Backlash after Melbourne roads hit with strict new speed limit

Majority of roads in two inner-city Melbourne suburbs now have speed limits of 30km/h, after the Victorian government gave the go-ahead for a two-year council trial to improve road safety.

Every street in Fitzroy and Collingwood, except state-managed roads such as major thoroughfares, are now under the new strict speed limit put in place by Yarra City Council.

Thoroughfares that are currently exempt from the 30km/h limit include; Johnston Street, Nicholson Street, Hoddle Street, Alexandra Parade and Victoria Parade.

The local council is working hard, however, to bring the speed limits on these major roads down to 40km/h or 60km/h, but this could take some time.

Yarra City Council Mayor, Edward Crossland, said there is a clear body of evidence from around the world that shows slower travel speeds save lives.

“We want to make our streets safer and better places for people of all ages and abilities whether you are walking, wheeling, cycling or driving. 30km can have a huge benefit and we know there is a lot of support for this initiative across our community,” he said.

“Research shows that a person walking is at least twice as likely to be killed by a driver travelling at 40km than at 30km and that safer speed limits in urban areas has minimal impact on travel time.

“This is just one initiative of many in Yarra to improve road safety including New Deals for Walking, Cycling and Schools.”

The council first began trialling the 30km/h speed limit in 2018 in northern parts of Fitzroy and Collingwood.

This initial trial was highly successful and extended beyond its initial 12 months after it brought down crash incidents by 52 per cent.

Yarra City Council is no stranger to being a trailblazer when it comes to speed limits. It was the first council to introduce 40km/h limits on residential roads in 2006.

However, not everyone is impressed by the change, with social media users claiming the lower speed limit will “never be enforced”.

Another claimed: “When the police commissioner comes out and says it’s ridiculous and nobody will follow the limits then yeah, fair to say it won’t be enforced.”

In 2023, Victorian Police chief commissioner Shane Patton, told ABC radio that changing the speed limit to 30km/h was “not the answer”.

“I think no one’s going to obey it. It’s ridiculous,” he said.

Social media users have branded the change an attempt at “revenue raising”, with one commenter saying: “Just another way to nab us with fines! All about the revenue.”

“What a joke,” another person said, while one claimed people might as well start pushing their cars.

However, there are also those that have praised the council’s decision, branding it a “great initiative”.

“Great news! More traffic calming please,” one person said.

Another agreed, but noted they had already noticed issues with enforcement.

“Great initiative. But I think you need some enforcement help too. Every time I drive carefully down Wellington St at 30km/h I am tailgated,” they wrote.