Hobart CBD speed limits to be reduced to 40km/h on most non-arterial streets from February 2021

Hobart motorists will soon have to put the brakes on driving around the city, as speed limit reductions proposed for the CBD are given the tick of approval. See where will be affected and when the changes come into place >>

• Hobart City Council is set to vote on 30km/h speed limits in the CBD
• Hobart City Council to consider speed limit reductions across the CBD and out in the suburbs

HOBART motorists will soon be required to put the brakes on in the city in a bid to increase pedestrian safety and reduce crashes.

In July, Hobart City Council elected members voted to reduce speed limits from 50km/h to 40km/h on most non-arterial streets around the CBD.

The original recommendation from council officers had included reducing speeds on some streets to 30km/h, but an amendment led to a blanket 40km/h proposal.

Now, the Tasmanian Transport Commission has given its support to the reduction, citing its alignment with the Tasmanian Road Safety Strategy as a way of reducing deaths and injuries on the state’s roads.

New 40km/h zones in Hobart CBD

From February 1, 2021, the new 40km/h speed limit will apply in the area bounded by Harrington, Melville, Campbell and Davey streets, except for Davey and Macquarie streets which will remain 50km/h.

Current 30km/h zones in parts of Elizabeth and Liverpool sts will also remain unchanged.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the decision was particularly timely, with this week being National Road Safety Week, and the reduction would bring Hobart in line with other capital and major cities.

“In the past five years, there have been 833 reported on-road crashes in Hobart’s CBD – that equates to 13 crashes every month, or nearly one every two days,” she said.

“A speed limit of 40km/h or lower is standard in many Australian CBDs and high-pedestrian areas as a means to reduce the risk and severity of crashes.”

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds Hobart said the reduction would have little impact on traffic congestion. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Cr Reynolds said lowering the speed limit by just 10km/h would have little impact on traffic flow, but made a big difference when it came to avoiding collisions and reducing injury severity.

“As well as providing more time for drivers and other road users to react and avoid a collision altogether, the chance of a fatal injury on a pedestrian or cyclist is drastically reduced from 85 per cent at 50km/h to less than 30 per cent at 40km/h.

“We also know from our research that these lower speeds will produce less of the accidents that are Hobart’s biggest cause of traffic snarls.”

City Infrastructure Committee chair Bill Harvey said independent traffic modelling by GHD found the new speed limit would not have any negative impact on travel time or congestion.

Road Safety Advisory Council chair Garry Bailey said the change was a step towards a safer city road network.

The council is still set to pursue lower limits in suburban retail precincts in North Hobart, New Town, Lenah Valley, South Hobart and Sandy Bay.