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Centre for Road Safety

  1. NSW Centre for Road Safety
  2. Driving too fast
  3. Speed zones and advisory speed signs

Speed zones and advisory speed signs

Slowing down saves lives

In a crash, the faster the collision speed the higher the risk of fatality.

Driving too fast contributes to about 40 per cent of NSW road fatalities each year. International and Australian research shows that even small reductions in vehicle speed can reduce the number of deaths and the severity of injuries caused by crashes. A small decrease in vehicle speed can make a big difference to your chances of survival.

If a car hits a pedestrian at 50 km/h the pedestrian is twice as likely to die than if the driver had been travelling at 40 km/h. For every extra kilometre per hour of speed:

  • The stopping distance increases
  • The time to react and avoid a crash decreases
  • The impact of a crash is more severe on the vehicle, driver, passengers and pedestrians
  • There is more likelihood of serious injury or death

To help reduce the road toll, we develop strategies to set safe speed zones.

On the Safer Roads NSW website, you can sign up for regular email updates on speed zone changes in your area.

Advisory speed signs

Advisory speed signs are not legal speed limits but are used to inform and warn motorists of upcoming changes in road alignment such as curves, bends, humps and dips and guide driver behaviour. The signs indicate a recommended maximum speed in good driving conditions for the average car to help motorists safely negotiate these road features.