Merri-bek council lowers speed limits to 40km/h for road user safety

Drivers in Melbourne’s inner north will be forced to slow down as Merri-bek council reduces its speed limits to 40km/h.

Merri-bek council is reducing its 50km/h zones to 40km/h. Picture: Damian Shaw

Drivers in the inner north will be forced to put their foot on the brakes as a council reduces its speed limits to 40km/h.

The City of Merri-bek has received approval from the Department of Transport and Planning to lower the speed limit to 40km/h in local streets to improve road safety, particularly for cyclists and pedestrians.

Streets south of Moreland Rd will be the first to have their speed reduced to 40km/h from 50km/h before December 15 as part of the council’s six-month rollout.

It will be followed by speed reductions on roads east of Sydney Rd, west of Pascoe Vale Rd and north of Boundary Rd.

Local roads between Bell St and Moreland Rd and Boundary Rd and Bell St will also have the speed limit lowered to 40km/h.

Local streets south of Moreland Rd will have speed limit lowered to 40km/h before December 15. Photo: supplied.

Speed limits on roads classified as collector, major, and arterial, including those managed by the state government, will remain unchanged and only roads that are currently limited at 50km/h will be changed.

Merri-bek councillor Oscar Yildiz said the council had to be “realistic” about a “blanket speed limit” on local roads.

“We need to appreciate people are still going to use vehicles to get around, and [council] is making it extremely hard to drive around some of our streets and acknowledge the speed limit,” he said.

Merri-bek will implement an area speed zone which will apply when driving pass a “40 Area” sign and remains until passing an “End 40 Area” sign.

“Having 40km/h speed limits blanket across most of the city is just going to drive up traffic to those streets that allow 50km/h or 60km/h.”

Mr Yildiz said it was difficult for motorists to navigate various speed limits set through Merri-bek city, which was “causing more frustration to the drivers”.

“I think the Greens, particularly those pushing this, need to understand that cars aren’t going anywhere. They’re not going to be able to take cars off the streets, which is what they’re trying to do,” he said.

“We need to rethink and seriously consider all road users rather than just one group.”

Local community advocate groups Walk on Merri-bek, Merri-bek Bicycle Users Group, and Safer for Walking and Riding for Murray Road have welcomed the council’s decision.

“While some of the local roads in the southern parts of Merri-bek are already 40km/h, consistency across the city will improve safety outcomes for everyone on foot, on wheels and inside cars, and create a more consistent road environment for people when they’re driving,” Merri-bek Bicycle Users Group wrote on social media.

Coburg High School’s past school council president and convener of the Safer for Walking and Riding for Murray Road community advocacy group spokeswoman Cate Hall said the decision would encourage people “too afraid to walk and ride” to be more confident to use active travel.
“Families will feel safer walking and riding with young children and be more comfortable with their children travelling to local schools independently,” she said.

It comes after the City of Yarra earlier this month voted on whether to expand its current 30km/h speed zone to include new areas covering southern parts of Fitzroy and Collingwood, from Johnston Street to Victoria Parade — starting from early next year.

Merri-bek City Council Mayor Adam Pulford said reducing the speed limit on local roads was one way the council was improving safety on roads and “it could save lives”.

“Our streets should be safe for everyone to get around, whether they’re walking, riding, rolling or driving,” he said.

“Victoria’s 2023 road toll is the highest it’s been in 15 years.

“Lower speed limits mean drivers have more time to react to what’s on the road, reducing the risk of people crashing. 

“The new limits only apply to our local roads, which usually make up only a small part of people’s trips, so while it will make our neighbourhoods safer, we don’t expect it to have a big impact on people’s travel times.

“The shift to a lower speed limit on our local roads is a positive step forward for safety in our community and council is committed to doing more to make our streets safer, including by working with state and federal governments.”