State Government stops speed limit changes after Leader campaign

THE State Government has stepped in to stop the blanket reduction of all 70km/h and 90km/h speed limits across Melbourne following outrage from drivers and a Leader Newspapers campaign.

RACV manager of Roads Dave Jones has welcomed the news that the government has stepped in to stop the changes to 70km/h and 90km/h speed limits. Picture: Steve Tanner

THE  State Government has stepped in to stop the blanket reduction of all 70km/h and 90km/h speed limits across Melbourne.

The move follows Leader Newspapers’ #Keep70 campaign and widespread outcry from drivers across Melbourne and the RACV.

Under a controversial policy, VicRoads was steadily cutting all 70km/h roads across Melbourne to 60km/h limits and 90km/h speed zones to 80km/h.

Click HERE to see the 70km/h roads affected

Click HERE to see the 90km/h roads affected

Roads and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan told Leader the policy was a “nanny state” approach, and he has ordered a freeze.

Declaring it wanted to simplify speed zones, ­VicRoads has already reduced the speeds on at least 20 arterial roads across Melbourne from 70km/h to 60km/h and on four urban arterial roads from 90km/h to 80km/h.

#keep70 Tweets

In country Victoria, at least 65 roads have had speed limits cut by 10km/h.

A further 1900 roads across the state were on the hit-list for a speed reduction.

Mr Donnellan said the speed limits review, initiated by the former Coalition Government, had created confusion, and there had been a failure to consult ­affected communities.

RELATED:Lowering the limit less confusing for drivers say VicRoads

RELATED:Speed limits to drop despite RACV warning it could put drivers’ lives at risk

“Clearly, this initiative was too simplistic and it needs improvement,” he said. “Under the Labor Government, changes to speed zones will only occur when the community identifies there is a problem or a demonstrated safety need.

 

Post by Mordialloc Chelsea Leader.

“But we can’t get caught up in the one-size-fits-all, ‘nanny state’ approach.”

Mr Donnellan said the Government did not intend to reverse speed limit reductions VicRoads had already made.

News_Image_File: Motorists in Frankston have demonstrated what they think of the speed limit changes. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

RACV manager of roads Dave Jones welcomed Mr Donnellan’s intervention.

“Speed limits must be credible, and not be reduced because of some blanket policy decision,” Mr Jones said.

“Any reduction in speed limits from 70 and 90 should only occur if supported by a specific crash history and technical assessment on each road.”

Mr Jones called on the Government to seriously consider reversing recent speed limit reductions.

“The Government needs to ensure limits are credible and consistent within an area and may need to reconsider some of the changes they’ve already made,” Mr Jones said.

As part of the #Keep70 campaign, Leader was inundated with people voicing their anger over the speed reductions via Facebook, Twitter, website comments and letters to the editor.