Major change coming to streets in big Australian city

The City of Sydney will reduce speed limits from 50km/h to 40km/h across roads in major inner-city suburbs of Glebe, Forest Lodge, Beaconsfield and Waterloo.

Some sections of roads in council areas of Annandale, Redfern, Alexandria, Zetland and Woolloomooloo will also have limits reduced to 40km/h.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO said the move responds to studies which show “survival rates for people hit by a vehicle drastically improve at lower speeds like 40km/h”.

“Currently, 75 per cent of local and regional roads in our area already have a 40km/h speed limit or lower.

“That’s up from just 5 per cent in 2004. This has been achieved through our work with the NSW Government, which is funding the latest round of speed limit changes.

“When people drive at safer speeds it reduces the number of crashes and their severity, improves safety for people walking and riding and helps to support better place-making.

Ms Moore said it was “everyone’s responsibility” to ensure roads were exceptionally safe for “people walking, riding and driving”.

Temporary electronic signs will be positioned at key locations to alert motorists to the new 40km/h speed changes for a minimum of two weeks.

The changed limit will apply to local and regional roads in City of Sydney municipal, but most motorways and state roads managed by the NSW Government will still retain speed limits above that.

“We are working with the NSW Government to prioritise speed reduction on these roads too,” Ms Moore said.

She flagged the council and Transport for NSW will also push to slash speed limits to 30km/h in the city centre and high activity areas where many people walk and ride.

She said it is expected council streets will be safer and quieter with less exhaust emissions due to these “important” changes.

It comes as the 2024 NSW road toll to date increased by 16 to 179 lives lost compared to 163 at the same time last year.