The six-month trial runs between High St in Ashburton and Glenferrie Rd in Toorak
The Victorian government has started speed trials along Monash Freeway that will allow vehicle speed limits to change in response to road conditions.
The Monash Speed Trial will operate on a section of the Monash Freeway, between High Street in Ashburton and Glenferrie Road in Toorak.
The trial permits vehicles to deviate from designated speed limits based on changing traffic volumes, weather conditions and the time of day.
This means, drivers will now be able to increase speed from 80 km/h to 100 km/h based on live traffic conditions.
The trial uses existing speed management technologies, including CCTV, road sensors and overhead electronic signs to alter speed limits when conditions allow.
The six-month pilot will run in three phases:
- varying speeds at night
- including night and off-peak periods such as weekends
- running 24-hours a day, including peak periods.
Results from the three phases will be examined independently and influence future decisions around vehicle speed.
“We’re using existing technology so we can be smarter about the way we manage traffic on the Monash,” roads minister Luke Donnellan says.
“We’re making the speed on the Monash reflective of the conditions meaning that when it is safe to do so, motorists will be able to travel at 100km/h.”
If successful, the technology will be rolled out on other motorways across Melbourne.
The Monash Speed Trial is the first phase of the government’s 18-month Dynamic Speed Trial project.