AN UPDATE earlier this year by Main Roads Western Australia to bring the speed limit down from 80km/h to 70km/h on Great Northern Highway (GNH) has been a contentious matter for Swan residents.

On January 22 the speed limit change was implemented on the 12km stretch from Reid Highway up to Apple Street.

“There is a complete lack of common sense and consistency in the way that Main Roads applies speed limits,” Brigadoon resident Cathy Campbell said.

Ms Campbell said the change was inconsistent because the surrounding semi-rural residential roads such as Campersic Road and Oakover Road were still 80km/h.

“Because these roads haven’t been updated, Main Roads have increased the risk on Campersic Road and Oakover,” she said.

The lack of signage advising the new speed limit is also a significant issue for Ms Campbell.

“If you come down Campersic at 80, you go onto Oakover at 80 and then you turn left heading south on GNH, there is no speed limit sign to tell you what the speed limit is until you reach the 60 sign near the stock feeders and the high school,” she said.

“If Main Roads were showing proper diligence, it should be assumed that they were looking at the feeder roads.”

Jill Devaney who has lived in Middle Swan for five years is in favour of the decision to reduce the speed limit on GNH.

With 30 years of experience as an occupational therapist, Ms Devaney has seen countless lives ruined by motor vehicle accidents.

“The traumatic brain injuries are the most heartbreaking,” she said.

“Australians are driving larger, heavier and therefore more dangerous vehicles.

“Slowing them down is vital for everyone’s safety.”

In correspondence with Main Roads, Ms Devaney was advised Oakover and Campersic Road are controlled by the City of Swan and they have not received a request from the city to review the speed limits on these roads.

She hopes to see speed limits brought down throughout the valley, considering the potential rat run which may occur due to speed limits on surrounding roads not being reduced.

A Main Roads spokesperson said a review completed late last year recommended standardisation of the speed limits in the area.

This means taking into consideration factors such as road function, traffic volumes, types of road users, roadside development, the frequency and type of intersections, the number of crossovers and reported crash data.

“Additionally, the highway is heavily utilised by oversized vehicles and vulnerable road users. There are currently no plans to add more signage in the area,” the spokesperson said.

According to the WA Road Safety Commission, there were 188 road fatalities in WA last year.

Meanwhile the same data shows there are currently 14 road fatalities since the start of this year.