Well, IMHO increasing speed limits can only be done with some kind of driver training regime and even special licences allowing only certain trained drivers go exceed certain levels.
I do a fair amount of distance driving. Nowadays its' mostly less than 500km trips(weekly), but there's the occasional (6 a year) trip to Perth (700km one way). Before I came here once every two or three months, i'd fly to Kununurra and then drive through to Broome in two days.
IMO, increases in speed have an exponential effect upon increases in fatigue. I.e the faster you go, the quicker you get fatigued.
Spin/ business plans/govt conspiracies aside, every week I motor down the highway at 110km and get passed by loads and loads of folks for whom life just can't move fast enough (note the faster life goes the closer death comes).
The vast majority of those speeding vehicles do not maintain a controlled direction on the road. They drift and bounce all over the place. These aren't old cars, but relatively new fords/holdens etc. And a Landcruiser at 140kph is a frightening thing to watch go down the road. (although not as frightening as an unladen, speeding road train whose rear trailer is swinging across the entire highway like I saw last week!)
If you want to increase speed limits, you need more enforcement, special licence classes/endorsements, the vehicles themselves must be checked annually and their registration endorsed, and the individual drivers need advanced training.
I don't want to lose anyone I love this Christmas, so drive safely!
