Can Lowering the Speed Limit to 30 km/h Really Save Lives?

In 2018, Yarra City Council conducted a trial to lower the speed limit in a specific network segment to 30 km/h, backed by funding from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and support from the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and the Victoria State Government. An evaluation by Monash University Accident Research Centre showed a minor decrease in mean speed and lower chances of surpassing speed thresholds of 40 km/h and 50 km/h. However, no notable difference was found in exceeding the 30 km/h limit. This study highlights the results of an additional investigation, which revealed a significant 67.6% drop in severe injuries post-speed limit reduction. Noteworthy reductions were also observed in injuries among pedestrians and bicyclists. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of implementing a 30 km/h speed limit in mitigating road trauma in urban areas, as evidenced by the Yarra City Council trial. 

Citation:

Sobhani, A. (2024). Evaluating the Impact of the 30 km/h Speed Limit Trial. In Proceedings of the Australasian Road Safety Conference 2024 (pp. 480-482). Hobart, Tasmania. https://australasianroadsafetyconference.com.au/conference-proceedings/ 

Advancing Safe System Implementation: Insights from Surrogate Safety Measures and Connected Vehicle Data in Victoria, Australia

This presentation shares practical insights into evidence-based road safety investment in Victoria, providing an overview of the state's Road Safety Strategy and action plans from a data and insights perspective. It delves into the integration of surrogate safety measures and connected vehicle data, demonstrating how these innovations enhance processes to better align with and achieve the objectives of the Safe System.

Citation:
Sobhani, A. (2025). Advancing Safe System Implementation: Insights from Surrogate Safety Measures and Connected Vehicle Data in Victoria, Australia. Presented at the 104th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, USA. Retrieved from https://safepath.com.au/insights-1
 

Evaluating the Impact of 30 km/h Speed Limits: Insights from Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety and Connected Vehicle Data

This presentation showcases the findings from the evaluation of a speed limit reduction to 30 km/h in the City of Yarra, Melbourne, focusing on its effect on pedestrian and cyclist fatal and serious injuries (FSIs). It will also explore the results of an evaluation conducted using connected vehicle data, comparing these findings with traditional evaluation methods. The session will assess the alignment between the two approaches and demonstrate the applicability of connected vehicle data as an innovative tool for safety monitoring and evaluation.

Citation:
Sobhani, A. (2025). Evaluating the Impact of 30 km/h Speed Limits: Insights from Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety and Connected Vehicle Data. Presented at the 104th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, USA. Retrieved from https://safepath.com.au/insights-1