MANANGATANG P–12 College acknowledges and supports the shared commitment of all levels of government to improving road safety and reducing deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads.
Every life lost on our roads is one too many, and we fully endorse evidence-based measures that make travel safer for all Australians.
However, we have serious concerns about the proposal to lower the default speed limit outside of built-up areas and the potential introduction of a new default speed limit for unsealed roads.
While the intention of improving safety is understood, such a blanket approach risks creating significant unintended consequences for regional and rural communities — particularly for students, families,
and school staff.
In rural Victoria, many students and teachers already travel considerable distances each day to attend or work at their local schools.
Reducing the default speed limit will further lengthen these daily commutes, resulting in earlier departures, later returns, and longer, more fatiguing days for children and staff alike.
The impact on student wellbeing, attendance, and engagement should not be underestimated.
Further, slower travel speeds will increase freight and transport costs, which will in turn raise the prices of everyday goods and services.
Regional families are already under financial pressure due to rising living costs, and policies that increase the cost of essential supplies — including food, fuel, and educational resources — only deepen that strain.
While we recognise that some unsealed or poorly maintained roads may require reduced limits for safety reasons, we strongly believe that targeted investment in road maintenance, resurfacing, and signage would achieve greater safety outcomes than a broad, one-size-fits-all reduction in speed limits.
The issue is not simply speed — it is the condition and management of rural infrastructure.
We urge the Australian Government to carefully consider the lived realities of rural communities before implementing any policy change that would further disadvantage regional Australians.
The goal of road safety must be pursued in a way that balances risk reduction with the social, educational, and economic wellbeing of the people who rely on country roads every day.
