AS 1742.

4—2008
(Incorporating Amendment No. 1)
AS 1742.4—2008

Australian Standard®
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Manual of uniform traffic control devices

Part 4: Speed controls

 This Australian Standard® was prepared by Committee MS-012, Road Signs and Traffic
Signals. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 27 October 2008.
This Standard was published on 27 November 2008.

The following are represented on Committee MS-012:

• ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services

• ARRB Transport Research
• AUSTROADS (representative from Department of Transport Energy and
Infrastructure, SA)
• Association of Consultants in Access Australia
• Australian Automobile Association
• Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
•
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Australian Historic Motoring Federation

• Australian Industry Group
• Australian Motorcycle Council
• Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services
• Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Tas.
• Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, NT
• Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia
• Main Roads Department, Qld
• Main Roads Western Australia
• Roadmarking Industry Association of Australia
• Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW
• VicRoads

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 07228.

Standards Australia wishes to acknowledge the participation of the expert individuals that
contributed to the development of this Standard through their representation on the
Committee and through the public comment period.

Keeping Standards up-to-date

Australian Standards® are living documents that reflect progress in science, technology and
systems. To maintain their currency, all Standards are periodically reviewed, and new editions
are published. Between editions, amendments may be issued.

Standards may also be withdrawn. It is important that readers assure themselves they are
using a current Standard, which should include any amendments that may have been
published since the Standard was published.

Detailed information about Australian Standards, drafts, amendments and new projects can
be found by visiting www.standards.org.au

Standards Australia welcomes suggestions for improvements, and encourages readers to

notify us immediately of any apparent inaccuracies or ambiguities. Contact us via email at
[email protected], or write to Standards Australia, GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2000
 AS 1742.4—2008
(Incorporating Amendment No. 1)

Australian Standard®
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Manual of uniform traffic control devices

Part 4: Speed controls

Originated in part as part of AS CA14—1935.

Previous edition AS 1742.4—1999.
Third edition 2008.
Reissued incorporating Amendment No. 1 (October 2009).

COPYRIGHT
© Standards Australia
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written
permission of the publisher.
Published by Standards Australia GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 8963 3
 AS 1742.4—2008 2

PREFACE
This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee MS-012, Road Signs and
Traffic Signals to supersede AS 1742.4—1999.
This Standard incorporates Amendment No. 1 (October 2009). The changes required by the
Amendment are indicated in the text by a marginal bar and amendment number against the
clause, note, table, figure or part thereof affected.
It is one in a series of fourteen Standards which together form the Manual of uniform traffic
control devices. The series comprises the following Standards:
AS
1742 Manual of uniform traffic control devices
1742.1 Part 1: General introduction and index of signs
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

1742.2 Part 2: Traffic control devices for general use

1742.3 Part 3: Traffic control devices for works on roads
1742.4 Part 4: Speed controls (this Standard)
1742.5 Part 5: Street name and community facility name signs
1742.6 Part 6: Tourist and services signs
1742.7 Part 7: Railway crossings
1742.9 Part 9: Bicycle facilities
1742.10 Part 10: Pedestrian control and protection
1742.11 Part 11: Parking controls
1742.12 Part 12: Bus, transit and truck lanes
1742.13 Part 13: Local area traffic management
1742.14 Part 14: Traffic signals
1742.15 Part 15: Direction signs information signs and route numbering
Principal variations from the 1999 edition are as follows:
(a) The Standard reflects the fact that the default urban speed limit in all states is now
50 km/h.
(b) School zones have been transferred from AS 1742.10.
(c) Shared zones have been transferred from AS 1742.13.
(d) The Speed Limit AHEAD (G9-79) sign has been added and becomes an alternative
form of speed limit buffer (formerly termed ‘buffer zone’).
(e) The Derestriction sign has been deleted.
The term ‘normative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
appendix to which it applies. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part of a Standard.
 3 AS 1742.4—2008

CONTENTS

Page

FOREWORD.............................................................................................................................. 4

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE ........................................................................................................................ 5
1.2 OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................... 5
1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS ................................................................................. 5
1.4 DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................... 5

SECTION 2 SPEED MANAGEMENT

This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

2.1 GENERAL .................................................................................................................. 7

2.2 TYPES OF SPEED LIMIT .......................................................................................... 8
2.3 SPEED ZONE ESTABLISHMENT ............................................................................ 8

SECTION 3 SPEED LIMIT SIGNS AND MARKINGS

3.1 SPEED LIMIT SIGNS............................................................................................... 13
3.2 SIGN APPLICATION ............................................................................................... 17
3.3 CONFLICT WITH ADVISORY SPEED SIGNS ..................................................... 23
3.4 PAVEMENT MARKINGS ....................................................................................... 23
3.5 VARIABLE SPEED LIMITS .................................................................................... 25

APPENDICES
A TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENT FACTORS DETERMINING
SPEED LIMIT VALUES ON TRAFFIC ROUTES ................................................... 26
B ILLUMINATION AND REFLECTION OF SIGNS .................................................. 28
C INSTALLATION AND LOCATION OF SIGNS ...................................................... 29
 AS 1742.4—2008 4

