Mildura Rural City Councillors will this week consider a report on the outcome of the 30km/h trial speed limit in Mildura’s central business district.
The trial speed limit was among a raft of actions in the Mildura CBD Access and Mobility Strategy aimed at improving access and mobility within the precinct for all modes of transport, in line with the Victorian Government’s Movement and Place Policy.
The 12-month trial, which concluded in April this year, took in CBD streets bounded by Pine Avenue, Seventh Street (not included in trial), Tenth Street and Deakin Avenue (not include in trial).
It has been evaluated based on three overarching criteria:
- evidence-based road safety principles
- traffic and pedestrian data
- community sentiment.
General Manager Infrastructure and Assets Daryl Morgan said all three measures needed to be considered when assessing the effectiveness of the trial.
“In considering the evidenced-based criteria, it’s important to look at this in the context of the Victorian Government’s Movement and Place framework, which guides traffic network planning and development across the State,” Mr Morgan said.
“This means looking at the Mildura CBD as a ‘place’ our community travel to and want to be able get around easily within and feel safe, rather than necessarily need to travel through quickly,” Mr Morgan said.
Evidenced-based road safety principles indicate:
- when a pedestrian is hit at 50km/h they have a 1.5 in 10 chance of surviving
- When a pedestrian is hit at 40km/h they have a 5 in 10 chance of surviving
- When a pedestrian is hit at 30km/h they have a 9 in 10 chance of surviving.
Traffic data collected from 16 locations as part of the trial indicated a slight decrease in the average speeds detected.
Mr Morgan said the data also showed there was less traffic congestion in the CBD during the trial period, and a slight increase in traffic along Seventh Street and Walnut Avenues.
Community sentiment is the third criteria on which the trial was evaluated, revealing 61% of respondents weren’t in favour of continuing the 30km/h trial speed limit, while 31% said they supported the trial.
Those not in favour of the trial indicated it was for reasons including it was perceived as an inconvenience, would not solve an issue they agreed with or opened them up to risks including law enforcement. Those in favour of the trial speed limit indicated the key reason for retaining it was that it enhanced safety for most road users.
Based on these three criteria, Councillors will decide whether the 30km/h speed limit is appropriate for the Mildura CBD at this Thursday’s Ordinary Council Meeting.
