Peak hour speed limits as low as 60km/h should be considered for Tiger Brennan Dr after fatal crash, says AANT

PEAK hour speed limits as low as 60km/h should be considered before intersections on Tiger Brennan Drive in the wake of a fatal four-vehicle crash today, the NT’s main motoring body says

A woman, 57, was killed this morning after her car was involved in a four-vehicle collision near the intersection of Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road. Picture: Che Chorley

THE head of the NT’s main motoring body says peak hour speed limits as low as 60km/h should be considered before intersections on Tiger Brennan Drive in the wake of today’s fatal crash.

A woman, 57, was killed this morning after her car was involved in a four-vehicle collision near the intersection of Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road, about 15km east of the Darwin CBD.

Automobile Association of the NT chief executive Anthony Gill told the NT News the section of road where the crash occurred had been the site of several serious crashes and the association would welcome a review into whether variable speed limits could improve safety.

He said the AANT would support peak hour limits as low as 60km/h – down from 80-100km/h – before intersections along the highway.

Police investigators on the scene of the fatal multiple-vehicle crash on Tiger Brennan Drive, which killed a 57-year-old woman. Picture: Che Chorley

“The speed limit should be probably 60km/h leading into major intersections, and then as you’re leaving those intersections or further out from intersections, it could be 80km/h then open up to 100km/h in areas where there’s no intersection or potential stopping,” he said.

“We know around this area, given the accidents that have occurred, (speed) is still a problem. Looking at variable speed limits leading into these intersections to reduce the speed of traffic is a key priority.”

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said today’s crash was an “absolute tragedy” but did not answer specific questions on whether she would consider reducing speed limits.

“We need to now let police do their investigation into how such a serious crash occurred at this location,” she said.

The speed limit on Tiger Brennan Drive near the Berrimah Rd intersection was permanently reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h last year, weeks after a crash that killed two people.