Another council lowers residential speed limits
An inner-city council is reducing speed limits on a majority of residential streets, saying it will improve safety and reduce noise and traffic.
In a letter sent out to residents earlier this month, the Town of Walkerville announced that the majority of residential streets in Medindie, Walkerville, Gilberton and part of Vale Park would be reduced from 50 to 40 kilometres an hour.
“The reduced speed limits are designed to create calmer local streets and improve safety for all road users – especially pedestrians and cyclists,” said Walkerville council’s group manager of assets and infrastructure, James Kelly, in the letter.
The part of Medindie affected would include the area bounded by Main North Road, Nottage Terrace, Northcote Terrace and Robe Terrace, while in Gilberton, the changes would cover the area bounded by Park Road, Northcote Terrace, Stephen Terrace and the River Torrens.
Nearby Walkerville and Vale Park would see speeds lowered in the area bounded by Stephen Terrace, North East Road, Ascot Avenue and the River Torrens.
The changes would not affect major roads, with Walkerville Terrace, Stephen Terrace, Nottage Terrace, Main North Road, Northcote Terrace, Park Road, North East Road and Ascot Avenue retaining their current speed limits.
Speed limits will be reduced on a majority of residential streets in Medindie, Gilberton, Walkerville and parts of Vale Park. Photo: Town of Walkerville.
Walkerville Mayor Melissa Jones told InDaily the changes were in response to concerns raised by residents in its 2023 Transport Strategy consultation, and would improve road safety, as well as reduce traffic noise and cut-through traffic.
“Reducing speed limits helps improve safety outcomes for road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, and results in calmer traffic within local streets,” she said.
“Speed is a major factor in the severity of a crash involving a pedestrian and a car. If a driver hits a pedestrian while travelling at 50 kilometres an hour, the risk of fatality to the pedestrian is doubled compared to what it would be if the driver had been travelling at 40 kilometres an hour.
“Lower speed limits also have the benefit of improving road safety, reducing traffic noise, improving access to homes and reducing cut-through traffic.”
Jones said the council received 493 responses to its 2023 Transport Strategy consultation, with the council conducting a further round of consultation before implementing the reduced speed limits.
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She said the council sought ministerial approval for the changes, which was granted in November 2024, adding that they are currently working with the Department of Infrastructure to install new signage.
Jones said that there will be a three-month grace period from speeding fines from July 1 and that the council is currently running an education campaign ahead of the reduced speeds coming into effect.
The Town of Walkerville has a population of 8000 and covers an area of 3.5 square kilometres, making it the smallest council by size in metropolitan Adelaide.
Other councils that have reduced speed limits in recent years include the City of Burnside, the City of Prospect, the City of Onkaparinga, the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, the City of Charles Sturt and the City of Unley.
