Locals rev up as Adelaide City Council considers introducing citywide 30km/h speed limit

Traders, residents and commuters have slammed a council plan to slash the speed limit in the CBD to 30km/h, as it’s revealed how much the proposal has already cost ratepayers.

Traders, residents and commuters have slammed an Adelaide City Council proposal to slash the speed limit in the CBD to just 30km/h, labelling it “ridiculous”.

The council met on Tuesday to discuss three plans to reduce speed limits in the CBD: A blanket 30km/h limit for all city streets, 40km/h for most streets, or a mixture of both with major arterial roads remaining at 50km/h.

The council agreed to explore options to reduce speed limits in the city in March 2022 to “help support businesses and residents for a safer urban environment”.

But in an Advertiser online poll, a whopping 92 per cent of more than 2000 respondents agreed it was “absolute madness” to consider a blanket 30km/h speed limit in the city.

Three options have been proposed; a blanket 30km/h limit for all city streets (seen in green), 40km/h for all the roads (in yellow) or a mixture of both. Picture: Adelaide City Council.

The majority of traders and city residents, who spoke to The Advertiser on Wednesday, also agreed.

Ben Kelly took over the General Havelock Hotel on Hutt St in September. Under all three options being considered by the council, the speed limit on the strip is flagged to reduce from 50km/h down to 30km/h.

He said the restrictions could make it a “more difficult place to travel”.

Ben Kelly is the owner of the Havelock Hotel on Hutt St. He says it’s “ridiculous” to consider a blanket 30km/h limit for all city streets. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“We’re trying to bring back (Hutt St) and make it more vibrant,” he said.

“We’re trying to bring more people into the city. This city is trying to grow. Reducing speed limits (will) create further congestion within the city.

“It’s ridiculous.”

Leila Milky, who is the co-owner of Biga Café on Hutt St was also against the plan and said she didn’t believe speeding was an issue in the city.

“There are always accidents (but) I think it’s just the drivers.

“So I don’t think reducing the speed limit will make any difference. Bad drivers are bad drivers. That’s it.”

City resident Stephen Tan-Brown didn’t support a blanket ban but said reducing the speed limit on some roads could encourage “more pedestrian activity and maybe better business”.

“I live in the city and people do speed a lot,” he said.

“(So) it could be done on the majority of roads, other than the main thoroughfares.”

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith says the proposal to cut the city speed limit to 30km/h is “a longstanding discussion”.

Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said it was likely the council would adopt a “nuanced” approach to speed limits in the city.

“The council has just started the conversation about speed limits in the city” she said.

“We are probably going to change limits on some streets, whether or not it’s all, we’ll find out.

“There’s a long way to go yet.”

Adelaide City Council city services director Tom McCready said the proposal has so far cost ratepayers $130k.

“(This included) a significant traffic data collection program,” he said.

“This work will support other traffic related projects and works into the future.”

No further funding has currently been allocated.

Currently, only three roads in the council area are 30km/h; Plane Tree Drive, Hindley St and a section of Grote St in the middle of Victoria Square.

Since 2019, there have been 2400 recorded crashes in the area, according to the information presented to council.

Of these, four were fatal. A further 211 resulted in serious injury and 658 resulted in minor injury. That means, in the past five years, someone has been injured in the council area nearly every second day.