A Speed Management Strategy is a framework that sets out actions designed to achieve safe and appropriate vehicle speeds on a road network.

Safe and appropriate vehicle speeds help reduce the number of people seriously injured and killed in road crashes.

The Tasmanian Government has tasked the Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC) with developing a Speed Management Strategy. The Strategy is a commitment under the Towards Zero Action Plan 2020-2024.

Speed is a leading cause of people being seriously injured or killed in road crashes. It is the key determining factor in how severe the outcomes are for people involved in a crash.

The evidence is clear that if we can support safe and appropriate vehicle speeds on the road network, we can reduce the number of people who are seriously injured or killed. A Speed Management Strategy can help guide effective action to improve road safety in Tasmania.

A draft Speed Management Strategy approach has been developed with the help of road safety experts, road managers and regulators. It is being led the Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC).

The RSAC is now leading a public consultation to hear the views of the community and stakeholders on this draft approach. These views will help inform the development of the Strategy.

A Consultation Paper has been developed to provide information on the role of vehicle speed in road safety, best practice speed management and the proposed Speed Management Strategy approach.

This consultation is open to all, and we encourage you to read the consultation documents and answer the questions that are included in the Consultation Paper.

The Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC) was established in October 2010 and makes recommendations to government about road safety policy, community, school-based and public education programs, expenditure of the road safety levy and advertising campaigns.

The Tasmanian Government has tasked the RSAC with developing a Speed Management Strategy.

Speed management refers to a range of techniques and tools that are designed to achieve safe vehicle speeds across our road network.

Effective speed management usually involves a combination of safe and appropriate speed limits, road infrastructure that supports these limits, speed limit enforcement, education and community engagement, and vehicle technologies.

No. Changes to the legislated, default speed limits in Tasmania are not within the scope of this Strategy.

There are currently three legislated default speed limits in Tasmania:

• 50km/h in built-up urban areas
• 80km/h on unsealed rural roads
• 100km/h for sealed roads outside built-up areas

Posted speed limits are determined by the Commissioner for Transport when the default speed limit is considered to be inappropriate.

No. The goal is to have safe and appropriate vehicle speeds on the Tasmanian road network.

While lowering speed limits is an important option, it is not the only way to support safer speeds on our roads. We can maintain and even increase speed limits if the infrastructure is safe and vulnerable road users are not at risk.

The Speed Management Strategy will be a holistic approach that includes best practice actions, such as safe infrastructure, community education, vehicle technology, enforcement and safe speed limits to improve road safety in Tasmania.