Balance between harm reduction and mobility in setting speed limits (Austroads Speed Limits Stage 2)

A new approach to improving travel safety on our roads is to re-examine traditional speed limit setting criteria with a view towards a greater emphasis on safety criteria. This approach was targeted in a Stage 1, feasibility study, which entailed both a review of traditional speed limit setting criteria and an exploration of the issues associated with adopting a minimal harm approach in setting speed limits.
Stage 2 of the project aims to further develop the harm-reduction speed limit model and to rn field trials in at least one jurisdriction to evaluate real-world issues associated with this approach. Field trial results will be analysed to measure possible shifts in travel speed distributions, leading to estimates of crash and travel time changes.