Sydney’s streets will soon be even safer for everyone who walks, rides or drives, with the City of Sydney reducing speed limits to 40km/h across the local area.
The changes will apply to the remaining regional and local roads that currently have a default speed limit of 50km/h in Glebe, Forest Lodge, Beaconsfield and Waterloo. Some sections of roads with 50km/h speed limits in Annandale, Redfern, Alexandria, Zetland and Woolloomooloo will also have limits reduced to 40km/h.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to make our roads as safe as they possibly can be for people walking, riding and driving,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.
“Studies have shown that the survival rates for people hit by a vehicle drastically improve at lower speeds like 40km/h.
“Currently, 75 per cent of local and regional roads in our area already have a 40km/h speed limit or lower. That’s up from just 5 per cent in 2004. This has been achieved through our work with the NSW Government, which is funding the latest round of speed limit changes.
“When people drive at safer speeds it reduces the number of crashes and their severity, improves safety for people walking and riding and helps to support better place-making. Not only will our streets be safer as a result of these important changes, they’ll be quieter and have less exhaust emissions.
“We will also continue to work with Transport for NSW to reduce speed limits to 30km/h in the city centre and other high activity areas where there are lots of people walking and riding.”
We expect to install signs that reflect the new speed limits in the coming weeks.
The 40km/h speed limit applies to local and regional roads the City of Sydney is responsible for managing. Most motorways and state roads, which are the responsibility of the NSW Government, will continue to have speed limits above our 40km/h limit. We are working with the NSW Government to prioritise speed reduction on these roads too.
Temporary electronic signs will be positioned at key locations to alert motorists to the new 40km/h speed changes for a minimum of two weeks.
The City of Sydney continues to encourage everyone who walks, rides or drives in our area to remain alert to their surroundings. We also remind motorists to always observe the posted speed limit signs on the road.
