A new proposal could see unmarked country road speeds limited to 80 kilometres an hour, following analysis calling for a change to the Australian road rules .

Released as part of a federal government consultation paper, the increased road toll since 2020 and significantly higher rates of death and injury on country roads were cited as key reasons why open road default speed limits should be reduced.

On a 30-minute drive, the difference on an 80km/h road could be one extra song on the road trip, but for rural residents clocking up the kilometres with multi-hour trips to work, school and family visits, the numbers add up quickly.

Dr Amy Kelly became an accidental case study in speed reduction when 40km of the state-managed Rugby Road was reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h in August.

Dr Kel

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