Drive to the conditions
Speed limit signs are everywhere on our roads – bold, clear and seemingly straightforward – but they should be treated more like advertisements with fine print, writes Scott Tilyard, Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Council.
When we see speed limit signs, it’s important to remember they’re not a goal number – they indicate the maximum speed allowed when conditions are good. Good conditions mean relatively straight, dry roads, clear skies, good visibility and few roadside hazards.
Speed continues to be a leading factor in serious and fatal crashes in Tasmania. Speeding isn’t just about exceeding the posted speed limit, it also means driving too fast for the road, weather or traffic conditions. As we know only too well, speed doesn’t need to be over the limit to cause death or serious injury.
‘Excessive speed for conditions’ is a factor in a significant number of fatal and serious injury crashes, accounting for somewhere between 10 and 20 per cent in recent years.
Each year in Tasmania around 30 people are killed on our roads and more than 300 are seriously injured.
As we prepare for the arrival of winter, now is a good time to talk about what it means to drive to the conditions. It’s a term we use often, but not everyone fully understands what it means. And, just to be clear, changing conditions doesn’t just apply to the weather. It also includes changes in the road, such as narrowing, crests and curves, while unexpected hazards like wildlife at dusk and dawn or tractors on rural roads are also part of the equation. In urban settings, high pedestrian activity can also impact driving conditions. Advisory signage indicating changing conditions, such as concealed entrances, sections of winding roads or falling rocks, is there for a reason.
Driving to the conditions means adjusting how you drive to suit the road, weather and traffic conditions around you. This includes:
Slowing down in rain, ice or fog or on gravel roads where traction is reduced.
Increasing your following distance to allow more reaction time, especially in changing road conditions.
Staying alert and ready to adjust your speed when needed.
Taking extra care at dusk and night when visibility is reduced and hazards, including wildlife, are harder to spot.
Observing all road signs, not just signs advising speeds. These signs are there for a reason, warning us about potential hazards, such as sharp bends, slow-moving tractors, concealed driveways or the likelihood of encountering wildlife or cyclists. Ignoring these signs puts everyone at risk.
Driving cautiously in heavy traffic or when sharing the road with vulnerable users such as pedestrians and bike riders where circumstances can change quickly. School zones require special care.
It doesn’t matter how good a driver you think you are or how many years you’ve been driving for, conditions won’t discriminate. Driving to the conditions is about always being alert and aware of everything around you.
The most competent and safest drivers know how to identify hazards, assess the risks and adjust their behaviour accordingly. They also know that no two days are the same, even driving on the same roads.
Next time you’re on the road and spot a speed sign, remember – *conditions apply!