State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the Minister for Roads to release the data and reports used by the Roads and Maritime Services to reduce the speed limit along Thomas Street, Newcastle Road and Griffiths Road.
The speed limit will be reduced from 70km/h to 60km/h from Sunday but, as yet, no information has been provided to Ms Hornery by the RMS or the Minister.
Ms Hornery has put a Question on the Notice paper asking the Minister to release the data.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“The safety of motorists and pedestrians is very important and from time to time the RMS will conduct speed zone reviews to look at reducing or increasing the speed limits along a particular stretch of road.”
“This section of road is heavily congested in peak hour times and motorists are unable to reach 50km/h most of the time. I travel the road numerous times a day from home to my office and to attend meetings and I can feel the frustration motorists have with the congestion.”
“I have written to the Minister and the RMS and asked for the information behind this decision as I think it is important to discuss this with the community.”
“The RMS has told me that the road has a high crash history but I want to know if these accidents are low speed crashes and caused by congestion at peak time or are they high speed accidents caused by drivers that don’t obey the speed limit no matter what the signs say.”
“This is important information that I want to be able to discuss with our community to help them understand the rationale behind the decision.”
“A number of people have suggested that this section of road may have been a great local test site for a variable speed limit, similar to ones that operate on the M1 Motorway.”
“The speed limit could be adjusted at peak hours or in rainy conditions if these are the cause of the accidents along the section of road.”