Queenslanders are getting behind a push to speed up their lives – on the roads, that is.

The State Government is now considering lifting maximum speed limits by as much as 10 kilometres an hour on major roads if they meet safety criteria.

Kate Fallis reports.

TRANSCRIPT

A review into speed limits attracted over 3,000 submissions from motorists.

The majority want to lift speed limits to 120 kilometres an hour, while only 32 per cent of people want to see them reduced.

Greg Miszkowycz, RACQ: “Speed limits are done all the time by road authorities, but this is the first time the public has been asked to put in their submission of roads they feel the limit could be increased or decreased.”

But the government won’t be acting too quickly.

It will wait for the result of a six month review involving road safety engineers.

As well as speed limits, the review will focus on the need for more frequent and consistent signage.

Scott Emerson, Qld Transport Minister: “As the Minister travelling around, really that has been the one thing that many communities have been talking to me about. About an inconsistency on roads. Too many changes too quickly with no real meaningful reason for them.”

The RACQ says there needs to be a focus on overall safety.

Greg Miszkowycz , RACQ: “You have to balance considerations of improving travel times with the amount of congestion on the roads and the affect higher speed limits have on increasing the frequency and severity of any crashes that happen.”

While there’s been mixed opinions on whether speed limits should be increased or decreased, the government maintains that safety, rather than popular demand, will always be the first priority.

Bobbie Henry is someone who knows the life changing impacts of speeding first hand, after losing her daughter in a car accident.

She heads the lobby group Citizens Against Road Slaughter and has one simple message.

Bobbie Henry, CARS: “Speeding happens, and it does kill. So just think twice before you go lofting around our suburban streets. There could be a child on the street and it could be your child.”

The speed limit review is one of the sixty initiatives of the Newman Government’s Road Safety Action Plan.

Motorists could see any proposed changes by early 2014.

Kate Fallis, QUT News.