ACT government looks to reduce local speed limit to 40km/h

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/49411/ac...imit-to-40kmh/

ACT government looks to reduce local speed limit to 40km/h



November 27, 2009 by Matt Brogan

ACT Minister for Transport, Jon Stanhope, is urging Canberrans to have their say on whether speeds limits around busy retail and commercial precincts should be reduced to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

Canberrans have until Friday December 18 to provide feedback on whether the 40 km/h speed limit, which currently applies in school zones, should be expanded to other areas of the ACT such as shopping centres and community facilities.

Stanhope said an independent review, commissioned by the Government, had confirmed a 40 km/h speed limit could improve the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists in areas of “high activity”.

“The ACT Government is exploring whether to expand the 40 km/h speed limit to targeted areas where there are significant numbers of pedestrians and cyclists.

“We are inviting Canberrans to have their say on whether they believe a 40 km/h speed limit would be appropriate for their neighbourhood shopping centre or town centre,” he said.

Stanhope said even small reductions in speed limits could significantly improve the likelihood of a pedestrian or cyclist surviving a crash.

“The risk of death to a pedestrian or cyclist struck at 60 km/h is greater than 90 per cent compared to 30 per cent at a collision speed of 40 km/h.”

The debate follows calls from Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who in August said that the CBD and inner suburbs needed 40 km/h limits to protect pedestrians.

She said pedestrians were involved in 23.8 per cent of road accidents in the City of Sydney in 2007 compared to the state average of 8.3 per cent.

“Just 15 per cent of people travel to work in the Sydney CBD by car, and the rest, 85 per cent, travel on foot, by bike or public transport.

“It’s time we made this majority a priority,” she said.

The ACT Government is yet to decide exactly where the reduced speed limit would apply if approved.

“Further consultation will be undertaken with locals and traders if the proposal is supported by the community,” Stanhope said.

Canberrans can provide feedback by completing a questionnaire available online at http://www.tams.act.gov.au/, or in hard copy at Canberra Connect shop-fronts and public libraries.

[Green X]

“The risk of death to a pedestrian or cyclist struck at 60 km/h is greater than 90 per cent compared to 30 per cent at a collision speed of 40 km/h.”

Yeah at 40km/h you just end up with a shattered spine, but you'll be alive!!!

what they fail to say is in the CBD and such arias you would be hard pressed to get to 60km/h unless it's early morning or late night when there are verry few pedestrians, hell larst time i drove into the Perth CBD in Peak hour my average speed would have been 20km/h.

[Falcon Coupe]

These ideas always make me laugh, of course lower speed limits reduce risks, why not just ban cars and make us walk?

It seems pedestrians are incapable of looking before crossing the road, if 40kph is good, everyone walking must surely be better.... :

[Keepleft]

I wouldn't worry about this too much, think CBD's. Its *not* a replacement for the built-up area default.

[ebxr8240]

ACT !! Yea so much hot air down there..
They can use sails...

[MITCHAY]

Here is my say "Get effed" :

Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists down here just suck, the speed limit aint the problem it's already slow enough.

[Lukeyson]

fair few spots in my area are 40kph, sucks the big one

[bdave351]

How about we teach people to look before they walk on the road instead eh? Novel idea for the ACT Govt to consider

[Iggypoppin']

get them all off the phones, ipods, etc when theyre crossing the roads. nearly scalped some young kid two streets across from me playing on his phone listening to music. i didn't see him until he stepped out from behind a car to cross. now, i was doing 50, and i'd have killed him if he didn't suddenly stop and look.
id have killed him at 40 too. who's fault would the media say it was? whose fault would it really be....

[MO]

Build bridges or tunnels keep them off the road its for cars.

[g220ba]

Originally Posted by 76txcoupe

get them all off the phones, ipods, etc when theyre crossing the roads. nearly scalped some young kid two streets across from me playing on his phone listening to music. i didn't see him until he stepped out from behind a car to cross. now, i was doing 50, and i'd have killed him if he didn't suddenly stop and look.
id have killed him at 40 too. who's fault would the media say it was? whose fault would it really be....

A mate of mine hit some lady in his garbage truck because she was listening to her ipod and couldn't hear the truck coming. before he knew it she'd walked out between cars and he'd hit her.

guess what everyone straight away assumed the truck driver to be at fault even though she appears to have failed to look.

back on topic i was always taught look left look right look left again then if clear cross. dropping the speed limit is only gonna increase risk taking by pedestrians who think he's only doing 40 i'll cross easily untill somebody gets hit. whats next 30?

[ltd]

Who allowed this to be published?
We should be very quiet about this kind of thing.
Imagine if the Vic or NSW govt saw this story, they'd be all over it like Carson Kressley on a wheelbarrow full of buttholes.
So please everyone, SSShhhhhhhhhh!

[bigdude1011]

First, kids should be placed on mandatory leashes until they are taught not to run on the road at school. More zebra crossings should be allocated as well.

[vegabass]

40km about schools...sure no problems and happy about it. anywhere else is just a joke. Bloody Stanhope. The ACT dont have traffic dramas quite like sydney and other major areas inc the goldy. There are plenty of footpaths and cycle lanes to keep everyone happy. I ride my bike to work and use the foot path as often as I can.

[bigdude1011]

Originally Posted by vegabass

There are plenty of footpaths and cycle lanes to keep everyone happy. I ride my bike to work and use the foot path as often as I can.

The government should move the bike tracks off the road though, one negligent driver (or L-plater) later, and someone could get killed

[ltd_on20s]

easier telling, and fining motorists by changing the speed limit to 40. much harder , and less revenue to tell pedestrians to start to look where they are going.

responsibility is skewed.

another cash grab joke.

[svo supporter]

Bike lanes area bloody joke. Got one near my work and the idiots persist on being all over the road. I'd be the biggest mongrel if I cleaned one up.

Reducing speed limits around shopping centres, of placing more crossings. My local shopping complex has plenty of them. The idiots still perist on walking out in front of an on coming car.

The problem with pollies, is they sit at a desk, claiming to know what happens in the real world, when in fact they're flat out knowing when to take a trip to the loo, unless they're legislated to do so.

[Wally]

Brisbane CBD has been 40kph for a few months now. No appreciable difference from before.

[xtremerus]

Originally Posted by ltd_on20s

easier telling, and fining motorists by changing the speed limit to 40. much harder , and less revenue to tell pedestrians to start to look where they are going.

responsibility is skewed.

another cash grab joke.

So true. Pollies take the easiest way out. And it must be revenue positive, not negative