Speed limits set to be reduced in regional Victoria

Speed limits could be slashed from 110km/h to 80km/h on some Victorian country roads under a plan to boost safety and drive down the road toll.

Victorian regional and rural roads that are deemed a high crash risk could have their speed limits reduced to 80km/h after a parliamentary inquiry called for reform to help lower the road toll.

Identifying key unsafe country roads with low traffic numbers to reduce their speed was among the recommendations made by the inquiry.

The Andrews government has supported the proposal for roads where upgrading infrastructure or installing barriers is not an option.

Roads with high traffic volumes would be be considered for priority funding towards their upgrades.

Dangerous country roads are set to be reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h. Picture: AAP

A Network Safety Plan will mark out roads that need additional infrastructure improvements and those which can have their speed limits lowered will be completed by the Department of Transport in the next two years.

Any proposed changes would then be put forward to the community for consultation.

“It is understood the community is concerned that reduced speed limits in rural and regional areas will result in increased travel times,” the government response reads.

“The Victorian Government will support any changes to policy with community education that highlights the systemic risk of speed and links to road trauma on low standard roads, while also addressing travel time concerns.”

RACV spokesman Andrew Scannell said a survey carried out by the organisation found the majority of respondents believed reducing speed limits were necessary to improving safety.

“As a safety advocate, RACV has made a commitment to promoting these findings – and providing them to Government – and we very much welcome this review from the Victorian Government,” he said.

And more roads will have variable limits that change based on the conditions.

A recommendation for different types of vehicles such as motorbikes being allowed to travel at different speeds to cars was not supported by the government.

About 30 per cent of fatal crashes, and 15 per cent of serious injuries following a smash across the state happens on lower volume rural roads with a speed of 100 km/h.

A government spokeswoman said a “strong track record” in road safety had helped decrease the number of lives being lost on Victorian roads and the shattered loved ones who were left behind.

“Our Road Safety Strategy builds on all we’ve achieved to date across safety policy, education, technology, infrastructure and vehicle safety, while laying the groundwork for future road safety innovation,” she said.

The Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, aims to halve road deaths and significantly reduce serious injuries by 2030.