Australia’s speed limits haven’t kept pace with the dramatic improvements in vehicle safety technology over the past two decades. It’s time for a genuine conversation about whether our current approach is still fit for purpose.

Modern cars with autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control are fundamentally different from the vehicles our speed limits were designed around. A 2026 model year car stopping from 110km/h has a shorter stopping distance than a 2005 car braking from 90km/h.

This isn’t an argument for unlimited speed limits. It’s an argument for evidence-based limits that reflect current vehicle technology, road conditions, and design. Variable speed limits, already common in Europe, adjust automatically based on weather, traffic, and time of day.

The Northern Territory’s experiment with open speed limits on designated highways showed that fatality rates didn’t increase when limits were raised. What did increase was driver attention and respect for the posted limits.