Submissions

Advocacy success: Government abandons push to lower country speed limits

A quietly posted “Communique for Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting” confirmed a win for common sense – and the value of advocacy from WAFarmers and the other individuals and groups that made a submission opposing the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts’ proposal to reduce open road default speed limits. The very last item on the 8 issue meeting report simply said: National Road Safety Strategy – Default Speed Limits

Darren Brown November 25, 2025

WAFarmers-against-lowering-default-speed-limits

Submissions

Submission to the Regulatory Impact Analysis to reduce the open road default speed limit

WAFarmers is against lowering default speed limits outside built-up areas 1. The core problem is not the default limit but driver behaviour and road maintenance While road safety is a shared national priority, the assumption that lower default speed limits will materially reduce fatalities oversimplifies a complex issue. Driver error, fatigue, distraction, alcohol, and inattention are leading causes of rural road crashes — not simply “speed.” Many regional and remote roads are in poor condition

Darren Brown November 10, 2025