A trial of open speed limits on a 200km stretch of the Northern Territory's Stuart Highway will begin on Saturday.
Transport Minister Peter Styles says the section of road, south of Barrow Creek to just north of Alice Springs, has undergone a major upgrade and seen a low number of speed related crashes since 2001.
"Since 2011 there have been no fatalities on this stretch of road," he said in a statement.
Mr Style said that the Territory had a unique road network with long distances and low traffic volumes.
"With the implementation of this trial we are putting the responsibility back on motorists," he said.
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But the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Australian Medical Association NT and the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine say the trial poses significant dangers to motorists and pedestrians.
They say there's strong evidence worldwide linking speed to accidents and claimed the NT government had brought in the trial for political expediency.
In an open letter to the NT government the groups have called for the trial to be scrapped.
"The government has said that the reasons for this trial are evidence-based, yet it will not publicly release the reports cited as evidence supporting the trial," they wrote.
"There is no evidence to support the trial and it should be scrapped."
The minister has warned people not to drive dangerously or without due care and said speed limits still applied to learner and provisional drivers and heavy vehicles.
"Be warned - police will be increasing their presence on this area of road," Mr Styles said.
"We will not tolerate reckless driving."
