Lower speed limit plan to tackle alarming death toll on unsigned rural roads

The federal government is seeking public feedback on a proposal to reduce the default speed limit of 100 kilometres an hour on unsigned roads outside of built-up areas.

It has suggested a range of speed limits between 90kph and 70kph, depending on the road, as a way of reducing the number of deaths on the road under the National Road Safety Action Plan 2023-25.

The government said that in most cases it would not include freeways and main roads because they had clear speed limit signage.

It said many of the unsigned roads in regional or remote areas were unsealed or in poor condition and may not be safe enough to drive at the default 100kph.

In 2023, Australia had 860,000 kilometres of unsealed roads, making up approximately 66 per cent of the road network, according to the federal gove