Over the past five years 12 people, on average each year, have lost their lives travelling on the Newell Highway. The road toll in the western NSW region (including in towns of Moree, Coonabarabran, Dubbo, Parkes and Forbes) was more than double in 2009 for the same period the previous year.

There is a need to address these crashes and improve safety on this highway. This site shows a range of initiatives to do that.

A safety review was published in 2009, similar to previous safety reviews undertaken on the Princes and Pacific highways. This 2009 safety review was established to:

• Examine the circumstances of the fatal crashes in previous years. 
• Examine road conditions along the highway. 
• Examine the facilities currently provided on the highway including linemarking.  
• Examine speed limits. 
• Understand police enforcement activities along the highway. 
• Understand issues associated with heavy vehicles using the Highway. 
• Describe ongoing management priorities.

Fatigue and speed are the two main behavioural factors in crashes resulting in fatalities on the Newell Highway.

The safety review recommended lowering the open road speed limit from 110 to 100 km/h. The open road speed limit on the Newell Highway was reduced from 110 km/h to 100 km/h on 1 December 2009.  The length from Tooraweenah to north of Coonabarabran remained speed zoned 100 km/h.

One of the commitments made by the NSW Government prior to its election was to raise the speed limit on the Newell back to 110 km/h where applicable.

On 31 July 2011, the open road speed limit for light vehicles along most of the Newell Highway changed to 110 km/h, with the exception of short lengths south of Peak Hill, south of Forbes and around Jerilderie, which have remained at 100 km/h due to the road alignment. The length of road from Tooraweenah to north of Coonabarabran, was unaffected by the increased speed limit and remains speed zoned 100 km/h. These areas are clearly signposted. The current speed limits in townships also remain unchanged.

The 110 km/h speed limit applies to light vehicles (cars and motorcycles) only. Speed limits for heavy vehicles, buses and coaches, and other special purpose vehicles on the Newell Highway remain unchanged.

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