12 November 2020

Probing the polls: footy teams and speeding safety

| Genevieve Jacobs
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Speed limits

Kill the speed? Government considers reducing speed limits in residential areas. Photo: File.

In this topsy turvy football season, State of Origin has come later than usual, and ends next week, bizarrely close to Christmas. While passions always run high, playing the first match in Adelaide was disorienting, although matters have returned to normal following the Blues’ 34-10 victory at Olympic Stadium.

The Maroons held a 1-0 series lead heading into the game, thanks to Queensland’s 18-14 win in the opener. In both matches, Raiders players Josh Papalii and Jack Wighton have been influential, the former now boasting a mullet of spectacular proportions.

We asked: Are you Maroon or Blue when the great Rugby League contest takes place? While there are quite a few Maroons in town, it seems that most of us are still Blues supporters at heart.

A total of 688 people voted. Your options were to vote Maroon through and through. You’re always a Queenslander. This received a surprisingly solid 38 per cent of the total, or 262 votes. Alternatively, you could vote We bleed Blue around here, thanks. This received 62 per cent of the total, or 426 votes.

READ ALSO “Baffling and reckless” speeding offences in 2020 already eclipse 2019 total

This week, we’re talking about speeding after ACT police expressed their surprise and disappointment with the number of speeding fines issues over the past 12 months. ACT Policing has reported that they have already issued 4093 traffic infringement notices for speeding in the year to 31 October, eclipsing the 4056 traffic infringement notices issued in all of 2019.

That’s led to pleas from police for some drivers to have a good hard look at themselves and the ‘Who are you rushing to meet?’ road safety campaign.

The ACT Government also has a tender out for a consultant to identify which roads in the ACT would benefit from a reduction in speeding from a road safety perspective. This would entail several of the Territory’s 100 km/h roads reducing to 80km/h, and some 80km/h roads becoming 70 km/h roads.

But is reducing speed always the answer?

READ ALSO Is it time to rethink Canberra’s roads?

We argued the point several months ago, asking whether Canberra’s roads were designed for ease of movement.

Mark Boast wrote: “More cars, more roads, get rid of buildings, get people out of the way, more roads, more cars … Yes, my watch says it’s 2020. Year of weirdness apparently.”

Finally Relented wrote: “Agree about stupid speed humps everywhere … Years ago we trialled 20 km/h, 30 and 40 km/h around schools and it was deemed 20 and 30 ks was too slow. Don’t we have safer cars etc now? Nanny state it feels like. This is why people can’t make [good] decisions for themselves.”

This week we’re asking:

Do speed limits create safer roads?

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