The introduction of 30km/h zones and speed limits in urban areas, where people walking or riding and vehicles regularly share the same space, has been found to effectively reduce fatalities and injuries. The chances of survival diminish rapidly at speeds greater than 30km/h when someone is hit by a vehicle.
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, while 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 WHO have concluded that an increase in average speed of 1 km/h results in a 3% higher risk of a crash and a 4 to 5% increase in fatalities.
Above 30 km/h impact speeds, people walking are at considerably greater risk of death. This is even greater for the young and elderly. In the distance a 30km/h car can stop, a 50km/h car is still driving. Higher speeds narrow motorists’ peripheral vision and impact their reaction times.
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, while 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 WHO have concluded that an increase in average speed of 1 km/h results in a 3% higher risk of a crash and a 4 to 5% increase in fatalities.
Above 30 km/h impact speeds, people walking are at considerably greater risk of death. This is even greater for the young and elderly. In the distance a 30km/h car can stop, a 50km/h car is still driving. Higher speeds narrow motorists’ peripheral vision and impact their reaction times.
Tools
NSW Government - https://www.movementandplace.nsw.gov.au/standards/design-solutions/precinct-wide-speed-reduction-improve-safety-and-quality-public-space
