Lower Speed Limits Implemented On Inner West Roads

Numerous regional roads and local streets in the Inner West have seen their speed limits reduced, in an effort to improve overall safety.

The limits on busy New Canterbury Road and Crystal Street were lowered from 60 km/h to 50 km/h in March. The limit on Stanmore Road was also reduced to the same, except between Herbert Street and Terrace Road, where it is now 40 km/h.

In the vicinity of Stanmore and Petersham, Douglas Street, Brown Street, Barker Street, Cook Street, Salisbury Road, Liberty Street, Kingston Road, Trafalgar Street and Bridge Road have seen their limits reduced to 40 km/h.

Several 10 km/h shared zones have been implemented, on Allans Avenue between New Canterbury Road and 16 Allans Avenue, Jarvie Avenue between Frazer Street and no. 19, Fishers Reserve from Palace Street to Carrington Lane, and Carrington Lane from Fishers Reserve to Railway Street.

The changes have been made “to increase road safety and improve the road environment for all road users.” They were implemented by the New South Wales Government, with the support of the Inner West Council.

They are in accordance with the council’s InnerWest@40 project, which has seen speed limits lowered across the municipality. The council contends that a pedestrian hit by a vehicle at 50 km/h has merely a 10 per cent chance of survival, versus 60 per cent if the vehicle is travelling at 40 km/h.

“There will also be public domain streetscape and community building opportunities presented by clearly defining our local streets.”

Bill for lower limits deferred

On Thursday 26 March, Greens and advocates for lower speed limits gathered at NSW Parliament House. They were there to show support for Balmain MLA Kobi Shetty’s bill to lower the default speed limit on urban streets from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.

“It was disappointing to see the government fail to support this sensible, evidence backed bill that would save lives and make our streets calmer and safer,” Shetty opined afterwards. “This ground swell of support and passion isn’t going anywhere, together we will continue to work towards safer streets for our communities.”

The default limit applies to streets without signposting that are located in built-up areas, meaning that any street with a speed limit sign would not have been impacted.

“I hope to see this bill supported when it comes back for debate early next year,” she said in the Legislative Assembly.

The City of Sydney supports reducing speeds. Lord Mayor Clover Moore told this masthead in November that the City has been successful in advocating limits of 40 km/h across its area.

In 2023, a formal request was filed with Transport for NSW to lower the city centre limit to 30 km/h. Moore said that the agency had not as yet progressed the application.