The City of Sydney is cutting its speed limits from 50km/h to 40km/h on all of the roads within its council area, as part of a new road safety push.
The changes will apply to the remaining regional and local roads that currently have a default speed limit of 50km/h in Glebe, Forest Lodge, Beaconsfield and Waterloo.
Some sections of roads with 50km/h speed limits in Annandale, Redfern, Alexandria, Zetland and Woolloomooloo will also have limits reduced to 40km/h.
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, said the lower limits would improve safety for everyone who walks, rides and drives in the city.
“Studies have shown that the survival rates for people hit by a vehicle drastically improve at lower speeds like 40km/h,” she said.
“Currently, 75 per cent of local and regional roads in our area already have a 40km/h speed limit or lower. That’s up from just 5 per cent in 2004. This has been achieved through our work with the NSW Government, which is funding the latest round of speed limit changes.
“When people drive at safer speeds it reduces the number of crashes and their severity, improves safety for people walking and riding and helps to support better place-making. Not only will our streets be safer as a result of these important changes, they’ll be quieter and have less exhaust emissions”
Moore said the City of Sydney would continue to work with Transport for NSW to reduce speed limits to 30km/h in the city centre and other high activity areas where there are lots of people walking and riding.
Signs that reflect the new speed limits will be installed in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, temporary electronic signs will be positioned at key locations.
The 40km/h limit applies to local and regional roads managed by the City of Sydney council.
Most motorways and state roads, which are the responsibility of the NSW government, will continue to have speed limits above the 40km/h limit.