Spotlight on Sydneys speed zones

An NRMA Motoring & Services audit of a number of major roads across Sydney has revealed inconsistent and inappropriate speed zones.
NRMA Public Policy Manager, Mr Alan Finlay, said the audit of
four major routes (Metroads) in Sydney uncovered speed zones that
are inconsistent with similar sections of road or simply do not
comply with RTA guidelines or the Australian Standard.
"The audit revealed that on average, over 50 per cent of
these roads either had inconsistent speed limits or did not comply
with the appropriate guidelines," Mr Finlay said.
Mr Finlay said NRMA conducted the audit following concerns
expressed by our members about confusing speed zones.
"It appears the inconsistent applications of speed limits on
our roads occurs because the current RTA guidelines do not provide
sufficient guidance on appropriate speed limits particularly for
undivided urban roads," Mr Finlay said.
"Some areas are particularly confusing especially with the
recent introduction of the 50km/h general urban speed limit. There
is also poor guidance for shopping streets with high levels of
pedestrian activity."
Mr Finlay said that in some cases where there were
inconsistent speed zones, NRMA had suggested an increase in speed
limits to keep traffic flowing along these Metroads. In other
cases, NRMA had recommended decreased speed limits, based on safety
needs.
NRMA has shared the audit results and is in discussion with
the RTA about how to address the anomalies the audit revealed.
"NRMA is calling on the RTA to update their guidelines on
speed zoning to reflect changes, such as the 50km/h urban speed
limit implementation, in consultation with key stakeholders and the
NRMA," Mr Finlay said.
"Other calls to the RTA include a review of all speed limits
across NSW after the guidelines had been updated, as well as
explanatory signs on speed zones that have an unusually low speed,
based on crash history, for example."
More information and analysis is available in the latest
The Open Roadarticle "Signs of the Times", May-June 2004
edition on pages 16-19.
The four Metroads audited include:
Macquarie Street, Windsor to the Sydney Harbour Bridge (Metroad
2)Pittwater Road, Mona Vale to Princes Highway, Blakehurst
(Metroad 3)Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford to Princes Highway, Engadine
(Metroad 6)George Street, Windsor to Hume Highway, Campbelltown (Metroad
9)Examples of inconsistencies of speed zoning across the four
Metroads include:Metroad 2-a 100km/h limit applying to a 4 lane divided road with a
central crash barrier on the M2 Motorway, east of Windsor Road
compared to a 90km/h speed limit applied to the same road
conditions on the M2 Motorway, west of Windsor Road - both should
be 100km/h.*-a 60km/h limit applying to a six lane divided road on Old
Windsor Road, Seven Hills compared to a 80km/h limit applied to a
six lane divided road on Windsor Road, Bella Vista.#*Metroad 3-a 70km/h limit applying to a 6 lane divided road with central
crash barrier at Mona Vale Road, Pymble compared to the same speed
limit being applied to a 4 lane, undivided road on King Georges
Road, Penshurst.*-a 70km/h limit applying to a 4 lane freeway-standard divided
road at Homebush Bay Drive, Homebush Bay compared to a 70km/h speed
limit applied to a 4 lane, undivided road on King Georges Road,
Beverly Hills.*Metroad 6-a 60km/h limit applying to a 6 lane divided road with central
median at St Hilliers Road, Auburn compared to 70km/h speed limit
being applied to the same conditions at Silverwater Road,
Silverwater - both should be 70km/h.*-a 60km/h limit applying to a 6 lane divided road at Rookwood
Road, Lidcombe compared to 70km/h speed limit applied to a 4 lane
divided road at Davies Road, Padstow.*Metroad 9-60km/h zone applied to a road with wide lanes, shoulders and
overtaking lanes on Northern Road, Narellan, compared to 80km/h
zone applied to a 2 narrow lane road with no shoulders at Northern
Road, Badgerys Creek.*-a 70km/h zone applied to 4 lane divided road with wide lanes
and good shoulders on Northern Road, Glenmore Park compared to a
60km/h zone applied to the same conditions at Northern Road,
Kingswood.*# The RTA have advised that this will be altered to a
consistent 80km/h zone throughout.
* JPEG versions of these roads are available on request.