New South Wales study indicates lower speed zones reduce deaths

A new study into 40km/h speed zones in New South Wales, Australia indicates they are reducing deaths and injuries in high pedestrian and traffic areas.
July 4, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

A new study into 40km/h speed zones in New South Wales, Australia indicates they are reducing deaths and injuries in high pedestrian and traffic areas.

The study, by the Centre for Road Safety, found there was a 33 per cent reduction in crashes causing serious injuries and deaths between 2005 and 2015, where 40 km/h zones had been introduced.

Crash data shows that over 6,300 people were injured or killed on local streets each year and that many of these crashes involve excessive or inappropriate speeds.

In permanent 40 km/h speed limits locations, the number of people killed went down from 12 in 2005 to one in 2015. The number of people seriously injured also dropped from 269 in 2005 to 203 in 2015.

The evaluation looked at locations from the High Pedestrian Activity Areas Program that combines 40km/h speed zones with pedestrian infrastructure like raised crossings and other traffic calming features.

Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey said the results show the 40 km/h speed zones help save lives and prevent devastating injuries.

“We are now looking to expand the rollout of these reduced speed zones around the state. The Centre for Road Safety will work with 6722 Roads and Maritime Services, focusing on locations with high pedestrian activity, especially around train stations, bus interchanges and shopping centres,” she said.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Polarised imaging gives enforcement clarity
    February 6, 2020
    Polarised imaging advances have finally allowed ITS technology to catch up with previously unenforceable international bans on smoking in cars, says Sony’s Stephane Clauss
    Read More
  • IAM calls for more visible policing as speeding offences rise
    October 1, 2015
    Figures obtained by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) show that, over the last decade, speeding is still the biggest motoring-related offence where the defendant is found guilty in court. The numbers of those found guilty have risen sharply in the past 12 months – from 115,935 to 148,426, an increase of 28 per cent, the highest number since 2005. The 2014 figures were two per cent greater than 2004. The next highest offence where defendants were found guilty was vehicle insurance-related crime
    Read More
  • RAC survey shows big safety gains with average speed enforcement
    January 11, 2017
    Cheaper and easier communications are providing authorities with new options for influencing driver behaviour. Colin Sowman reports. It’s official; Average speed cameras (ASCs) cut the number of fatal or serious injury crashes by more than a third.
    Read More
  • New Zealand planning more speed cameras
    December 3, 2012
    The government of New Zealand aims to improve road safety in the country by installing more speed cameras nationwide. Currently, the ratio of speed cameras per 100,000 people stands at 1.3 compared to 2.5 and 4.8 in the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria respectively. The New Zealand Transport Agency is to be allocated US$8.05 million to increase the number of speed cameras from the existing 55 units to 100 or more by 2015. Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges welcomed plans to increase
    Read More

Highlighted Content