New Push to Slash Australia’s Speed Limit to 30km/h Sparks Outrage: ‘Ridiculous’ Plan to Save Cyclists’ Lives Divides Victorians
- Research suggests cutting speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h on residential roads could double use of ‘low-stress’ cycling routes
- Plan could reduce speed limits in school zones and local streets, but motorists are fuming over potential congestion and frustration
- Libertarian Leader David Limbrick slams proposal as ‘ridiculous’, warning of ‘over-reach’ and potential for fines to ‘devastate’ everyday drivers
A fierce debate has erupted over a proposed plan to slash Australia’s speed limit to 30km/h on residential roads, with motorists and cycling advocates at loggerheads over the scheme.
Research by RMIT University found that cutting the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h could more than double the use of ‘low-stress’ cycling routes, making our roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians. But the plan has sparked outrage among motorists, who claim it will lead to congestion, frustration, and devastating fines for drivers.
Libertarian Leader David Limbrick has slammed the proposal as ‘ridiculous’, warning of ‘over-reach’ and the potential for fines to ‘devastate’ everyday drivers. ‘Driving very slowly is difficult, and it’s especially frustrating in an empty street,’ he said. ‘You spend most of your time looking at the speedo rather than the road.’
But researchers argue that slowing down vehicles is a practical and affordable way to protect cyclists and pedestrians. ‘Installing physical barriers on every local street would be ideal, but it’s expensive and slow,’ said Dr Afshin Jafari, lead researcher on the RMIT study. ‘Slowing down vehicles is a cheap and effective way…’
The debate comes as the Victorian Government prepares to allow councils to propose 30km/h limits in school zones and on local streets. The move follows a successful trial in the City of Yarra, which showed early signs of reduced crashes and near misses. But not everyone is convinced, with former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton claiming that blanket 30 km/h zones were ‘not the answer’ to the state’s road toll.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the issue of speed limits on Australian roads is a complex and contentious one, with no easy solution in sight.