30 Km/h To Save Lives, Says Expert

The Age

Saturday January 12, 2008

Stephen Moynihan

A ROAD safety expert says Victoria's annual road toll can be cut to fewer than 300 by dropping urban speed limits to as low as 30 km/h.

Professor Brian Fildes, chair of road safety at Monash University's Accident Research Centre, said yesterday if speed limits in local streets were dropped to 40 km/h, or even 30 km/h, fatalities would fall by 7%.

"For the most part in Europe there's nothing over 50 km/h and in urban areas, I'd like to see that 40 km/h or even less," he said.

"In Europe the proposals are for 30 in residential areas. If we were to follow that we'd see a drop in the toll."

Australia has the highest speed limits on urban roads in the Western world. Many European countries currently cap speed in cities at 40 km/h and Sweden and the Netherlands have a maximum of 30 km/h. The average speeds for local and residential areas in the US range from 45 to 56 km/h.

Professor Fildes believes that lowering the speed limit, in combination with new car safety technology and extensive use of wire barriers along roads, would reduce Victoria's road toll below 300.

In 2003, Victoria had its lowest road toll, 330. Police and road safety authorities were hoping to beat that last year but a spate of crashes in the last quarter, including 11 deaths over one weekend, took the toll to 332.

European experts estimate that up to 40% of single-vehicle crashes could be avoided if all cars had electronic stability control (ESC). In Victoria, that means 50 lives a year could be saved.

ESC helps drivers remain in control of their vehicle when they skid or swerve, or when road conditions change.

Professor Fildes believes ESC, combined with curtain airbags - which protect vehicle occupants during side collisions - should be mandatory.

Inspector Dennis Watson of the police traffic unit said bad driving behaviour had become a problem.

There is no concrete data showing rising levels of driver aggression, but police believe increased traffic congestion is causing more road rage and dangerous driving.

Research by insurer AAMI found that 90% of motorists believed drivers were becoming more aggressive.

More than 60% admitted gesturing rudely or yelling at other drivers who had done something dangerous or rude. One in five admitted becoming so angry with another motorist that they resorted to tailgating.

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home