Driver interviews were undertaken between 1987 and 1991 to monitor the effects of speed management initiatives, particularly the introduction of 110 km/h speed zones on high standard sections of urban and rural freeways and highways in June 1987. A major Speed Camera Program was also launched in May 1990. The results of these surveys are presented in this report. The surveys obtained information on drivers' intended speed behaviour, their perception of the likelihood of being detected for speeding, the penalty associated with speeding and their perception of the danger of excessive speeding. Drivers responded in relation to one of three specific road environments: rural freeways, urban arterials and residential streets. Additional questions were asked in the last three surveys relating to driver definitions of the term "speeding", the influence of surrounding traffic speeds on driver perceptions of "speeding" and "dangerous speeds" and their opinions about appropriate penalties for different speeding violations.
Abstract