FOREWORD
The involvement of speed related factors in road crashes is well established. Public surveys
indicate that this relationship is well understood by the community and that there are strong
perceptions that speed limits also impact on the amenity of users of abutting property.
Experience and research has demonstrated that arbitrarily imposed speed limits that are too
low attract poor levels of compliance regardless of the level of enforcement. Ideally, limits
should be set such that road users can readily understand the reasons for setting them at a
particular level. The limits will then be more likely to be voluntarily observed by the
majority of motorists and therefore be effective in regulating traffic flow, reducing crashes,
maximizing safety for vulnerable road users and controlling the environmental effects of
traffic, such as noise pollution. However, this is not always possible and that is why it is
important to have a sound basis for setting the limits.
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Due to substantially increased levels of police enforcement, mainly resulting from the
introduction of automated methods of infringement detection, it is important to ensure that
the setting of speed limits is soundly based. Authorities therefore need to ensure that their
methods of setting speed limits can be justified as being appropriate for both the
environment and all road users, not just motorists.
The setting of speed limits in this Standard is based on a primary consideration of road
function and application. The process then provides for adjustments within prescribed limits
to accommodate variations in the speed environment, i.e. roadside development, road and
traffic characteristics, and for adjustments related to crash history. Attention is drawn to the
Austroads publication Guide to Road Safety – Part 3: Speed Limits and Speed Management
in which is described the 'Safe Systems' approach to the setting of speed limits. At the time
of publication of this Standard the specified relationship between road function, application
and corresponding speed limit was deemed to be consistent with the Safe Systems approach.
However, it can be expected that from time to time there will be changes at the national
level to limits applying to certain traffic situations resulting from further application of this
approach. Amendment or revision of the Standard will be made to reflect these changes.
Since publication of the 1999 edition of this Standard, there has been a reduction in the
default urban speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h. Urban roads on which a speed limit of
60 km/h is considered desirable and in keeping with the speed zoning assessment
requirements of this Standard must now have 60 km/h speed zones signposted. In the
absence of any speed zone signposting in a built-up area, 50 km/h is the default speed limit.
100 km/h remains as the default speed limit outside built-up areas in most states.
As well as the default limits of 50 and 100 km/h, speed limits used for speed zoning ranges
from 10 km/h in shared zones to 110 km/h on high standard rural highways and
expressways. This range of speed zoning options has highlighted the importance of the
process used to assess and determine the appropriate speed limit according to the road
function, roadside development and road and traffic characteristics.
 5 AS 1742.4—2008

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Manual of uniform traffic control devices

Part 4: Speed controls

SECT ION 1 SCOPE AND GENERA L

1.1 SCOPE
This Standard specifies the traffic control devices to be used for the regulatory control of
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

traffic speed and gives guidance on how speed limits should be determined and applied in
various situations. The Standard does not cover temporary speed limits, the use of advisory
speed signs, or speed limits applicable to certain classes of vehicle or driver.
NOTE: Speed matters excluded from this Standard are covered in the following references:
(a) Temporary speed limits at road works—AS 1742.3.
(b) Use of advisory speed signs—AS 1742.2.
(c) Limits applied by regulation to classes of vehicle or driver—State regulations and
guidelines.

1.2 OBJECTIVE
The objective of this Standard is to provide road authorities throughout Australia with a set
of uniform requirements and guidelines for the regulatory management of traffic speeds.

1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

The following Standards are referred to in this Standard:
AS
1348 Road and traffic engineering—Glossary of terms
1742 Manual of uniform traffic control devices
1742.2 Part 2: Traffic control devices for general use
1742.3 Part 3: Traffic control devices for works on roads
1742.10 Part 10: Pedestrian control and protection
1742.13 Part 13: Local area traffic management
4049 Paints and related materials—Pavement marking materials
4049.5 Part 5: Performance assessment of pavement markings
AS/NZS
1906 Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes
1906.1 Part 1: Retroreflective sheeting
Austroads
Guide to Road Safety—Part 3: Speed Limits and Speed Management

1.4 DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Standard the definitions below apply.

www.standards.org.au © Standards Australia

 This is a free preview. Purchase the entire publication at the link below:

AS 1742.4-2008, Manual of uniform traffic control

devices Speed controls
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Looking for additional Standards? Visit SAI Global Infostore

Subscribe to our Free Newsletters about Australian Standards® in Legislation; ISO, IEC, BSI and more
Do you need to Manage Standards Collections Online?
Learn about LexConnect, All Jurisdictions, Standards referenced in Australian legislation
Do you want to know when a Standard has changed?
Want to become an SAI Global Standards Sales Affiliate?

Learn about other SAI Global Services:

LOGICOM Military Parts and Supplier Database

Metals Infobase Database of Metal Grades, Standards and Manufacturers
Materials Infobase Database of Materials, Standards and Suppliers
Database of European Law, CELEX and Court Decisions

Need to speak with a Customer Service Representative - Contact Us