The Victorian government is considering a proposal that could lower speed limits to 30km/h on some local streets. This recommendation stems from a comprehensive 30-year infrastructure strategy put forth by Infrastructure Victoria, which includes 43 suggestions covering various sectors like housing, transport, and the environment.
One key recommendation is to enhance the safety of local streets for children and communities by implementing reduced speed limits. This measure aims to prioritise areas frequented by children, such as schools, playgrounds, childcare centres, and kindergartens.
According to the report, road-related accidents are a leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 14 in Australia, with seven fatalities reported annually in Victoria. Furthermore, nearly 300 children experience serious injuries each year, primarily on local roads, often where the speed limit is 50km/h. The report advocates for an urgent revision of the speed limit policy to align with the implementation of 30km/h zones, particularly on streets heavily travelled by children.
The findings also highlight the dramatic impact of speed on pedestrian safety: striking a pedestrian at 50km/h results in an 85% chance of death, whereas that risk decreases significantly to just 10% at 30km/h.
Although some areas in Victoria have already begun testing 30km/h zones, experts like Dr Lauren Pearson from Monash University have pointed out that Australia is lagging behind other countries in adopting such safety measures. International examples show that cities like Toronto and London have benefited from these reductions in speed limits, leading to notable decreases in serious injuries and fatalities.
The complete report is expected to be tabled in Parliament later this year, at which point the government will respond to its recommendations.