50 km/h speed limit – The Facts

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Background

On 1 March 2003, the South Australian Government introduced a 50 km/h general urban speed limit in built-up areas of all South Australian cities and towns.

The 50 km/h speed limit applies to all local streets unless you pass a sign indicating a different speed limit

Speed is a major contributor to road crash fatalities and injuries on our roads and can be the difference between a life saved or lost. Each year there are up to 3,700 reported fatal and injury crashes in South Australia. Many are caused by excessive speed.

Since the mid 1990’s, the number of road crash casualties in South Australia has plateaued at around 150 fatalities and 1,500 serious injuries per year. The Government has undertaken extensive research and consultation in a determined bid to reduce the number of road crashes, which cost the State approximately $1 billion per year.

A lower speed limit will make local streets in your community safer for all road users.

Streets affected by the 50 km/h speed limit

Local urban streets in the metropolitan area and country towns have a 50 km/h speed limit. This limit replaces the previous general (default) urban speed limit of 60 km/h.

Most of these streets ARE NOT marked with speed signs but automatically attract the 50 km/h speed limit.

If in doubt, and there is no speed sign, you must not exceed 50 km/h in a built-up area.

Streets and roads NOT affected by the 50 km/h speed limit and where speed signs are used

Streets and roads where the speed limit is higher or lower than 50 km/h are clearly marked with speed limit signs. Examples include main roads, road works, 40 km/h areas, 25 km/h school zones and children’s crossings.

Some main streets and roads through country towns are set at 50 km/h. These streets have a speed limit sign.

All major roads such as highways and arterial roads-those that serve as key traffic routes-are clearly signed. Signs on these roads can be expected at:

• The start of the road.
• Near major intersections.
• Regular intervals along the road.

Reasons for introducing a lower general urban speed limit

Improved road safety

Research has shown that even small reductions in vehicle speed can significantly reduce the number of deaths and the severity of injuries as a result of road crashes. Reducing the general urban speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h will help reduce crashes and make local streets safer for all road users.

Safer streets for pedestrians

Pedestrians are vulnerable road users and represent about 15 per cent of all South Australian road fatalities. The three highest pedestrian risk groups are children, the elderly and those affected by alcohol. More than one-quarter of road crashes in which pedestrians are injured or killed occur on local streets and roads. Research has shown that the risk of severe injury or death for pedestrians increases rapidly between collision speeds of 40 km/h to 60 km/h. Even small reductions in urban speeds can have a significant effect on the risk of a pedestrian fatality.

The results of a study by the Road Accident Research Unit (RARU) at Adelaide University show that small reductions in travelling speed translate into large reductions in impact speed in pedestrian collisions. In some cases collisions could be avoided altogether.

This study also estimated that reducing 60 km/h speed limits to 50 km/h, with the same level of compliance, would result in 27 per cent fewer pedestrian fatalities on the affected roads, and almost half of those (12 per cent) would be able to walk away unharmed.

Reducing speeds and traffic volumes, particularly where there is significant pedestrian activity will provide substantial improvements in safety as well as amenity.

Driving at a lower speed improves stopping distance

The faster a vehicle travels, the longer it takes to stop in an emergency. Studies have shown that in an emergency the average driver takes about 1.5 seconds to react and hit the brake. Travelling at lower speeds improves your ability to stop and avoid a crash

When driving at 50 km/h, the stopping distance is approximately 10 metres shorter than at 60 km/h. The diagram below shows the reaction and braking distances of two cars travelling side by side at a given instant, Car A travelling at 50 km/h and Car B at 60 km/h. Suppose a child runs onto the road 35m ahead. Under emergency braking conditions and assuming reasonably efficient brakes, the car travelling at 50 km/h stops just in time. The other car will hit the child at a speed of 44km/h.

Other factors, such as road conditions, bad weather, poor visibility and other traffic can make it even more difficult to stop.

Improved amenity

A lower speed limit gives greater importance to the needs of those who live on local streets rather than those who drive through them.

One recognised benefit of lowering the speed limit in local streets is the accompanying improvement in amenity. Amenity improvement in local streets is important, although not easy to measure.

An indicator of improved amenity following the lowering of local street speed limits in other States has been the sustained, and in some cases increased, levels of community support following implementation of the lower limit.

To bring South Australia into line with other States

South Australia has one of the highest general urban speed limits in the developed world. All other Australian States and most other countries already have a 50 km/h urban speed limit.

Supporting research and evaluation of 50 km/h speed limits

Research from Australia and overseas shows that even small reductions in vehicle speed can significantly reduce the number of deaths and the severity of injuries as a result of road crashes on our local streets.

Other States that have introduced a 50 km/h general speed limit have shown favourable results.

Victoria’s Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) conducted a study five months after the introduction of a state-wide general urban speed limit of 50 km/h. The study showed:

• a 13 per cent reduction in all serious casualty crashes involving all road users;
• a 22 per cent reduction in casualty crashes involving pedestrians; and
• a 40-46 per cent reduction in serious pedestrian casualty crashes that required admission to hospital.

MUARC is continuing to study and analyse the effects of the reduced speed limit in Victoria.

In 1998, the NSW Government invited local councils to join it in implementing a 50 km/h urban speed limit. By September 2000, 111 councils, covering 90 per cent of the State’s population, had taken part when an evaluation report was published. [This has since increased to 130 councils.]

The NSW evaluation report showed that for the 21-month evaluation period, there was a 25 per cent reduction in the risk of having a crash on streets zoned at 50 km/h. This was the equivalent of 262 fewer reported crashes on these streets and represented a cost saving to the community of $6.5 million.

There has been high community acceptance of a 50 km/h general urban speed limit. For instance, in New South Wales, research by the National Roads and Motorists’ Association (NRMA) showed strong community acceptance with 73 per cent of respondents supporting lower urban speed limits and 23 per cent opposed. It found the common reasons expressed for support included the safety of children; the slower the speed the easier it is to avoid crashes; and general safety.

Further Information:

Transport SA on 1300 360 067 (cost of local call) and website www.transport.sa.gov.au

SA Police Traffic Enquiries on (08) 8207 6586