Speed
The faster you drive the longer it takes your vehicle to stop. In any crash, speed affects the likelihood of a crash and the level of injury. A small reduction in speed increases the likelihood of surviving a crash, especially for pedestrians or cyclists.
Speeding reduces your reaction time to emergencies on the road, such as animals or children running onto the road, and requires a greater distance to stop.
In a 60km/h zone, you’re twice as likely to have a serious crash travelling 65km/h, four times more likely travelling 70km/h and a significant 32 times more likely to crash when travelling 80km/h.
Approximately 80% of speed related deaths involve males.
To find out more about speed limits visit the Northern Territory Government website.
Current initiatives
- school and community education programs
- NT Motor Accidents Compensation Commission
- periodic reviews of speed zones on the NT road network. For more information on speed limits please visit the speed limits section on the Northern Territory Government website
- safe driving awareness campaigns, promotion of safe driving practices, and sharing the road safely with heavy vehicles
- speeding, mobile phone and road rule enforcement campaigns
- speed and red light cameras at high risk intersections. For more information on speed cameras please visit the speed cameras section on the Northern Territory Government website
- enforcement through use of mobile speed and Automated Number Plate Recognition cameras on Police patrol cars.
- MACC Speeding. There’s no future in it community awareness campaign
For more information on penalties for exceeding the speed limit visit the Northern Territory Government website.
What you can do
- always drive at or below the speed limit and at a speed that suits the road and the current weather conditions
- if you are not familiar with the vehicle you are driving, you should consider driving at a slower speed to enable you to stop safely for any hazards you may encounter on the road
- slow down around school zones.
Relevant Towards Zero Road Safety Action Plan 2018-2022 actions
| Actions | Year | Lead | Support | Safe System | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Develop a repeat offender penalty regime for consideration by Government. The regime may include clamping/seizure and/or other penalties for repeat drink/drug drivers, seatbelt offences, speeding, mobile phone offences, driving unregistered/unlicensed and a review of the Alcohol Ignition Lock program. Impacts on remote communities to be considered. | 1 | DIPL |
POLICE/ AGD/DCM ABORIGINAL POLICY |
Safe road use Safe speeds Safe vehicles |
| 1.2 | Increase dedicated Police traffic enforcement activities, to support priority areas. | 1-2 | Police | DIPL |
Safe people Safe speeds Safe vehicles |
| 4.2 | Review the coverage of red light/speed cameras; identify and increase the use of technological solutions, including ANPR, to support increased enforcement of traffic offences. | 1-2 | DIPL | Police |
Safe roads and roadsides Safe speeds |
| 4.3 | Deliver a speed and driving to conditions awareness campaign which aligns with Police enforcement. | 1-2 | MACC | DIPL/Police |
Safe road use Safe speeds |
| 4.5 | Develop a consistent speed limit policy across the Northern Territory for consideration by Government, including high speed traffic intersections, high pedestrian areas, and local government roads. | 2-3 | DIPL | Police |
Safe roads and roadsides Safe speeds |
| 4.6 | Implement new speed enforcement technology including point to point and mobile infringement units. | 3-5 | DIPL | Police |
Safe road use Safe roads and roadsides Safe speeds |
Resources
- NT MACC Speeding. There's no future in it campaign
- NT MACC Fast Facts campaign
Related links
- Transport Accident Commission Victoria - Rethink Speed
- Transport for New South Wales - Don't rush
- Road Safety Commission Western Australia - Speeding
- Road Safety Advisory Council Tasmania - Speeding shatters lives
- Department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland - Let's change the way we look at speed
- Motor Accident Commission South Australia - Hairy fairy
- Australian Federal Police Australian Capital Territory - Speeding