Signs will be in place to advise motorists of the changed traffic conditions.

The new limit is being introduced and funded by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), which said the change would improve safety for users of the road near the Hume Highway.

The decision was initiated by a speed zone review request of the area by numerous residents and businesses in the community in February 2017. That request was put through Yass Valley Council’s traffic committee, which passed it onto RMS.

There have been five recorded accidents in the area in the past five years, according to both the council and RMS. One of the accidents resulted in a major injury and another in a minor injury, according to council.

Use of the road has also increased in the area, due to local development, RMS said. This refers to the number of vehicles – especially heavy vehicles – using the entrance to the South Eastern Livestock Exchange (SELX).

“[This] is reported to be contributing to near misses and sight distance issues,” an RMS spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said the review considered the variable speed zones in the area. “The speed zone review found the short 100km/h zone sat between the existing 80km/h and 70km/h zones and deemed it appropriate to lower the speed limit,” they said.

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, has been approached for comment on the issue of variable speed limits in regional NSW.

Councillor Jasmin Jones, chair of the council’s traffic committee, said she was pleased RMS “gave it the green light”.

She said a review of the Canberra side of Yass Valley Way was also conducted, but that RMS had advised no change was necessary.

Since sharing initial news of the speed limit change online, Yass Tribune has received numerous responses from community members, calling for the road to be fixed before the speed limit.

These responses have asked for areas of Yass Valley Road to be resealed.