$120 000 lost on first day of speed limit restriction on open road & sales down 20% click here news report
Economic competitiveness will suffer as some businesses will lose face to face contact with their suppliers.
Already, many company sales representatives have stated that they will no longer bother to drive between Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. Supporting regional areas is essential to the ongoing prosperity and economic development of our Territory.
Quote from Charles Tyler Sales Manager of Safety Image (Vic).
"I am a sales representative and consequently travel frequently from Melbourne via Adelaide through to Darwin.
It is hard enough travelling slow and combatting fatigue but now I have to worry about speed limits and passing road trains within those limits, which I might add, is impossible to do safely without the risk of getting a fine.
In future, because of speed limit restrictions I will fly now only to Alice Springs and Darwin to avoid these dangerous restrictions.
As a result, regional towns will now miss out on money that I would have normally spent when going through these towns.
Unfortunately Tennant Creek and Katherine will miss out the most with this stupid law.
Speed laws trouble rural sector
By GREG McLEAN
05jan07
THE rural sector has attacked the NT Government for neglecting the "real problem" on bush roads by lowering the speed limit to 110km/h.
"The association was concerned with the lack of community and business representation within the road safety committee.
"These laws will inhibit regional development and increase the burden of doing business in rural regions of the Territory.
"Territorians are aware of the increasing fatality rate in the NT, but most Territorians are acutely aware that unlicensed drivers, seat belts and drink driving is the major cause of accidents and deaths in the Northern Territory."
Acting Transport Minister Chris Burns said evidence showed that a limit of 110km/h on regional roads saved lives.
"The travelling time difference between 130km/h and 110km/h on the regional roads should not have a significant impact on business," Dr Burns said.
But Elders stock and station agent Russell Simpson rejected the NT Government's argument, saying politicians were out of touch with the rural sector.
"I travel 10,000km a month on rural roads and everyone I speak to agrees it will impact on business," he said.
"As an example, it will take me an extra two-and-a-half hours to drive to Camfield station near Kalkaringi -- it means I'll have to sleep in my car on the side of the road so I don't get fatigued. That means less time with my wife and kids. There should not be a speed limit on the open road. Lets face the facts it is just another tax."
"The Government should be addressing the real issues, like the poor state of rural roads and lack of policing the previous laws."
Further comprehensive studies are being done to measure the true impact of this imposition and the results will be posted here in due coarse