New data from the Road Safety Council show that in 2018 the State’s drivers recorded the highest rate of speed compliance on record.
The report Trends in Driver Speed Behaviours on Rural and Metro Road Networks 2000 – 2018 found that the rate of drivers who travel at or below the speed limit on metropolitan and regional roads has improved significantly since the speed surveys began.
Chair of the Council, Iain Cameron said the data revealed speed limit compliance on regional roads had improved 11.5 per cent to 72 per cent of drivers, while an improvement of 16.5 per cent to 69.5 per cent of drivers was recorded on metro roads.
“Metro drivers were most compliant in 80km/h zones, while regional drivers were most compliant in 70km/h zones,” Mr Cameron said.
“The poorest compliance by both regional and metro drivers was recorded on roads with a 60km/h speed limit,” he said.
“This new data is evidence that most people driving on our roads do the right thing and stick to the speed limit.”
Mr Cameron said this was helping to save lives and reduce injuries, contributing in part to a 32 per cent reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured on the State’s roads over the past 10 years.
“The longer-term trends in speeding behaviour show that a greater safety culture exists compared to 2000, with about seven in every 10 drivers complying with speed limits today,” he said.
“There is room for improvement however, with about three in 10 drivers exceeding the speed limit on both metro and regional roads.”
The 62-page report, prepared by the Road Safety Commission on behalf of the Road safety Council, can be accessed at this PS News link.
