Medical professionals feel voice ignored after open speed zones extended in Northern Territory

WHEN public health physician Christine Connors heard the news the Territory’s open speed zones were to be extended by 60km, her first reaction was “complete dismay”

The Northern Territory’s open speed zones have been extended by 60km. PICTURE: Ivan Rachman

WHEN public health physician Christine Connors heard the news the Territory’s open speed zones were to be extended by 60km, her first reaction was “complete dismay”.

The chairwoman of the NT branch of the Royal Australian College of Physicians said the speed free-for-all undermined a safe driving culture and put lives in danger.

“Unfortunately, as Territorians we are already much more likely to get serious injury or be killed in car accident. Having no speed limit really sends the wrong message,” she said.

The new 60km section opened this week that creates a continuous open speed limit zone for 336km on the Stuart Highway from north of Alice Springs to the Ali Curung rail overpass. Dr Connors was disappointed the voices of medical professionals had been ignored by the government in its decision to lift the limit.

“We know the evidence is very clear — if you have an accident while driving at speed, you are much more likely to have a serious injury, and much more likely to be killed,” she said. Dr Connors believed the government over-estimated the desire of average Territorians to drive at high speed.

Chief Minister Adam Giles said open speed limits were in place on sections with low traffic volumes. “This is not a licence to drive recklessly; it’s about supporting individuals to make their own decision to drive responsibly,” he said.

AANT chief executive officer Byron Henderson said the money spent upgrading the stretch of highway near Alice Springs in preparation for the open limit would have been better spent improving other sections of road in poorer condition.

With more people on Territory roads than in previous years, Mr Henderson said lifting the limit could have fatal consequences.

“We know a lot of the fatalities in the Territory are speed related. Of 49 deaths on the roads last year, 30 per cent were speed related,” he said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Lynne Walker said Labor opposed the repeal of speed limits.