Sydney is drastically reducing the speed limit in the inner city to improve road safety, which is likely to yield a windfall in the form of fines.
The City of Sydney is set to reduce the speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h on all roads within its local authority area. This includes the CBD and major suburbs such as Glebe, Forest Lodge, Redfern and Alexandria.
In the city centre there are plans to further reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h.
Sydney Mayor Clover Moore AO said the lower speeds would increase safety for everyone walking, cycling and driving in the city.
“Research has shown that the chances of survival for people hit by a vehicle increase significantly at lower speeds, such as 40 km/h,” she said.
‘At the moment, 75 percent of local and regional roads in our area already have a speed limit of 40 km/h or lower. That is an increase from just 5 percent in 2004.’
The lower speed will likely lead to higher revenue from speeding violations.
In 2032/24 alone, the New South Wales Government collected $233 million in speeding fines, both from speed cameras and police-issued fines.
However, Ms Moore said the change was prompted by safety and environmental concerns.
“When people drive more safely, it reduces the number and severity of accidents, improves pedestrian and cyclist safety, and contributes to better urban planning,” Moore said.
‘These important changes will not only make our streets safer, they will also be quieter and have lower exhaust emissions.
‘We also continue to work with NSW Transport to reduce the speed limit to 30km/h in the city centre and other high-activity areas where many people walk and cycle.’
The City of Sydney is reducing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h on all roads within its council area
Sydney Mayor Clover Moore (pictured) said the new speed limits will improve road safety
She added that signs will be put up in the coming weeks to warn drivers of the new limits.
The 40km/h limit applies to local and regional roads managed by Sydney City Council.
Most highways and provincial roads under the responsibility of the New South Wales Government will continue to have speed limits above 40 km/h.
The number of road deaths in NSW in 2024 is higher than in 2023, with 179 deaths so far.
By this time in 2023, 163 lives had been lost.