Lower CBD speeds improve pedestrian safety

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Penrith City Council and Transport for NSW are introducing 40km/h speed limits on roads in Penrith CBD East where pedestrian activity is high.The 40km/h speed limits will create a safer road environment for everyone, particularly vulnerable groups such as older road users and children.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM welcomed the move saying it is important to continue the work Council has done in improving pedestrian safety. 

“Penrith Council has installed traffic calming devices such as road narrowing and vertical traffic calming within the CBD; the reduction in the speed limit will complement that work,” Cr Fowler said.

“Lower travel speeds improve a driver’s ability to stop quickly and react to the unexpected. A vehicle that hits a pedestrian at 50km/h is twice as likely to cause a fatality as the same vehicle travelling at 40km/h.”

Council’s work to install traffic calming devices in the Penrith CBD has seen a 30% reduction in pedestrian incidents since 2010 despite distractions due to mobile phone usage, and pedestrian/vehicle numbers increasing.

The reduced speed limits are being implemented in an additional seven CBD locations due to high levels of pedestrian activity around the local shops and businesses in the area. The locations include:

1. High Street near the Myer Entrance 

2. Lawson Street Near Soper Place 

3. Evan Street Near Henry Street 4.

4 Henry Street Near Doonmore Street 

5. High Street Near Kendall Street 

6. Doonmore Street Near Lethbridge Street 

7. Evan Street Near Higgins Street 

“We want everyone to be safe and while Council is doing everything it can to reduce pedestrian incidents, we also need drivers and pedestrians to be alert and reduce unnecessary distractions as they move about our city,” Cr Fowler said.

40km/h signs are being installed over the coming weeks and the maximum speed limit for those roads will be 40km/h at all times. The 40km/h speed limit is enforceable and normal enforcement procedures apply.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Tuesday, 23 June 2020.