Australia is facing a significant increase in road fatalities, with the number of deaths rising for the fifth consecutive year, a trend not seen since 1952. In the 12 months leading up to July, 1,326 Australians lost their lives on the roads. July alone saw approximately 110 fatalities, an increase of 4.6 percent compared to the five-year average for that month.
Professor Stuart Newstead from the Monash University Accident Research Centre has advocated for reducing speed limits as a primary strategy to combat this escalating crisis. He emphasized that modern vehicles, while advanced, are not designed to withstand impacts at speeds exceeding 64 km/h (40 mph) in crashes with fixed objects. This limitation, he explained, contributes to a higher fatality rate, particularly in regional areas.
To support his argument, Professor Newstead pointed to a trial conducted in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula Shire between 2019 and 2021. During this period, speed limits on 33 roads were reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. The trial resulted in a dramatic 68 percent decrease in serious crashes, from 19 annually to six. These lower speed limits were made permanent in 2022.
Professor Newstead stated that the data from the Mornington Peninsula trial demonstrates that reducing speed limits is more effective than relying on enhanced driver training to lower road deaths. He noted that self-assessment of driving skills is often inaccurate, with most drivers believing they are proficient while attributing the need for improvement to others. He argued that human error is inevitable and that road safety measures must accommodate this fallibility, citing the consistent failure of driver training programs to produce lasting improvements.
"It's like saying your favourite footballer should be able to kick through the sticks from 50 metres every time … humans are not infallible, and you have got to accommodate that," Professor Newstead said. "We've tried driver training over and over again, and we haven't come up with a formula."
Beyond speed limits, Professor Newstead also highlighted the need for increased investment in road infrastructure to enhance safety. However, he acknowledged the financial constraints faced by some regions, such as Victoria, which limit the capacity for such investments. In this context, he identified speed limit setting as a critical, albeit often controversial, tool available for improving road safety.
