New study paves the way for more overtaking lanes

Fresh Australian research has highlighted the benefits of overtaking lanes - those most familiar with country roads.

In a new report commissioned by Austroads, ARRB and the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR), overtaking or passing lanes (typically auxiliary lanes added to two-lane, two-way roads) were found to reduce crashes causing injury by 16 per cent.

Using crash data, a road user survey, journey time analysis and key findings from a literature review as evidence, the report also identified that overtaking lanes improve perceived safety of roads by drivers, improve the operation of roads and amounted to significant cost benefits..

Report lead author Ian Espada said overtaking lanes are a sensible, cost-effective measure ahead of a potential move to dual carriageway.

“A passing lane reduces congestion on average by 10 per cent each time it’s introduced,” Dr Espada said..

“There are improvements in operation and safety benefits. That’s both in terms of actual crashes and the perception of safety. They are a good investment.”

Respondents to the survey said overtaking lanes encouraged good driving habits and contributed to faster journey times.

Some 84 per cent of respondents said they would wait for the passing lane before overtaking on roads where they exist, rather than risking overtaking in the opposing lane on a two-lane road.

The survey wasn’t wholly positive, however, with more than half of respondents noting unsafe tailgating in the lead up to a passing lane, and unsafe merging at the end of the passing lane.

The research comes in the wake of annual statistics which revealed a slight reduction in the road toll, year-on-year.

There’s also the oft-discussed issue of slower drivers speeding up when an overtaking lane is available, only to slow back down its original speed after it ends.