Published May 2025
Smart cities such as Vancouver, Amsterdam and Melbourne have lowered speed limits on residential streets to 30kph, backed by the WHO and road safety experts. Should we trial this in in Brisbane?
Our roads have become more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. The main benefit of the 30kph limit on neighbourhood streets is safety, substantially reducing pedestrian and cyclist deaths and serious injury. With pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and serious injury increasing in 2024 to the highest level in the last 6 years in Queensland, it is time to trial 30kph in Brisbane for neighbourhood streets and adjacent to schools. Zero is the only acceptable number of deaths and serious injury on our roads, and yet more than 220 pedestrians and cyclists either died or were hospitalised in 2024 on Queensland’s roads according to Department of Transport and Main Roads data.
The chance of surviving when hit by a car at 50kph may be only 10 per cent, but 90 per cent survive if hit at 30kph. Bigger cars, which have increased on our roads, have a larger mass and so a greater impact, causing more severe injury at any speed. With human error inevitable, time for reaction for both driver and potential victim is greater with the lower speed. Children and older adults are the most vulnerable on our streets, and yet we want them to be outdoors and active, walking, riding and using public transport, to school or local facilities. The Australian Medical Association Queensland has urged governments to take actions that boost such active transport, because of the significant health and environmental benefits.
A 30kph limit on residential streets has negligible impact on car travel time, with main road speed limits remaining unchanged. Residential streets become family friendly and liveable, with lower traffic noise and vehicle emissions. A few of our streets are 40kph, e.g. Racecourse Road, but 30kph is substantially safer than 40kph (by 30 per cent).
A recent scientific study published in the Journal of Safety Research showed that, around the world, the introduction of 30kph speed limit reduced crashes, fatalities and injury on average by 40 per cent, with no significant impact on traffic flow. Further there was less pollution and noise, and increased walking and cycling.
Safety concerns about our streets prevent some, especially children and older adults, from having more active lifestyles, with walking or cycling. In WA, 30kph Active Streets have been trialled. Cyclist numbers increased 300 per cent along the 30kph streets, and there were 62 per cent more walkers. They now plan to expand the program. Toowoomba established, in July 2024, Queensland’s first “Safe Active Street”, which prioritises cyclists and links two bike paths, with a 30kph limit.
With a 30kph limit on residential streets, our neighbourhood would be safer and more liveable, encouraging walking and cycling, with less pollution, congestion and noise.
