Published on Friday, 22 May 2026 at 11:54:00 AM
Cheriton Road is a rural road that was historically derestricted, permitting travel speeds of up to 110km/h. As part of the Deed of Agreement for the Country Heights Estate, staged upgrades have been undertaken to reconstruct and widen the road to a 7.0m sealed carriageway with 1.0m sealed shoulders on each side as development progresses. While the works have improved road condition, physical constraints, including topography, adjoining land limitations and service infrastructure, have restricted the extent to which the road alignment could be designed to meet safe speed standards for a derestricted rural road.
At the Shire’s request, Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA) conducted a speed zoning review of Cheriton Road in September 2025. Initial recommendations proposed reducing the speed limit to 90km/h, supported by formal line marking and further assessment of horizontal curves. Following completion of a detailed curve survey on the newly reconstructed sections, MRWA revised its recommendation to establish an 80km/h speed zone to better reflect road geometry and operating conditions. Both Council and MRWA have formally approved the reduced speed limit, with signage and line marking drawings currently under review.
The reduction of the speed limit on Cheriton Road delivers multiple, well-established road safety benefits aligned with the safe system approach. Research demonstrates that even modest reductions in travel speed significantly reduce both crash likelihood and crash severity, particularly on rural roads where run‑off‑road and head‑on collisions present a heightened risk. Austroads guidance confirms that unsafe speeds, relative to road geometry and roadside hazards, are key contributors to serious injury and fatal crashes, and that speed limits should reflect the roads design constraints rather than historical defaults.
Lowering the speed limit to 80km/h reduces kinetic energy during a crash, thereby improving survivability for vehicle occupants and reducing the extent of infrastructure damage. This is particularly important on Cheriton Road where horizontal curvature and constrained alignments increase the risk of loss-of-control crashes at higher speeds. Supporting measures, including centre and edge line marking, further enhance driver guidance, lane discipline, and night‑time delineation, reducing the likelihood of road departure crashes.
The establishment of an 80km/h speed zone on Cheriton Road represents a proactive, evidence‑based safety intervention. It acknowledges the limitations imposed by road geometry and surrounding constraints, aligns with MRWA and Austroads guidance, and materially reduces the risk and severity of crashes. The speed reduction, combined with supporting line marking, ensures safer and more predictable road use for all motorists both now and as the Country Heights Estate continues to develop
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