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Speed change scepticism
Andamooka resident Katalin Wilby does not support the speed limit reduction to 100 kilometres per hour on the road between Andamooka and Roxby Downs.
IN THIS
EDITION
Volume 14, Wednesday, September 20, 2017 WRITTEN BY AMANDA ASTRI
A
South Australian Government plan to lower the speed limit on the Andamooka Road has been met with local scepticism.
The D epar tment of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) announced last week that it would reduce the limits on eight of the State’s regional roads from 110 kilometres per hour to 100 kilometres per hour by the end of 2017. In a statement to The Monitor, a DPTI spokesperson said safety was the major factor in dropping the speed limits. “A key strategy in South Australia’s Road Safety Strategy 2020 Towards Zero Together is targeted speed limit reductions for roads based on crash rates and road type,” the spokesperson said. “Over the past few years the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has undertaken a review into rural speed limits, involving extensive consultation with local councils and stakeholders right across the State. “Rather than taking a blanket approach to reducing rural speed limits across the State as initially proposed, speed reductions were determined on those roads with the worst crash history (excluding major traffic and freight routes).” The spokesperson said there had been an “alarming spike” in road deaths in recent months, “and lowering speed limits is just one of a number of strategies aimed at reducing deaths and injuries on our roads”. Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey criticised the government’s decision. “This seems to be a unilateral decision taken with little or no consultation with the people who live in regional SA,” he said. “I am unconvinced by the logic behind this decision. “I have looked at the casualty figures on those affected roads since and have yet to identify any benefits. “However there is certainly a detrimental effect, it takes longer to get every-
where and there have been numerous people complain to me about lower speeds causing concentration to lapse.”
• Rowan Ramsey
Andamooka resident Katalin Wilby uses Andamooka Road “seven days a week” and is also unhappy about the planned speed limit change. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, and I don’t think it will make any changes to fatalities in our area,” she said. “I think if anything, it is an opportunity for revenue raising. “Who is making these decisions? Obviously not people who are driving on these roads.” Mrs Wilby has lived in Andamooka her whole life and has never felt unsafe driving at 110km/hr along Andamooka Road. “I’ve never hit an animal on that road, and I’ve never had any incidents,” she said. “In the last five years, I could probably count on my hand how many callouts there have been there. “There might be a few misdemeanours on the road, but nothing major.” The Roxby Roadsafe Forum was also surprised to hear of the speed limit change. “Roxby Roadsafe members were surprised that the Andamooka Road had been identified as a crash and accident hot spot where speed has been a contributing factor,” chairperson Michelle Hales said. “There are a number of other variables that might contribute to a crash along that stretch of road including wildlife and fatigue. Our members cannot recall any serious incidents occurring in recent years.”
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