Citation

Edgar NA, Tripathi S. Proc. Australas. Road Safety Res. Policing Educ. Conf. 2011; 15.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, copyright holder varies, Publisher Monash University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A high priority action in the 2008-09 Queensland Road Safety Action Plan was to "Identify high-risk roads or road sections for speed limit reductions where road improvements are not feasible in the short term". The premise for this action was that speed limit reductions, in combination with signage advising of crash history and increased police enforcement, would provide a significant low cost mass action opportunity to reduce the number and severity of crashes. The former Departments of Main Roads and Queensland Transport collaborated with the Queensland Police Service to identify poorly performing corridors, which were termed "black links". A report to the Queensland Cabinet recommended that approximately 60 km of roads be reduced to 90 km/h (from 100 km/h). The majority of the identified corridors formed part of the heavily trafficked federally funded highway network. This paper outlines early experiences with the reduction of speed limits, which were implemented in December 2008. It encompasses site selection details, before and after speed surveys, crash history, high visual impact sign design and enforcement and media considerations.