B. Solomon's letter (26/9/98) displayed the typical superstitious fears that hinder objective discussion about raising of speed limits.

To argue against increasing freeway speed limits, reference was made to a TV ad. The ad which shows a lady with a pram being hit by a car claims that 10kph makes all the difference.

People like B. Solomon need to realize that emotion inspiring scenes are used in the TV ads to blunt people's reason. This stops them from noticing illogical arguments.

Another fear referred to, namely that raising the limit will result in an equivalent increase in vehicle speeds, derives from a myth that motorists always push speed limits. This attempts to divert attention away from incorrectly set limits.

In real life raising speed limits doesn't result in an equal rise in driving speed. Consider that the operating speed of motorists on Benara Road, was 87.5kph when the speed limit was 60kph. When the speed limit was raised to 80kph the operating speed dropped to 82kph.

Speed limits should be set at the speed which minimises accident risk. Incorrect limits shouldn't be set in stone because of unfounded fears.

Michael Bates
president
National Motorists Association Australia.