The introduction of 30km/h zones and speed limits in urban areas, where people walking or people riding a bicycle and vehicles regularly share the same space, has been found to effectively reduce fatalities and injuries. Someone driving at speeds greater than 30km/h is significantly more likely to kill a person in a collision with people walking or riding a bicycle.
According to the NSW Centre for Road Safety, in a crash between a car and somebody walking, there is a 10 per cent risk that the person will be killed at 30 km/h, 40 per cent risk at 40 km/h, and a 90 per cent risk at 50 km/h.
Overall, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have concluded that an increase in the average speed of 1 km/h results in a 3% higher risk of a crash and a 4 to 5% increase in fatalities.
Evidence from around the world shows that low speed streets reduce the risk of serious injuries and save lives. In Toronto, Canada, road crashes fell by 28% since speed limits were reduced from 40 to 30 km/h in 2015, which led to a reduction in serious and fatal injuries by two thirds.
In Colombia, Bogota has included 30km/h zones in a package of measures in its Speed Management Plan that have reduced traffic fatalities by 32%.
A study from London found that lower speed limits (in this case 20mph zones) were associated with a 42% reduction in road casualties. In contrast in Bristol the introduction of 20mph limits was associated with a 63% reduction in fatal injuries between 2008 and 2016. Restricting the city's speed limits to 20mph (30km/h) without extra traffic-calming measures and police patrols has reduced road deaths by almost a quartering in Edinburgh.
According to the NSW Centre for Road Safety, in a crash between a car and somebody walking, there is a 10 per cent risk that the person will be killed at 30 km/h, 40 per cent risk at 40 km/h, and a 90 per cent risk at 50 km/h.
Overall, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have concluded that an increase in the average speed of 1 km/h results in a 3% higher risk of a crash and a 4 to 5% increase in fatalities.
Evidence from around the world shows that low speed streets reduce the risk of serious injuries and save lives. In Toronto, Canada, road crashes fell by 28% since speed limits were reduced from 40 to 30 km/h in 2015, which led to a reduction in serious and fatal injuries by two thirds.
In Colombia, Bogota has included 30km/h zones in a package of measures in its Speed Management Plan that have reduced traffic fatalities by 32%.
A study from London found that lower speed limits (in this case 20mph zones) were associated with a 42% reduction in road casualties. In contrast in Bristol the introduction of 20mph limits was associated with a 63% reduction in fatal injuries between 2008 and 2016. Restricting the city's speed limits to 20mph (30km/h) without extra traffic-calming measures and police patrols has reduced road deaths by almost a quartering in Edinburgh.
Tools
NSW Government guidelines- https://www.movementandplace.nsw.gov.au/standards/design-solutions/precinct-wide-speed-reduction-improve-safety-and-quality-public-space
