Speeds to be reduced in Fitzroy, Collingwood streets under Yarra City Council trial

SPEEDS will be reduced to 30km/h in several Fitzroy and Collingwood residential streets next month in a bid to improve road safety — and other inner city roads may follow.

SPEEDS will be reduced to 30km/h in residential streets in Fitzroy and Collingwood next month in a bid to improve road safety, particularly for cyclists and pedestrians.

Streets bound by Alexandra Parade and Hoddle, Johnston and Nicholson streets will have their speed lowered from 40km/h to 30km/h from September as part of a 12-month trial led by Yarra City Council.

If successful, speed reductions could be applied to other inner city roads.

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The road safety trial aims to make local roads safer for all users, particularly pedestrians and cyclists.

One hundred crashes have occurred in the area between 2012-2017, and more than 90 per cent involved pedestrians cyclists and motorbike riders.

Research by Monash University’s Accident Research Centre found a pedestrian is twice as likely to survive being hit by a car travelling at 30km/h rather than 40km/h.

The findings were cited by Yarra City Council as it unveiled plans to reduce speed within the zone.

Initial studies indicated motorists would be delayed by less than 12 seconds per kilometre.

The trial has been backed by the Transport Accident Commission.

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