Road Safety

This report documents a survey of opinions regarding a 50 km/h speed limit on local streets. Two sampling strategies were used, a sample of all people living in the State, and a targeted sample of people living on streets where the speed limit was likely to be lowered to 50 km/h when legislation was changed.

Interview surveys were carried out by telephone in three States (NSW, SA and Tasmania). Interviews with the general public were carried out in the metropolitan area and one other major centre in each State. Streets where the limit was likely to change were identified by the road authority in each of the participating States, and included a second major urban area in the case of NSW (Newcastle) and two metropolitan samples in the case of South Australia, as well as smaller centres. Respondents living on the streets where the limit was expected change were asked additional questions about anticipated traffic conditions and quality of life.

There was little difference in the responses of the two samples. In all centres, the vast majority of respondents thought that a 50 km/h limit on local streets was a good idea, even in centres where prior awareness of the 50 km/h limit had been very low. Respondents thought the 50 km/h local street speed limit was a good idea because it would improve safety in some way, with a few mentioning reduced traffic intrusion or noise. Those who thought it a bad idea generally did so because they believed there would be no change, with a very few thinking it would increase congestion or frustration. Generally, opinion was fairly evenly split as to whether the 50 km/h speed limit would have beneficial effects on traffic speeds and environmental impacts. In all questions asked, those believing the measure would have a beneficial effect greatly outweighed those believing it would have a detrimental impact.