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Proposed 40km/h Speed Limit for the CBD

Reducing Speed for Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety

Council supports a 40km/h speed limit in high pedestrian areas. A lower speed limit won’t mean longer trips through the CBD, as traffic lights and congestion have the biggest impact on travel times. However, a lower speed limit will improve safety for the many people who walk through our city each day.

Many city streets in The Rocks, Millers Point, Ultimo, Surry Hills, East Sydney, Ultimo and Woolloomooloo already have a 40km per hour limit. We would like to extend that. The City of Sydney is making the city safer through widened footpaths, better lighting and pedestrian facilities. This is an important next step to making it easier and safer to walk or cycle around one of the most beautiful cities of the world.

Why a lower speed limit?

Councils and the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) are installing 40km/h speed limits because lower vehicle speeds result in fewer pedestrian injuries and deaths. Travelling at lower speeds improves a driver’s ability to stop and avoid crashes. Where crashes do occur they are less severe, especially for children and the elderly.

Put simply, if a car hits a pedestrian at 50km/h the pedestrian is twice as likely to be killed than if the car was travelling at 40km/h. Even a small difference in vehicle speed can make a big difference in avoiding an accident and the chance of serious injury.

Road Safety Stopped safely at 26m 35m to stop Still travelling at 42 km/h 40km/h 50km/h

Consider this situation: A car is travelling at 40km/h. The driver sees a pedestrian stepping off the kerb about 27m ahead, recognise the danger and brake.  The car stops safely after 26m, avoiding the pedestrian.  If the car was travelling at 50km/h, it will take an extra 9m to stop, and will still be travelling at 42km/h when it hits the pedestrian.

For every extra km/h that a vehicle travels:

  • It takes longer to stop
  • The impact of a crash is more severe on the vehicle occupants and especially pedestrians
  • There is less reaction time to avoid a crash
  • There is more likely to be a serious injury or death.

 

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