Page 3055 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 August 2013
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Turning now to the issue of the review of speed limits that Mr Coe raised—and Roads ACT has existing processes for the ongoing review of ACT speed limits—one of the matters flagged in my amendment is the fact that Roads ACT recently undertook a comprehensive review of speed limits and speed signs on arterial roads in Canberra and has implemented recommendations from this review. In the majority of cases, the current speed limits were found to correctly reflect the surrounding environment. It involved updating speed limit signage at 164 locations, and three speed limit changes were made to three off-ramps at Gungahlin Drive. The result is a more consistent and legible road network.
In view of the existing processes which are in place, I see no reason for an additional review of speed limits, particularly as the 50 kilometres an hour unless signposted otherwise rule applies in residential areas. Residential areas all have a 50 kilometres an hour default. The 50 kilometres an hour default speed limit formally commenced in the ACT in June 2003. And this followed a trial for all local and collector streets in the ACT, which was introduced in March 2001 as a two-year trial. The 50 kilometres an hour default speed limit applies Canberra wide and is supported by the overall signage approach of 50 kilometres an hour unless otherwise signposted.
This means that unless travelling on a road signposted at 60 kilometres an hour or higher, motorists should not exceed 50 kilometres an hour. If travelling on a 60 kilometres an hour road, the lower limit applies as soon as motorists turn off that road onto any road without a speed sign. Roads ACT will continue to keep speed limits under review as the city grows and TAMS will of course respond to community feedback on these matters if and as they arise. This is reflected in my amendments to the motion.
Mr Coe’s motion also refers to Spofforth Street, and he spent some time on it in his speech. It calls for the removal of all of the speed cushions there. As I have already explained in the Assembly, the government has already announced changes to the Spofforth Street traffic calming arrangements. This involves removing a number of the speed cushions and installing chicanes to help manage speed. This was decided following extensive consultation with the community.
As I have said a number of times before, traffic calming measures can be controversial but often they are needed for the safety and amenity of the community. Spofforth Street had a significant problem with speeding vehicles and volume of vehicles and it needed to be addressed. The initial investigation showed that 85 per cent of surveyed motorists travelled at or below 76 kilometres an hour in a 50 kilometres an hour speed zone.
As I mentioned in the Assembly yesterday, what this indicates is at least 15 per cent of vehicles were travelling more than 26 kilometres an hour above the speed limit. And given there are houses on that street—and any other resident in Canberra would not stand for that—I think that that is something that needs to be remembered in the discussion. Clearly changes needed to be made. The original design of Spofforth Street did not get it right but I think now we have found an appropriate balance between safety for the residents and convenience for those who do use—
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