They might irritate motorists who hate being slowed down but 40km/h zones are saving lives, according to a Centre for Road Safety study.
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The 40km/h zones are placed in areas of high pedestrian activity, such as the Gywnneville shopping strip on Gipps Street.
The centre’s study found getting motorists to slow down just 10km/h – from 50km/h to 40km/h – has seen a sharp drop in crashes and fatalities.
It found there was a 33 per cent reduction in crashes causing serious injuries and deaths between 2005 and 2015, where 40km/h zones had been introduced.
In areas where a 40km/h speed zone is in permanent operation, the study found the number of people killed went down from 12 in 2005 to one in 2015.
Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said the study showed the reduced speed limit was effective.
“We are now looking to expand the rollout of these reduced speed zones around the state,” Ms Pavey said.
“The Centre for Road Safety will work with Roads and Maritime Services, focusing on locations with high pedestrian activity, especially around train stations, bus interchanges and shopping centres.”
The minister said last year 74 pedestrians died on the state’s roads.
“This was 13 more deaths than in 2015 and why we need to constantly be looking at ways to keep everyone safe on our roads including incorporating more 40km/h zones,” she said.
The Centre for Road Safety said the 10km/h drop in speed can reduce a car’s stopping distance by around 11 metres.
A car travelling at 40km/h will take 26 metres to come to a stop, while if it were going 50km/h, the stopping distance increased to 35 metres.
It said that if both drivers saw a pedestrian on the road 27 metres ahead and hit the brakes, the 40km/h car would stop in time.
The other car would still be travelling at 41km/h when it hit the pedestrian.
The 40km/h zones around high activity areas are distinct from school speed zones, in that they are not just enforced during the beginning and end of school but 24 hours a day.
Most zones are requested by local councils, community or police.