Submission to NSW Parliamentary Enquiry into Speed Limits

Published on 01 July 2022

Council has prepared a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (Staysafe) outlining the need for better consultation and process from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) with Council when setting out or revising speed limits in NSW.

Mayor Tony Reneker said whilst Council supports TfNSW’ s intent to improve safety on Leeton’s roads and outlying areas, there is concern that the change of some speed zones will lead to increased driver complacency and expose drivers to increased risk of traffic infringements.

“It is Council’s strong view that all speed zones should be set in response to a particular set of circumstances in locations that are deemed to carry risk,” said Mayor Reneker.

“Recent blanket approaches to speed zones and other traffic control devices at specific types of locations, without full regard to the local context, serves to confuse or entrap motorists and, ironically, drives complacency instead of alertness as drivers find these speed limits nonsensical.

“There is no point to speed limits that don’t support reasonable driving at a safe natural speed under free-flowing conditions that match the surrounding environment,” he said.

In its submission, Council highlighted some local areas of concern such as the imposed speed zone on McKellar Road Leeton in 2021.

The speed zone is set to 60km/hr for 1 km, approximately 500m either side of a railway crossing. Not only is the crossing already made safe by warning signs, flashing lights and boom gates but it is also very close to the T junction with Regulator Road meaning traffic turning onto McKellar Riad from Regulator Road drives more slowly naturally, ahead of the crossing being reached.

“The extension of the 60 km speed zone from the T-junction down Regulator Road serves no road safety purpose and seems extremely unwarranted,” said Mayor Reneker.

Council has put forward a recommendation in its submission that all speed zone consultation formally takes place via Local Area Traffic Committees and Council so that full regard is given to local knowledge of the safety conditions and risk levels.