NT to kill open speed limits after Labor win

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Open speed limits were abolished in 2006, but a 200km section north of Alice Springs was derestricted in 2014.
Tim Robson
Contributing Journalist
31 Aug 2016
3 min read

One of the world's only stretches of unlimited speed highways to be abolished in political tit-for-tat.

A landslide victory to the Northern Territory Labor government in the recent state elections will see the abolishment of open speed limits on the Stuart Highway, despite evidence suggesting that less drivers were killed while limits were not restricted.

Labor, led by chief minister Michael Gunner, had been outspoken about banishing the derestricted zones that it outlawed in its previous term in office.

Open speed limits were abolished in 2006, but a 200km section north of Alice Springs was derestricted in 2014 by the incoming Country Liberal Party under chief minister Adam Giles, after it was found that more people died between 2006 and 2012 (307) when compared to the previous six years (292).

Additional sections of the highway have been upgraded at a cost of $3 million and the limits removed, with plans in place to upgrade and derestrict 1,100km of highway from Darwin to Katherine.

According to Liberal government research, no fatalities have been recorded over 11 crashes since the derestricted trial began in February 2014. The party was removed after just one term in office.

The move means that a handful of sections of Germany's autobahn network are now the only roads in the world where speed limits will not apply.

A spokesman for the Labor Party has told MOTOR magazine that the limit would be reduced to 130km/h "imminently", and that the party did not agree that open speed limits meant a lower road toll.

Research during the open limit trial suggested that the majority of drivers travelled at an average of approximately 140km/h.

The move means that a handful of sections of Germany's autobahn network are now the only roads in the world where speed limits will not apply.

Motorways in certain European countries including Austria, Bosnia, the Czech Republic and Denmark have 130km/h limits, while one section of road in Texas has a limit of 85mile per hour (137km/h).

The incoming Northern Territory Labor government does, however, have some petrol in its veins; it's set to invest more than $15 million in motorsport in the next four years, including more than $7 million of upgrades to the Hidden Valley race track and drag strip complex - which hosts a Supercars Championship round each year - and $500,000 to the Finke Desert Race.

Do you believe the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory should be derestricted, or limited to 130km/h? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Tim Robson
Contributing Journalist
Tim Robson has been involved in automotive journalism for almost two decades, after cutting his teeth on alternative forms of wheeled transport.Ā  Studiously avoiding tertiary education while writing about mountain bikes in the 1990s, Tim started with Motor magazine in 2001, moving on to edit Auto Action and Motor before joining Top Gear Australia in 2010. Tim formed his own company, 032Media, in 2014, building up a freelance business that supplies leading news outlets like CarsGuide and GoAuto, as well as Evo Australia, Motor, 4x4 Australia and The Robb Report. He's also a skilled photographer, practicing videographer, presenter and editor. He’s also recently returned to his roots, currently editing Australia's oldest and most prestigious mountain bike magazine, Mountain Biking Australia. Tim lives in Wollongong, NSW, and is married with three double-digit age kids… two of who are learning to drive. One’s already learned to race, with 16-year-old Max helping Tim to build and run his only car – a track-registered Honda Civic EG. You can check out Tim’s bike collection, race car failings and more on his Insta feed or Facebook.
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