The risk of being involved in a crash increases with increasing speed because the driver has less time to react, less control of the vehicle and it takes longer to stop the vehicle. One third of all fatal crashes in 1993 were speeding related. Young males are over represented in speeding related accidents. More speeding related accidents occur on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 2 pm and midnight. To ensure that a driver can stop in time a 3 second gap should be allowed between the vehicle and the next car in front. In wet conditions it should be increased to 5 seconds.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES:

Speed limits

   There are generally two statutory limits in NSW on speed limits. These are:

• general urban limit (60 km/h) - applicable to all roads in built-up areas, unless signposted otherwise
• state limit (100 km/h) - applicable to all roads in non-built up areas, unless signposted otherwise

   Just over half of all speeding related crashes occur on roads with a speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour or less. Ensure that you reduce speed in these areas as they are high density housing areas where the actions of other drivers and pedestrians is more unpredictable.

   Ensure that you have a 3 second gap in dry weather and a 5 second gap in wet weather to the vehicle in front of you.

Special limits

   These are applied by regulation under particular circumstances such as classes of vehicles or groups of drivers (such as learner drivers). These are not signposted.

Speed zones

   Speed zones are speed limits established for particular lengths of road or particular areas for which the prevailing general speed limit is not appropriate. The purpose of speed zones is to indicate the safe speed for a road, taking into account its surrounding environment, its traffic use and its safety considerations. Speed zones may have speed limits which are higher or lower than the prevailing general limit.

Vehicle speed limits

   Some new vehicles can have speed limits programed into their system. This will ensure that the allocated speed limit is maintained. A warning signal is released when the speed is over the allocated limit.

Any further inquiries please call RTA General customer inquiries on 61 02 132213. Source: Behavioural Issues in Road Safety RTA 1995. ISBN 0 7310 5415 6

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