Standardisation of Speed Limits on Country Roads in Austria - Experiences and Critical Discussion

In Austria, the national speed limit on single carriageways outside built-up areas is 100 km/h. Given this relatively high general speed limit, it is quite frequently necessary to restrict speed with the help of road signs for safety and environmental reasons. Therefore drivers may be confronted with a "barrage" of quickly changing speed limits. Since 1997 the region of Salzburg has followed a different strategy. Within the framework of a "50/80/100 limit rule" on most country roads speed limits have been standardised. The guiding principle is to make it easier to be aware of a speed limit and to improve safety and traffic flow. Within a research project the strategy was analysed using focus groups and interviews. The paper describes advantages and disadvantages of a determined standardisation of speed limits. Since there are plans to extend the strategy the suitability of the limits chosen is critically analysed. A majority of drivers welcomes a standardisation and expect this measure to have a positive impact upon speeding, at least as far as the unintentional exceeding of speed limits is concerned. It could not be proven that the standardisation reduces intentional speeding in a significant way. In that regard one has to assume that "traditional" speed controls are probably more effective than any standardisation. A standardisation of sign-posted speed limits is useful to increase the awareness of car drivers of such limits. A standardisation as in the Salzburg region at 80 km/h on country roads is too high.