Momentum is building for the wider introduction of 30 km/h speed limits across European cities as the benefits of the move become clearer over time.
Recent studies have found that reductions in speed limits have improved road safety by decreasing the likelihood of crashes and the severity of crashes that do occur.
On average, the implementation of 30 km/h speed limits in European cities has resulted in a 23% reduction in road crashes, a 37% reduction in fatalities and a 38% reduction in injuries.
Lower speed limits also yielded environmental benefits, with emissions decreasing on average by 18%, noise pollution levels by 2.5 dB and fuel consumption by 7%.
The findings come from reviews of the changes that 30km/h limits brought to 40 cities across the continent.
Additionally, 30km/h initiatives have eased the way for much greater development of pedestrian, bicycle and public transport facilities in these cities.
The move to introduce 30km/h limits grew out of the spread of the 'safe systems', sometimes known as 'vision zero', approach to roads safety.
It was known that pedestrians and bike riders survived most crashes with motor vehicles moving at speeds of 30km/h or less, and that these lower speeds on local streets made very little difference to the flow of traffic.
In Europe, with its large number of heavily pedestrianised cities, it was seen as good policy to pursue these lower speed limits.
Across all states, Australia has also adopted the safe systems approach to road safety, but the introduction of the 30km/h concept has met with popular and political resistance.
The same resistance, based on a fear of longer travel times, has also been encountered – and mostly overcome – in Europe.
Research has shown very little impact on travel times by the lower limits, and in some cases there is evidence of reduced congestion.
The recent study, titled "Review of City-Wide 30km/h Speed Limit Benefits in Europe” and published in the journal Sustainability, finds the adoption of 30km/h speed limits is gaining momentum, serving as inspiration for other communities and being progressively implemented in a growing number of cities.
It contains many useful suggestions for cities considering adopting the policy.
Meanwhile the Dutch cyclists’ association Fietserbond has launched a campaign for 30km/h to be the default for villages and cities across the nation.
Fietsersbond advocates 30km/h on all streets where cyclists and car traffic share the road, with 50km/h only allowable on wide, busy roads with separate lanes or on access roads to highways.
The national social benefits would be worth more than €500 million, they calculate. With more measures to support 30km/h, such as road narrowing, speed bumps and raised intersections, the social benefits could total more than €2 billion.
Or become our friend and subscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter.