What would it take to get higher speed limits in Australia?

[gossie]

I’ve always found it such a pleasure to drive in Europe at speed.
I just can’t see an increase of speed limits happening in Australia, as many people are dangerous as the limits are.
Lack of proper driving training I believe is the problem in Australia.
Join a car club boys and girls, and take some advice, and enjoy.

 

[Derekthetree]

Lack of proper driving training I believe is the problem in Australia.

I can't comment on the level of training vs other countries, but experience is also a big issue.

A lot of drivers here seem to only have experience of city driving. They can't comprehend going round country road corners at 100kph, or performing an overtake without a dedicated lane.

 

[justcommodores1]

If you look at road death stats overseas your argument is flawed.

Australia: 1,131
France: 3,585
Germany: 3,327
Poland: 3698
Russia: 16,981
Italy: 3,333
UK: 2,206
USA: 45,404
Papua New Guinea: 1,232
Thailand: 22,491
Saudia Arabia: 7,898

..... the list goes on!

Those countries have a higher population
That's why it's better to look at it per 100,000 people

 

[justcommodores1]

I’ve always found it such a pleasure to drive in Europe at speed.
I just can’t see an increase of speed limits happening in Australia, as many people are dangerous as the limits are.
Lack of proper driving training I believe is the problem in Australia.
Join a car club boys and girls, and take some advice, and enjoy.

Am I correct in thinking that most European countries have 130 kmh freeways, and 150-160 kmh is common cruising speed?

 

[figjam]

They can't comprehend going round country road corners at 100kph, or performing an overtake without a dedicated lane.

That is because the younger city dwelling people had a sheltered life, not learning how to judge speed and distance when young, by having stone throwing street 'fights' for childhood fun. .

 

[AirStrike]

Will never happen. It would require better road construction and actual maintenance firstly. Secondly we would need better trained drivers, the current laws are setup to suit the lowest common denominator.

 

[justcommodores1]

Will never happen. It would require better road construction and actual maintenance firstly. Secondly we would need better trained drivers, the current laws are setup to suit the lowest common denominator.

australia required 120 hours to get a licence
higher than anywhere else in the world
australian drivers are among the best in the world

 

[losh1971]

There are parts of the country where you can do 130kph, well I assume those limits are still there? It used to be no limit but they dropped it to 130.

 

[justcommodores1]

There are parts of the country where you can do 130kph, well I assume those limits are still there. It used to be no limit but they dropped it to 130kph.

only on the major highway (stuart highway) in the NT

 

[losh1971]

only on the major highway (stuart highway) in the NT

Yes.