Safer limits for the Sandy Bay retail precinct

Published on 23 June 2023

The City of Hobart’s strategy of making our roads safer for all users continues with the reduction of speed limits in the Sandy Bay retail precinct.

Taking in Sandy Bay Road from the Osborne Street junction to the Ashfield Street junction, the speed limit will be reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h, bringing it in line with the Hobart CBD and other retail precincts around the city.

A reduced speed limit of 40 km/h in key retail, dining and pedestrian precincts is standard in many Australian cities and towns.

It has been demonstrated to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists and improve access to businesses.

Research from the Curtain-Monash Accident Research Centre shows the reduction in speed limit would see the probability of a fatal injury in an incident with a pedestrian fall from about 85 per cent at 50km/h to about 25 per cent at 40km/h.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the impacts were minimal while the benefits were huge.

“Travelling at 40km/h, the increase in travel time over a distance of one kilometre compared to a speed of 50km/h is just 18 seconds,” Cr Reynolds said.

“Speed management is a key factor in improving the safety and experience of all road users.

“Great cities and liveable urban environments around the world are created by focusing on people.”

Variable message boards will be installed along Sandy Bay Road from 23 June with the new speed restriction to be in operation from 9 July.

City Mobility Portfolio Chair Ryan Posselt said the reasoning was simple.

“Lowering speed limits in areas with high pedestrian numbers and high parking turnover improves safety for all road users,” Cr Posselt said.

“Speed limits of 40 km/h or lower are standard in most Australian capital cities.

“Lower speeds mean fewer crashes and less severe injuries when crashes do occur.”