A total of 10.5 km of the east coast’s Tasman Highway will have its speed limit reduced by 20km/h in the coming days in an effort to ‘make the road safer.’
Tasmania’s Commissioner for Transport recently approved two reductions from 100km/h to 80km/h on the road, both to the north and south of Swansea.
A 4.2km section of the road at Rocky Hills will be reduced, alongside a 6.3km stretch at Cherry Tree Hill, east of Cranbrook.
The decision to lower the speed limit was made “based on the characteristics of the road, including the narrow, hilly and winding nature of both sections of the highway and the number of roadside hazards”, the Commissioner said.
“The most common crashes in this location are single vehicle loss-of-control type crashes.”
“Lower speeds can typically be expected to reduce the likelihood of this type of crash.”
The new speed limit will come into effect once new speed limit signs and ‘New speed limit ahead’ signs have been installed, which is expected to occur this week.
This change follows a request for review by the RACT.
