Published on Wednesday, 22 February 2023 at 11:42:00 AM
The City of Vincent is one step closer to making its residential streets safer for the people who live, walk and ride there by reducing the speed limit to 40km/h.
A recent community survey conducted in September 2022 showed 57 per cent of respondents supported the reduction of the speed limit to 40km/h in residential streets.
A 40km/h trial is currently in place within the areas bounded by Newcastle, Vincent and Charles streets and the Swan River.
Now, Vincent will seek Main Roads WA approval to make the 40km/h speed limit permanent on all local roads across Vincent.
In urban areas, 40km/h speed limits reduce the chance of someone being hit by a vehicle and help reduce the consequences of the crash.
“Reducing speeds on our local residential streets to 40km/h not only makes a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists, it also enhances the neighbourhood feel of our suburbs,” said Mayor Emma Cole.
“As an inner-city community, residents regularly ask us to find ways to reduce rat running and slow traffic on their streets, often where speeds don’t exceed 50km/h.
“It’s important that our kids feel safe walking and riding to school, people can get around safely without relying on a car and our streets are comfortable and calm.”
Ms Cole said Vincent consulted widely over the past five years on reducing local road speeds from 50km/h to 40km/h and was responding to the safety evidence.
“We think 40km/h is the logical and clear next step to making our streets safer and more walkable and this is where our community’s support lies,” she said.
“We look forward to receiving feedback from Main Roads WA on our proposal.”
Vincent’s 40 km/h trial was the first area wide trial within a predominantly residential area, enforced through speed zone signage and without police enforcement.
An independent report to Council, funded by the Office of Road Safety, found in the three years post the trial commencement, residents’ surveys demonstrated a 13 per cent increase in resident support for the trial, a 21 per cent increase in the perception of improved liveability, with 34 per cent being more likely to choose walking or riding over local car trips.
Some crash reduction effect and increases in walking and cycling were also observed through the trial, with 14 per cent more pedestrians and cyclists observed within the first 12 months.
The data showed reductions in traffic volumes and that some streets had reduced 85th percentile traffic speeds, demonstrating that over time it is likely that general traffic speeds will continue to decrease within Vincent as community expectation for people to drive safely increases.
Whilst the report ultimately recommended 30km/h speed zones for local roads, Vincent has opted to pursue an areawide 40km/h on local roads as this best aligns with community feedback and its Accessible City Strategy action to implement 40km/h by 2023.
Based on a request of residents, Vincent will consult property owners and occupiers on Vincent Street, between William and Beaufort streets, to see if they support that section of their street being included in the 40km/h zone.
If Main Roads WA approves Vincent’s applications, the 40km/h speed zones are planned to be implemented in 2023/24.
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