New 40km/h limit across Norwood, Payneham & St Peters council area gets nod, 15 years after Unley did the same
UPDATE: A council in Adelaide’s east has voted to reduce the speed limit across its entire area to 40km/h — and now other councils are being urged to do the same. What do you think? TAKE OUR POLL
A COUNCIL in Adelaide’s east has voted to reduce the speed limit across its entire area to 40km/h.
And the Centre for Automotive Safety Research and Bike SA says other councils should follow suit.
Norwood, Payneham & St Peters voted on Monday to become only the second council in Adelaide to introduce the 40km/h limit in a bid to improve the area’s amenity for walkers, cyclists and mobility scooter users. Unley introduced slower speeds on all its streets in 1999.
If the council can garner the community’s support, cars on all streets in its boundaries — apart from Osmond Tce, Stephen Tce, The Parade and Rundle St (Kent Town) — will be slowed to 40km/h.
The council will now survey of its residents to seek their support for the move.
Council chief executive Mario Barone said the Transport Department required a response rate of at least 30 per cent and support from at least 66 per cent of those respondents to implement the speed change.
In supporting the speed reduction move, councillors voted against a staff recommendation to first conduct a survey of speeds in the area to see if the lower speed limit was needed.
Monday’s motion was passed seven votes to six.
Councillor Sophia MacRae, who teaches cycling safety and does not own a car, said it was a “very exciting time for this city”.
“This is an opportunity to put it to our community if they want safer and calmer residential streets (they’ll support this move),” Ms MacRae said.
“It would be helpful if other councils took the opportunity at this time.”
Traffic management and road safety committee chairman Kevin Duke said the latest move was about improving “the quality of life for all the people of our residential areas”, rather than solving an existing problem.
“What we want to do is create an amenity in the area where cars are not going as fast and people feel safe to use the streets — pedestrians, bike users, gopher users feel safe,” Mr Duke said.
“What we’re trying to do is create something that makes a better living community.”
Other councils, such as Charles Sturt, Prospect and Mitcham, have introduced smaller 40km/h zones around specific problem areas, an approach supported by the RAA.
Burnside Council is also considering introducing a 40km/h zone on Beulah Rd, Beulah Park.
This targeted approach is preferred by Cr Sue Whitington.
“I don’t actually see how we can consult with our community without some statistics to back up our proposals,” Cr Whitington said.
“If they identify only certain locations require a 40km/h limit, that would negate the need to declare the whole council a 40km/h zone.”
University of Adelaide Centre for Automotive Safety Research deputy director Jeremy Woolley said the move was a positive one.
“Generally (with a 40km/h limit), you get fewer accidents — they just don’t happen because of the slower speeds,” Dr Woolley said.
Bike SA chief executive Christian Haag backed a consistent approach.
“People moving through a variety of jurisdictions and a variety of speed limits is not helpful,” Mr Haag said.
Unley councillor Rufus Salaman said his council doesn’t regret the slowdown, introduced in 1999.
“It’s certainly slowed down traffic in the long run,” Mr Salaman said.
Several Adelaide councils, including Charles Sturt, Prospect and Mitcham, have already introduced 40km/h sections near specific problem areas.
Burnside Council is considering introducing a 40km/h zone on Beulah Rd, Beulah Park.
RAA prefers this needs-driven approach.
“To introduce it on that (across the board) scale would be a big project and would need a lot of support from the community,” RAA senior manager road safety Charles Mountain said.
In a letter to the council, Road Safety Minister Tony Piccolo warned that a 40km/h zone on Hutt St scrapped in October was unsuccessful because of a lack of community support with motorists not ready to take their foot off the pedal.
State Government roads in the council area such as Magill Rd, Payneham Rd, Portrush Rd, Hackney Rd, Glynburn Rd, Dequetteville Tce, Fullarton Rd, OG Rd and Kensington Rd would remain at 60km/h.
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL CRAWL
Where it’s already 40km/h
Unley — council-wide speed restrictions
Charles Sturt Council — parts of Bowden, Brompton, Grange, Henley Beach, Tennyson and Woodville West
Prospect Council — parts of Prospect
Onkaparinga Council — parts of Morphett Vale, Darlington and in the Onkaparinga Hills
Port Adelaide Enfield Council — North Haven, part of Semaphore
Mitcham Council — all of Westbourne Park and Hawthorn, parts of Urrbrae and Blackwood
Marion Council — parts of Plympton Park
Holdfast Bay — Jetty Rd, Glenelg
Norwood, Payneham & St Peters — parts of Stepney