From Monday 19 October, we'll be trialling 30 km/h speed limit across 12 local areas in Stonnington.
The 18-month trial will help us understand how a lower speed limit works in different neighbourhoods and what impact it may have on safety, travel and people's experiences using local streets.
The following streets are part of the trial because they're near schools, key cycling routes and shopping precincts - places where people travel in different ways and at different speeds. They include:
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Why we're trialling lower speed limits
When people are travelling in different ways, unexpected moments can happen quickly - such as a child crossing the street on their way to school, a vehicle turning at an intersection or a bike rider moving around an obstacle.
Speed can affect what happens in these moments. Lower speeds can give people more time to respond and can reduce the severity of crashes when they occur. Research shows that when a person walking is hit by a vehicle travelling at 30 km/h, their chance of surviving is around 90%. At 50 km/h, this drops to around 10%.
As part of this trial, we've also looked at crash data from the Victorian Government in other areas where a 30 km/h speed limit has been introduced. The data shows a 51% reduction in all crashes and a 70% reduction in serious crashes in those locations.
Share your experience using these streets
Before the trial starts, we're asking community members who use these streets to share their current experience of the area with us. We'll compare this feedback with what we hear during and after the trial to understand how the lower speed limit affects safety and travel over time.
To be involved, visit our consultation website to fill out the survey via our Connect Stonnington page.
How we will evaluate the trial
Over the 18-month trial, we'll look at:
the number of vehicles, bike riders and pedestrians using the street
vehicle and cyclist speeds
the number of interactions and near misses
feedback and experiences through community surveys.
The information we gather from the community, alongside the traffic data, will help guide future decisions about local street safety.
