News - Transport

Have you noticed that speed limit signs seem few and far between in Canberra?

Before Christmas, ACT Transport Minister John Hargreaves announced a $1 million advertising campaign for road safety. We wrote to the Minister suggesting that there was a simpler and cheaper way to address road safety by reducing the amount of accidental speeding, and incidentally reducing the amount people getting booked - more speed signs.

The response was from Andrew Barr standing in for Mr Hargreaves during leave. They have undertaken to correct a number of problem spots straight away, and to assess the visibility and location of speed signs throughout the ACT.

The correspondence follows:-

______________________________________________
From: Alan Kerlin
To: John Hargreaves
Subject: [ACT GOV MEDIA RELEASE]: $1 million road safety advertising campaign

Hello Minister,
 
We note this recent media release about road safety. We would like you to consider another way you could address road safety that won't cost anything like that much money - put in more speed advisory signs.
 
There seems to be a dearth of speed signs throughout Canberra. And those that are there are often inappropriately placed - like right near major merges where you are busy - merging...
 
You often find yourself driving on roads that 'feel' like 100kph roads only to find out 5 kilometres down the road that it is only 80.
 
Some examples - you come out of Woden onto the parkway heading north - the first sign you see is just moments before the speed camera way down the road; Monaro Highway from Piallago past Fyshwick, the Gungahlin Drive - it's great how you can come out of Wells Station Drive onto that divided 4-lane road and not see a single speed sign until just metres before where the mobile speed camera parks! And so on - all over Canberra - it really only caters for locals in the know.
 
Please consider bunging in another 1000 speed signs on key roads everywhere, and particularly a little way along after intersections.

______________________________________________
From: Andrew Barr MLA

Dear Alan

I refer to your email of 4 December 2007 to Mr John Hargreaves regarding speed limit signs in the ACT. I am responding on behalf of Mr Hargreaves while he is on leave.

I am advised by officers of Roads ACT that they have checked the locations you have mentioned in your letter. A number of speed limit signs are erected on the Monaro Highway just past Fyshwick. The first sign is located on the right-hand side of the road immediately after the entry ramp from Canberra Avenue. Two more sets of signs are also located before the entry ramp from Hindmarsh Drive. Similarly, a speed limit sign is located on the entry ramp for traffic travelling northbound from Hindmarsh Drive onto the Tuggeranong Parkway. However, there are no signs to indicate the speed limit on Gungahlin Drive for traffic turning left from Wells Station Drive.

Roads ACT will therefore erect a speed limit sign at this location as soon as possible.
In addition, Roads ACT has also undertaken to assess speed limit signs in the ACT, with respect to their location, visibility and size and to recommend measures for improvement. Depending on the outcome of this study any recommendations will be progressively implemented as part of Territory and Municipal Services' future works program.

Thank you for raising these matters with the ACT Government. I trust that this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely
Andrew Barr MLA
Acting Minister for Territory and Municipal Services

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