Photo: Bentley
Australia’s Northern Territory is known for its unrestricted highways, but these will get a 130 km/h (81 mph) speed limit shortly. That restriction will not apply to all, because automakers will be exempt from the rule upon requesting a permit.
At first, the newly elected Labor government planned to reinstate the speed limit on the highways in the Northern Territory, a move it pledged to do during its campaign. The restrictions were lifted by their predecessors and competitors, the Country Liberal government.
However, automaker representatives and motorists complained about the change. Among the most vocal of the disappointed people was the representative of Porsche in Australia. It appears that the Labor government was listening to the complaints and decided to act.
Michael Gunner, chief minister of the newly-elected government, has stated that the Northern Territory’s Department of Transport was instructed to develop a permit and exemption system that will allow high-speed vehicle testing on its highways. Mr. Gunner reaffirmed the government’s support for the vehicle testing industry, which plays a significant role in Central Australia.
Thanks to automakers that come to Australia for its unique testing environment, as well as proximity to amenities in Alice Springs and availability of sealed roads, the economy of Central Australia has to benefit. This opportunity must not be booted, as the new government has observed.
As we previously wrote, Australia’s Northern Territory has one of the few public roads in the world that do not have an official speed limit, as Car Advice notes.
Just last year, Bentley took the Continental GT Speed on the Stuart Highway, where it drove it to 206 mph, or 331 km/h. That was done without any special permits and exemptions, although Bentley probably informed authorities about its upcoming Vmax run.
Curiously, authorities will allow regular drivers to drive faster than in the rest of Australia, as the country’s highways have a speed limit set at 110 km/h, while the motorway in the Northern Territory will allow a maximum of 130 km/h for the average Joe.
Those that used to drive faster will have to adapt, or else they will face fines, just like everyone else in the world. For the moment, it is unclear whether all the highways and roads in the Northern Territory will get the new speed restriction, but it feels like that is what is going to happen.
However, automaker representatives and motorists complained about the change. Among the most vocal of the disappointed people was the representative of Porsche in Australia. It appears that the Labor government was listening to the complaints and decided to act.
Michael Gunner, chief minister of the newly-elected government, has stated that the Northern Territory’s Department of Transport was instructed to develop a permit and exemption system that will allow high-speed vehicle testing on its highways. Mr. Gunner reaffirmed the government’s support for the vehicle testing industry, which plays a significant role in Central Australia.
Thanks to automakers that come to Australia for its unique testing environment, as well as proximity to amenities in Alice Springs and availability of sealed roads, the economy of Central Australia has to benefit. This opportunity must not be booted, as the new government has observed.
As we previously wrote, Australia’s Northern Territory has one of the few public roads in the world that do not have an official speed limit, as Car Advice notes.
Just last year, Bentley took the Continental GT Speed on the Stuart Highway, where it drove it to 206 mph, or 331 km/h. That was done without any special permits and exemptions, although Bentley probably informed authorities about its upcoming Vmax run.
Curiously, authorities will allow regular drivers to drive faster than in the rest of Australia, as the country’s highways have a speed limit set at 110 km/h, while the motorway in the Northern Territory will allow a maximum of 130 km/h for the average Joe.
Those that used to drive faster will have to adapt, or else they will face fines, just like everyone else in the world. For the moment, it is unclear whether all the highways and roads in the Northern Territory will get the new speed restriction, but it feels like that is what is going to happen.
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