There is no doubt that 26 deaths is 26 too many and the 249 serious injuries (requiring more than 24 hours in hospital) would have seriously impacted on many individuals and families.

Unfortunately, the combination of cars, humans, unpredictable weather conditions and varying levels of driving ability is a dangerous mixture.

As a society we are so reliant on our transport freedom that it is almost taken for granted, however, education and training for this life-changing skill is still inadequate.

Inattention, lack of experience, alcohol and failing to give way were major causes of accidents.

However, driving too fast for the conditions was a factor in 28.9 per cent of accidents and driver inexperience was a factor in 20.5 per cent.

This points to a clear lack of driver education.

The Road Safety Advisory Council wants the default speed on sealed country roads dropped from 100km/h to 90km/h, with some roads exempted.

However, before authorities simply lower speed limits by 10km/h, there needs to be some evidence-based research into all of these statistics.

At face value lowering speed limits on non-highways seems an easy fix, but it is far more complicated.

There is still absolutely no detailed proof that there are large numbers of people having accidents at 100km/h on Tasmanian roads, so reducing the speed limit might make mathematical sense but it is not based on evidence.

Driving at 90km/h can still be too fast in the wrong conditions while driving at 100km/h on some secondary sealed roads is perfectly safe.

In the past two years Tasmania has recorded two of its lowest ever road tolls _ it is the result of the cumulative efforts for a decade of police and road safety experts.

Simply reducing speed limits on country roads is a lazy option when simply getting everyone to wear a seatbelt would reduce the toll and crash injuries by 25 per cent.