Aussie states and territories planning 30km/h speed limits
A number of Australian states and territories are trialling or planning 30km/h speed limits and zones in a move that could benefit the economy.
Western Australia, NSW and VIC have implemented the measure with other states following their lead.
“By building safer streets, governments and cities around the world are creating more liveable cities,” Matthew Mclaughlin, Ben Beck, Julie Brown and Megan Sharkey wrote for The Conversation.
“The benefits include low crime levels, more physically active citizens, greater social connectedness, increased spending in local businesses and less pollution.”
Research by the Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety found that the speed limits reduce our national toll by 13 per cent.
“The evidence is very clear: the chance of a pedestrian surviving when hit by a car skyrockets when the car’s speed is reduced,” The Conversation piece read.
Road Safety NSW says that the chance of someone surviving after being hit by a vehicle at 50km/h is just 10 per cent whereas the rate spikes to 90 per cent if someone is hit by a car going at 30km/h.
“Speed is the most common contributor to road trauma – more common than alcohol, drugs and fatigue,” the group wrote.
“To reduce serious injury, 40km/h speed limits aren’t low enough. The chance of survival when hit by a car improves from 60 per cent at 40km/h to 90 per cent at 30km/h.
“Reducing speed limits to 30km/h in urban areas such as high pedestrian zones, school zones and local traffic areas is urgently needed to reduce deaths and severe injuries.”