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Town Called Speed Gets New Name: Speedkills

Aussie town sick of unsafe drivers

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 24, 2011 3:44 AM CST

(Newser) – The tiny Australian town of Speed has a new name—temporarily. Following a successful Facebook campaign, and plenty of encouragement from road safety officials concerned about the rising death rate on country roads, the Outback town will change its name to Speedkills for the month of March, Reuters reports.

"Speeding through Speed is probably something that some people think is a great idea, but we don't think so. People are a bit tired and think, 'Well, nobody lives here.' It is just a small town, but we live here," said one of the town's 45 residents. Local farmer Phil Down is taking the campaign even further: During March, he will change his name to Phil Slowdown.

"Most people recognize that drink driving is a socially unacceptable activity; they are less convinced about the merits of speed," a Transport Accident Commission spokesman said. (Facebook)

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Town Called Speed Gets New Name: Speedkills

Aussie town sick of unsafe drivers

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