New push to reinstate open speed limits after NT records highest road toll since 2010

A NEW push to reinstate open speed limits is under way in the Territory as the NT’s highest road toll since 2010 shows scrapping them has not led to a decrease in deaths on our roads > WHAT do you think? VOTE in our poll

The NT Government and the CLP are at odds over the scrapping of open speed limits on the Stuart Hwy. Picture: Andrea Johnston

OPPOSITION Leader Gary Higgins has labelled the introduction of speed limits on the Stuart Hwy ineffectual as the Territory reels from its highest yearly road toll since 2010.

The horrific 2018 toll on Territory roads, the highest road fatalities per capita in Australia, comes just over 12 months after the NT Government scrapped open speed limits between Alice Spring and the Ali Curung rail overpass on the Stuart Hwy.

And while no road deaths occurred between the stretch of highway, the Gunner Government and CLP remain at odds over the policy.

Opposition Leader Gary Higgins on Wednesday reiterated the CLP’s position in favour of open speed limits on the Stuart Hwy.

“The CLP platform clearly endorses open speed limits and there are no intentions to change that,” Mr Higgins told the NT News.

“Removing open speed limits has not decreased deaths on roads,” he said.

“Drink driving continues to be a major cause of road accidents in the Territory.”

Mr Higgins called for Territory police to be “properly resourced so that they have the personnel, equipment and manpower available to tackle drink driving.”

Mr Higgins said that if the CLP won the next election they would leave the door open for harsher penalties for drink drivers.

“A future CLP government would consider increasing pen alties for drink driving and reckless and dangerous driving.”

A prominent figure in the Territory automotive industry, who wished to remain anonymous, said 130km/h speed zones had “negatively affected the industry”.

“I think it was bad policy, and the government’s reasoning was flawed,” he said.

A prominent figure in the Territory automotive industry says the reinstated130km/h speed zones had “negatively affected the industry”

“In my discussions with government ministers, they were using hypotheticals as justification for the speed limits, but they couldn’t point to any actual data showing that speeds had been causes of the death toll rising on similar roads.”

Acting Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Nicole Manison said road safety was one of (its) highest priorities”.

“We still have too many people not wearing seat belts, drink driving and not driving to the conditions,” Ms Manison said.

“The ‘Towards Zero Safety Action Plan’ aims to work towards improving road safety in the Northern Territory over the next five years.”

The Government has allocated the same amount of funding for road safety for the next financial year.