers may have up to 10% leeway in accuracy. This was updated in 2006 to require that the "speed indicated shall not be less than the true speed of the vehicle."[7] Detection measures used are radar, LIDAR, fixed and mobile speed cameras (using various detection technologies), Vascar, pacing and aircraft. Despite introduction of model national road rules by the states in 1999, Western Australia and the Northern Territory retain different default speed limits. The table below indicates the default speed limits along with typical school zone limits and the highest zone in each locality. In the external territories, and in some special cases (such as Lord Howe Island, NSW), the speed limits may differ significantly from those found across the rest of the nation.
The table below indicates the different speed limits that apply for these licence holders in each state.[25][26] The limits apply when the roads stated speed is above the licence's speed limit, e.g.: in NSW a person with a P1 licence can drive at a max speed of 90 km/h on 100/110 km/h signed roads.
New South Wales has a limit of 100 km/h for heavy (more than 4.5 tonne) vehicles which is not a feature of the Australian Road Rules.[28] Additionally particular heavy vehicles (some buses and vehicles more than 13.9 tonne) and are required to have speed monitoring devices fitted.[29]
An old speed limit sign in New South Wales, signed in imperial system of units (15 mph speed limit, nowadays the 30 km/h speed limit). Prior to metrication, speed limit signs in Australia had the same design as the American MUTCD counterparts. Historically, Australia operated a simple speed limit system of urban and rural default limits, denoted in miles per hour. As part of metrication in 1974, speed limits and speed advisories were converted into kilometres per hour, rounded to the nearest 10 km/h, leading to small discrepancies in speed limits. Also, the signage was changed from the design where the words "SPEED LIMIT" appear above the numeric limit (as specified in the current US MUTCD) to the design where the numeric limit is inscribed on a red circle (which is defined by the Vienna Convention and thus it became an international sign for speed limit). Urban limitsThe urban default, which prior to the 1930s was 30 mph (48 km/h), applied to any "built up area", usually defined by the presence of street lighting. Over the next 30 years, each of the states and territories progressively increased the limit to 35 mph (56 km/h), with New South Wales being the last to change in May 1964. South Australia adopted 35 mph (56 km/h) on 30 November 1950, along with the "new short-right hand turn" in place of a hook turn.[30] Metrication led to the default urban limits of 35 mph (56 km/h) being converted to 60 km/h, an increase of 3.7 km/h (2.3 mph). In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the 60 km/h (37 mph) urban default limit was progressively lowered to 50 km/h (31 mph) nationally for reasons of road, and especially pedestrian, safety. However, many existing roads, especially subarterial roads in urban areas, have had 60 km/h (37 mph) limits posted on them. Queensland's Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Speed Controls) states that 60 km/h (37 mph) is the general minimum speed limit for traffic-carrying roads.[31] The Northern Territory has retained the 60 km/h (37 mph) limit; however, 50 km/h (31 mph) is also a common speed limit (particularly in residential areas). Rural limitsOutside of built up areas, a prima facie speed limit applied. In New South Wales and Victoria, speed limit was 50 miles per hour[32]: 31, 76 (80 km/h in New South Wales[32]: 76 after metrication). In the 1970s however, most state speed limits were gradually replaced by absolute limits.[32] An absolute speed limit of 70 mph (113 km/h) was introduced to Victoria in 1971, as a trial.[32]: 31 This was subsequently reduced to 60 mph (97 km/h) in late 1973. South Australia introduced an absolute speed limit of 60 mph (97 km/h) in 1974. With metrication in 1974, the rural defaults of 60 mph (97 km/h) and 65 mph (105 km/h) became 100 km/h (62 mph) and 110 km/h (68 mph) respectively. The 50 mph limit in New South Wales became a limit of 80 km/h. New South Wales introduced an absolute speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph) in 1979, replacing the limit of 80 km/h (50 mph)[32]: 11, 13 The Northern Territory introduced an absolute speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph) in 2007, along with 130 km/h (81 mph) zones on the Territory's four major highways. NT open speed limitsThe Northern Territory had no blanket speed limits outside major towns until January 2007, when a general rural speed limit of 110 km/h (68 mph) was introduced, although four major highways had higher 130 km/h (81 mph) zones.[33] Speed-limit advocates note that the per-capita fatality rate in 2006 was the highest in the OECD and twice the Australian average.[34] In 2009, the opposition (Country Liberal Party) unsuccessfully sought the removal of the 130 km/h (81 mph) limits on three out of the four highways where it applied, arguing that total fatalities in the Northern Territory had increased significantly during the first two years of the speed limit. In argument against the motion, the government provided more detailed statistics than normally published; these statistics showed a reduction in fatalities along the highways where 130 km/h (81 mph) limits were introduced.[35][36][37] In 2011 the opposition argued for a return to "open speed limits" .[38] For the 2012 election the Country Liberals' transport policy promised an evidence-based approach.[39] After winning government, de-restriction of Stuart Highway was proposed;[40][41] a planned 12-month de-restriction was initiated on 1 February 2014. The trial on 200 km (120 mi) of Stuart Highway was expanded later in the year to another 72 km (45 mi), and continued indefinitely in January 2015 during a review of the initial results since "in the first 11 months, there were no recorded fatalities."[42] From September 2015, a 336 km (209 mi) stretch of Stuart Highway between Barrow Creek and Alice Springs had speed limits removed for a 12-month trial.[43][44][45] 130 km/h (81 mph) speed limits were restored on 20 November 2016 due to the electoral loss of the Country Liberal Party.[46][47] Derestriction signs in NSWSpeed derestriction sign Often the start of rural default 'limits' or prima facie allowances were signalled by use of the speed derestriction sign, catalogued R4-2 in AS1742.4. (2009 edition has dropped from reference the R4-2 speed derestriction).[48] The speed derestriction sign (//) had developed 'different meaning' over time at state and territory level, although its contract-meaning under Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals where the sign is catalogued C17a is "End of all local prohibitions imposed on moving vehicles" and has never changed.[49] In the Northern Territory, they designated the end of speed restrictions.[50] In Victoria and Western Australia they meant that the rural default speed limit applied, whilst in New South Wales, they indicated that the prima facie 50 mph (80 km/h) limit applied. Derestriction signs remain in place but are officially no longer in use in NSW New South Wales's prima facie 50 mph (80 km/h) limit, often signed by derestriction signs, was only enforced in cases where a driver's speed could be demonstrated to be excessive or dangerous in the context of prevailing road conditions. This was somewhat similar in principle to "reasonable and prudent" limits in other jurisdictions. This led to the widespread but misleading belief that no limit applied, and that derestriction signs indicated an "unlimited" limit. This belief, coupled with repeated studies showing 85th percentile speeds in excess of 120 km/h (75 mph) on major routes, comparatively high road tolls, difficulty in prosecuting speeding offences, and the variance in meaning of the derestriction sign across states, led New South Wales to harmonise its rural default limit to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 1978.[51][circular reporting?] The use of derestriction signs in New South Wales was officially discouraged, and on state controlled routes, 100 km/h (62 mph) signs were progressively used instead.
|