Police reject Top Gear’s call for new speed limits
Authorities brand Top Gear Australia's call to lift speed limits to 130kph as irresponsible, ridiculous and offensive.
- Published by David Knox
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Following TV Tonight‘s story yesterday on Top Gear Australia hosts calling for interstate freeway speed limits to be increased, Victoria Police and the TAC have now weighed into the argument.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the comments were irresponsible considering around 100 people die each year on Victorian roads due to speeding.
TAC chief executive Janet Dore criticised hosts Shane Jacobson, Ewen Page and Steve Pizzati when she spoke to the Herald Sun.
“The comments made are absolutely ridiculous and offensive to anyone who may have lost a loved one in a crash involving speed or fatigue,” she said.
“Speed limits are in place for a reason and if you choose to drive above them you are placing yourself, your mates, and other road users in potentially deadly situations.”
VicRoads advised fatigue was best avoided with planning and scheduling rest breaks.
The episode in which the hosts argue the case for lifting the limits airs at 8:30pm tonight on Nine.
36 Responses
Typical narrow minded response from the Police, stupid driving and drink driving, inattention to the road , these are the real reasons for most fatalities, not speeding alone, valid argument the show brought up, so childish that the authorities cant have debate in a normal manner or listen to any research that does not suit their own greedy agenda!!
Increasing speed limits would increase the rate of fuel consumption.
So this “idea” from Top Gear is bad for the environment, the economy and people’s wallets too I imagine.
Yep they’re trying to cultivate a ‘debate’ in order to boost flagging ratings. The cops are quite reasoned in their response (but that Herald Sun piece is a beatup of its own too….)
I know they only did this for publicity. However, it is a valid argument.
The traffic laws in this country are ridiculous. We have to do 40k’s for roadworks happening 50 metres away on a side road. We have traffic lights with red arrows, even though you can see up to half a kilometre ahead of you without a car coming. We have every road reducing speed limits. When I first started going to university it took me under 40 minutes to drive there. Now the trip is over an hour long, just because they reduce every speed limit on the way. Absolute crap
Why not make it 150kph or even 200kph,
oh that’s right our roads are crap.
The speed limit is already 110 right? If you crash at 110 you’re pretty screwed anyway, whats the increase in fatalities from 110 to 130?
Increasing the speed limit would decrease travel times and driver fatigue. It’s an incrrdibly logical suggestion.
Better driver training is needed, Australian drivers are shocking. And for the record, extra training does not mean extra practise hours. I mean actual training.
The ridiculous and offensive comments are from Vic Police. Their response is incredibly single minded and shows a complete lack of ability to listen to sectors of the community who are trying to improve safety on our roads.
Driving on Italian autostradas last year where the limit is 130KPH the big difference was not the roads but the behaviour of the drivers. Cars were doing way over 130KPH in the Overaking lane, and cars overtook then moved right back to the right hand lane. The majority of people in Australia do not know how to drive.Our new multi lane freeways and highways are the equal of the autostradas, and could handle a higher speed limit. Afraid most drivers couldnt.
@ Someone, the police may not make the laws or be experts on safe driving, but they are the ones that see the gruesome result of fatal accidents, many of which are caused by speed, so I think the police have every right to comment on the subject of speed limits.
wake up pple debate is a good thing police should snap out of it next they will want to stop ppl driving in the rain sydney roads have to many speed variations and well dont start me on school zones perhaps if teachers and parents taught there children to look to the left and look to the right things wouldn’t happen its always the poor driver who cops it its about time pedestrians and bloody pushbike riders were fined and given demerit points for the stupid and ludicreous things they do and on the pacific hwy by the time they have finished the dual carriage way from syd to brisbane they will have to widen it again another thing john howard stuffed up with all his bickering over wether or not its state or federal owned if it circle australia its federal no two ways bout it!
@Someone – I think the Police have a right to say their piece, even if IMO it was one sided. They are their each time some idiot runs off the road to clean up the mess.
@Pantaloons – ITA about the changing speed limits.
I agree the local one is a poor imitation of the UK original, I still like the US one better (that ours) so I don’t think the long break has helped the guys. My bet is 600-800k, sorry guys but I’ll be surprised if it gets much more.
How ridiculous! A crass marketing stunt by Channel 9. To compare the German Autobahn with the goat tracks we have is ridiculous. The German Autobahn consists of some of the best quality, straightest roads and has its own emergency services. Mile for mile it is easily the most expensive road network to maintain in the world. Personally, I own an XR6, a powerful car that has all the safety features, and I would be the first to say that that our speed limits do not need raised. At certain speeds, it doesn’t matter what you are driving. If you have an accident at high enough speeds, it all just ends up as twisted sheet metal.
this is the only version of top gear I will watch.can’t stand the one with clarkson,james may and richard hammond .Those three were half the reason why I switched for six months over to 7’s Winners and Losers of which season 1 finished last week so this will make for a good alternative till the next season of the home grown drama comes along.