Reduced speed limits are consistent with our Road Safety Plan 2012-17 that aims to reduce motor vehicle speeds in areas of high pedestrian movement.

We’re investigating a 40km/h speed limit in Kensington because it’s what the community, through the Kensington Association asked for, as part of our consultation about the Walking Plan.

Studies have shown a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 50km/h is four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than if hit at 40km/h. If you’re a cyclist or pedestrian and you get hit at 40km/h, your chances of survival are much greater than if you’re hit at 50km/h.

The reduced speed limit is proposed for Kensington, in residential streets that currently have a 50km/h speed limit. There are three study areas, north (blue), south (green), and west (red).

A new 40km/h area is proposed for Epsom Road between Smithfield Road and Kensington Primary School zone at Hopetoun Street and Bayswater Road.

Several 40km/h speed zones have been applied to heavily pedestrianised strip shopping streets, heavily pedestrianised commercial areas, streets adjacent to schools and residential precincts. As such:

• School zones limits in Epsom Road, McCracken Street and Gower Street will be permanent.
• Limit in Macaulay Road shopping strip will remain.
• Limit in Racecourse Road, 40km/h between 8am and 11pm, will remain.

Existing 50km/h zones will remain in:

• Kensington Road and Macaulay Road, east of Eastwood Street.

Existing 60km/h zones will remain in:

• Racecourse Road, west of Smithfield Road and east of Nottingham Street,
• Epsom Road, west of Smithfield Road,
• Smithfield Road, between Epsom Road and Racecourse Road,
• Stubbs Street.

An existing 70km/h zone will remain in Smithfield Road, west of Epsom Road.

The results of this consultation will be reported to the Future Melbourne Committee of Council. Recommendations will be made based on support or opposition to the proposed 40km/h speed limit in each of the study areas. Council will then need to make a submission to VicRoads with any recommended changes.

In addition to many strip shopping and school zones we introduced a 40km/h speed limit across the central city in late 2012 to slow down motorists and protect vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Parkville, south of Gatehouse Street also has a 40km/h limit. In the City of Yarra all residential areas have 40km/h limits.

A 40km/h speed limit improves safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists without significantly affecting vehicle travel times or conditions. Speeds have been monitored in the study areas with average speeds being measured at between 28km/h and 31km/h. Speeds at the 85^th percentile have been recorded between 34km/h and 39km/h indicating most people are travelling less than the speed limit.

Traffic studies conducted in April 2013 show that in the months after the 40km/h central city speed limit was introduced, the percentage of cars exceeding 40km/h in the central city had dropped from 37 per cent to 27 per cent.

We implemented a 40km/h speed limit in the central city because it strikes a balance between the need to reduce the speed of cars on our streets to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe, without affecting congestion or the ability of cars to move through the city. Council has no plans to implement a 30km/h speed limit across the CBD.

In recent years we have made a number of improvements to streetscapes across the city. Examples include widening footpaths, installing medians, refuge areas, pedestrian crossings, bicycle lanes and reviewing the operation of traffic signals.

We are also rolling out our Share our Streets program, aimed at reducing crashes involving vulnerable road users.