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Canberra Today 12°/15° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Busy town centres set to slow down

THE government will introduce 40 kilometre per hour speed limit precincts in Belconnen, Civic and Tuggeranong town centres.  

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, announced today the 40 km/h areas will be introduced in the three busy town centres this year.

“Research indicates that a 40 km/h speed area can significantly reduce the risk of death for pedestrians and cyclists if there is a collision,” Mr Rattenbury says.

“For example, a 10 km/h decrease in speed from 50 km/h to 40 km/h can reduce the risk of death by over 50 percent.

“Slower speed environments are an important part of making our town centres safer for everyone to walk and cycle, and will have a minimal impact on drivers. At the same time they will encourage more people to walk and cycle which will help make Canberra a more sustainable and active city.

Mr Rattenbury says the government has identified precincts in each of the three town centres where there is a high level of pedestrian movement and a minimum of 400 metres of retail and commercial development.

Work will commence this week in these precincts to install traffic calming devices, such as speed cushions, in preparation for the reduced speed limit.

Mr Rattenbury said that work on the 40 km/h areas will be completed mid-year. The 40 km/h limit will apply 24 hours, seven days a week and the zones will be evaluated after six months.

 

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