24 October 2006
THE rate of road deaths in the Northern Territory is three times higher than anywhere else in Australia, according to a safety report that recommends introducing 110km/h speed limits in the state.
The NT has no speed limits on open roads and no demerit points, introduced in most states in 1969.
This had led to fatalities, drink-driving and people running red lights, the NT Road Safety Taskforce report found.
Launching the report in Darwin today, Chief Minister Clare Martin said its findings were "appalling and shocking".
"We as territorians drink and drive, travel very fast, we take risks when we travel and we run red lights," she said.
The NT has a road death toll three times the national average with one person killed and nine seriously injured every week.
One in every 42 NT drivers is over the legal alcohol limit, compared to one in every 314 in Victoria, according to the report.
Despite community opposition to the introduction of speed limits and demerit points, Ms Martin said she was prepared to make "tough decisions" and flagged implementing at least some of the report's 21 recommendations.
"We can't turn out back on the recommendations in this report," Ms Martin said.
"We do need to change the rules, we need to change the culture of that way territorians get in our cars and go on the roads."
To curb the fatality rate, the report recommends a 110km/h default speed limit be imposed on open roads.
It also recommends introducing a limited demerit points system with double fines for speeding and jumping red lights.
Cabinet would consider the recommendations over the next few weeks, Ms Martin said.