The speed reduction will be extended to major arterial roads that are not within school zones
December 2, 2013
The Victorian Government will roll out 40km/h zones across the state in a bid to improve pedestrian safety around schools and shopping centres.
The speed reduction will be extended to major arterial roads that are not within school zones, Transport Minister Terry Mulder says.
“At present, school 40km/h zones apply only where a school gate directly accesses a road,” Mulder says.
“However, there are some areas where high numbers of pedestrians are crossing major roads to get to schools. These are the areas where lower speeds may be required during certain times of the day.”
The first rollout will occur in Bendigo, where speed at a section of the Calder Highway at Kangaroo Flat will be reduced.
VicRoads has developed guidelines for identifying locations with higher risks, taking into account the speed, number of school pedestrians, traffic volumes and number of heavy vehicles.
Another 50 locations across Melbourne and Victoria will be targeted.
Mulder is calling on councils to apply to VicRoads to consider speed limit reductions on arterial roads.
“Most of these crossings already have a crossing supervisor because they are on busy roads,” he adds.
“However, the changes mean that they will now have reduced speeds, through either electronic or static signs.
“This will provide extra protection for these vulnerable road users and we will also be giving councils more flexibility to tailor the hours of operation for their 40kmh pedestrian zones to the times when they are needed most.”
Under the new guidelines, councils will get the option of replacing static 40kmh school speed signs with time-based 40kmh zones on their own roads.
