SPEED

Explication

To check speed you take your eyes off the road for about 1 second. Therefore, before looking at the speedometer make sure your car maintains a straight course (never do it in a turn) and the road is sufficiently clear ahead.

Default speed limit

In a built-up area – 50 km/h everywhere except the Northern Territory;

in the Northern Territory – 60 km/h.

Outside built-up areas – 100 km/h everywhere except Western Australia and the Northern Territory;

in Western Australia - 110 km/h;

in the Northern Territory - no speed limit.

Built-up area means an area in which buildings or street lights are not over 100 metres apart.

If you’ve missed a “Speed Limit” sign, and are in doubt what is the speed limit now, do not drive over 50 km/h in a built-up area until you meet the next “Speed Limit” sign.

Default speed limit means speed allowed in the absence of “Speed Limit” signs. E.g. 100 km/h is the default speed limit outside built-up areas, while some roads may be signposted at 110 km/h.

Everywhere except the Northern Territory default speed limit is 50 km/h in a built-up area, and 100 km/h anywhere else.

The Northern Territory has only one default speed limit: 60 km/h in a built-up area; other roads have an open speed limit, but maximum speed limits are posted on some road sections (Ref.#6 p.58, 59).

In Western Australia speed limit outside built-up area is 110 km/h (Ref.#14 section 3.1.1, p.45)

Drive within 5 km/h below the signposted or default speed limit, and do not drive slower than 20 km/h below the signposted or default speed limit, unless in adverse conditions.

Not to drive too slowly is a requirement of ARR (r.125).

Ref.#9 Unit 4: Task 21, p. 71 advises, where safe and practicable, to maintain a speed within 5 km/h below the legal speed limit, and Ref.#14 section 3.12.3, p.67 advises the slowest allowed speed is 20 km/h under the legal speed limit, unless in adverse conditions.