FAQs

The main goal is safety. Lower speeds reduce the severity of crashes and create calmer streets, making the city safer for everyone—whether walking, cycling, or driving. A slower, more predictable traffic flow also supports a pedestrian-friendly urban environment, encouraging more people to explore the city on foot. This, in turn, helps build a more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable Perth.

While the speed limit in Central Perth and Northbridge streets is 40 km/h, other neighbourhoods in the City have a default speed limit of 50 km/h. This is considered too fast for areas with a high presence of vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists. By reducing this to 40 km/h, we can significantly improve safety for all road users. Lowering the speed allows drivers more time to react to unexpected situations, such as pedestrians crossing the road or children playing nearby.

Studies show that lower speeds significantly reduce the severity of injuries in crashes. Pedestrians and cyclists have a much higher chance of survival when impacts occur at lower speeds.Relationship between vehicle speed and risk of fatal injury to pedestrians

While 30 km/h is ideal for maximising safety, 40 km/h is a significant step forward from the current 50 km/h limit. Reducing the speed to 40 km/h across local streets in Perth will effectively reduce the risk of serious injuries and fatalities. While 30 km/h could be considered for high-risk areas, 40 km/h is a practical, city-wide solution that improves road safety and sets the foundation for future progress.

Research shows that local speed limits have a minimal impact on overall travel times. Small variations in trip time on local streets, particularly at the start and end of journeys, are not significant or noticeable when considering the full length of the trip (Haworth et al., 2001). The safety benefits far outweigh any minor changes in travel time.

Speed reductions would apply to all neighbourhoods in the City - Central Perth, West Perth, East Perth, Claisebrook, Crawley - Nedlands and Northbridge.

The proposed expansion of the 40 km/h speed zone will cover most local roads within the City of Perth. However, some will be excluded, including those with:

• High strategic movement corridors e.g. Thomas Street
• Not controlled by the City, such as freeways and other State-managed roads e.g. Mounts Bay Road

A map of the proposed expansion area can be found here.

The feedback collected from the survey will help the Council decide whether to proceed with expanding the 40 km/h speed zones in the City of Perth, identify areas that may be excluded at this time and determine the specific details of how the zones will be implemented.

If the proposal to extend the 40 km/h speed zones is approved by the Council in mid-2025, a plan will be developed outlining where the speed limits will be applied and where new signage will be installed. This plan will be shared with the community through the City’s various communication channels, providing details about the implementation dates of any changes.