Join an online focus group
Share your thoughts on our efforts to make roads safer
Community action for safe speeds research project
We’re committed to safer, healthier and more welcoming streets for everyone.
Why we support safe speeds on roads in our local area
Reducing speed limits saves lives. Lower speed limits reduce the number and severity of car crashes. They’re also one of the most effective ways to make our roads safer, particularly for people walking and cycling.
Research shows that your chance of surviving a crash is much greater at lower speeds. If you’re hit by a car travelling at 30km/h while walking, you have a 90% chance of surviving. Your chance of surviving reduces to 60% if you’re hit by a car travelling at 40km/h – it reduces even further to only 10% at 50km/h.
Lower vehicle speeds allow more time for all road users to react and significantly reduce collisions. Stopping distances at lower speeds are much shorter, improving safety for all road users.
Slower traffic produces less noise and fewer emissions. It’s makes footpath dining, walking and shopping on our streets more enjoyable and inviting for everyone.
To learn more about what we’ve done to reduce speed limits across our local read our access strategy and action plan.
Community action for safe speeds research project
The George Institute for Global Health has partnered with the City of Sydney and 4 other NSW councils to find innovative ways to help reduce speeding-related road trauma.
The project implements ideas from local communities to encourage safe travel speeds. It also aims to encourage these communities to better understand:
- the risks associated with various speeds
- the many benefits of safe speeds
- the misperceptions about safe travel speeds.
Citizens from the each participating local council area, attended 4 community jury meetings from October 2024 to June 2025. Each jury was presented with expert evidence about safe travel speeds, and speed management from external and local experts.
Jury members cross-examined these experts and deliberated to respond to these questions:
- How can we achieve acceptance of, and generate demand for, safe speeds?
- What is the most useful and compelling information for increasing understanding about safe speeds?
- What do you believe are the most effective ways to create a shift in public attitudes toward safe driving speeds?
At the end of the jury process, each community jury provided recommendations for ideas to encourage safe travel speeds that address these questions. At least one recommendation is to be implemented by each council.
The George Institute for Global Health will evaluate changes in community attitudes to speeding, levels of demand for safe speeds in our area, and changes in travel speeds in 2026.
We’ve adapted one recommendation from the community jury: the use of variable message signs to encourage drivers to slow down on 4 local roads.
From March to May 2026, we installed signs on:
- Joynton Avenue, Zetland
- Bowman Street, Pyrmont
- Abercrombie Street, Darlington
- Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo.
You’re invited to join an online 90-minute focus group to share your views on this effort.
Safe speed resources
Road Safety Learning Lab – NSW Government
This interactive website for all road users explores the science behind the rules and road safety. It challenges people to think differently about the choices they make on the road.