The report prepared by the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) revealed an AusRAP Assessment of the Safety Star rating of the M1 during the temporary speed limit reduction delivered a four-star rating for 99 per cent of the M1 between Eight Mile Plains and Gaven, up from 81 per cent. Ramp metering was also implemented at the southbound onramps at Gold Coast Highway (exit 62) and Smith Street (exit 66) between March 12 and April 15, 2018, which reduced congestion by up to 22 per cent on average during peak periods, according to the report. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said introducing variable speed limits on the M1 made sense. Credit:Glenn Hunt Mr Bailey said it made sense that congestion-alleviating variable speed limits were introduced on the state’s busiest road, with the technology already successfully used on other highways. The speed limits would likely be displayed via electronic signs.

Variable speed limits are already used on the Bruce Highway and Logan and Ipswich motorways. “When you are travelling at a lower speed, braking is more effective. This reduces your chance of having a crash and reduces the flow-on effects to other drivers,” he said. “Ramp metering will also form part of the Palaszczuk government’s plan to tackle congestion and improve safety on the M1." The state government will also permanently introduced the Trucks Use Left Lane (TULL) initiative on the M1. “We have seen good compliance rates by heavy vehicles since the introduction of the TULL initiative, as well as greater speed uniformity and a reduction in the number of lane changes,’’ Mr Bailey said.

The minister said a detailed implementation plan would include time frames and community and stakeholder feedback. RACQ spokesman Paul Turner said RACQ did not support the permanent reduction of speed limits, but variable speed limits were the way of the future. Loading “What we’ve seen from today’s announcement is the state government has gone back to those original speed limits 110km/h and 100km/h but has also brought in managed motorways,” he said. “Managed motorways is the way of the future really, it’s the way of using existing assets, existing roads and get better use out of them, make them more flexible by being able to adjust speed limits up and down to meet conditions.”

Mr Turner said variable speed limits hopefully wouldn’t have to be used very often, but during heavy traffic or an incident the traffic would slow and that would smooth out congestion. “I know it sounds counterintuitive but by reducing the speed limit or reducing the number of speed limits ... by bringing everyone back to one speed limit over the length of the road they smooth that congestion out and make the road run flow much more smoothly,” he said. “Variable speed limits are really designed to give highway operators flexibility on the speeds so they can manage congestion.” LNP leader Deb Frecklington called the M1 announcement an "admission of failure". Credit:AAP Image/ Darren England Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington called the announcement for speed limit reductions on the M1 an admission of failure.

“Reducing the speed limit is nothing more than a total cop-out,” she said. “Labor needs to get on with the job of fixing the M1, planning for the future and helping motorists get home sooner and safer.” Ms Frecklington said Labor failed to properly plan for a second M1 which could take 60,000 cars a day of the M1 and keep traffic flowing when there was an accident. Key findings from the report: Ramp metering

Ramp metering reduced congestion and average delay on the M1 by up to 22 per cent on average during peak periods before the school holidays

Ramp metering induced up to 2.3 minutes of average delays on the on-ramps. The total delay for all drivers through the interchanges was reduced by ramp metering

Ramp metering resulted in a total travel time savings of at least 155 in our hour travelling between exit 60 and 69 and using the southbound onramps at exit 62 and exit 66

56 per cent of the road users interviewed supported the permanent implementation of ramp metering at all interchanges on the M1 Speed reduction An AusRAP Assessment of the Safety Star rating of the M1 found that the temporary speed limit reduction delivered a four-star rating for 99 per cent of the M1 between Eight Mile Plains and Gaven, up from 81 per cent

The average travel times between Brisbane and the NSW border during uncongested operation of the M1 increased by a maximum of 5 per cent or six Minutes

A survey of M1 users found 56 per cent supported the implementation of permanent variable speed limits

22 per cent of road users interviewed objected to variable speed limits on the M1

50 per cent of the M1 users surveyed objected to a permanent speed limit reduction between Eight Mile Plains and Gaven Safety Only one major incident (Category 1) occurred on the M1 between March 1 and April 16, 2018, while the M1 Management Plan Initiatives were in place. Typically, there are 1.5 to 2 Category 1 crashes per month

34 per cent of respondents felt that their experience of using the M1 was better with the M1 initiatives

18 per cent of respondents believed the variable speed limits had a negative effect