The 50 kph speed limit in residential Toowoomba

On the 1st of February 2003, the default urban speed limit was reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h for all local streets in Queensland. The 50km/h speed limit was introduced the number and severity of crashes that occur on local streets in Queensland, making them a safer environment for all users. \nThe primary aim of the 50km/h speed limit was to reduce the amount and severity of crashes that occur on local streets, focusing heavily on pedestrian crashes. Everyone that lived in Queensland in late 2002 and early 2003 may remember the \ntelevision advertising campaign for the 50km/h safety initiative, with the child running onto the road and a car stopping before hitting the child while showing a transparent car travelling through the child. This campaign was used to illustrate the braking difference between travelling at 60km/h rather than 50km/h, and a possible consequence for drivers travelling at 60km/h on local residential streets where children play. \nThe aim of this dissertation was to evaluate the effectiveness of the 50km/h default urban speed limit in Toowoomba. This was done by analysing crash data \nfor local streets in Toowoomba where the speed limit changed from 60km/h to 50km/h, looking at the severity level of all crashes, and crashes involving pedestrians for 5 years before and after the 50km/h speed limit was introduced. An economic analysis of the safety initiative was also performed, comparing the results against evaluations conducted in different states and territories of Australia that have also adopted a 50km/h default urban speed limit. \nThe results of this evaluation found that for Toowoomba there was an 8% decrease in the total amount of crashes that occurred on 50km/h streets, which is close to the 9% that was achieved for the ACT. A 17% decrease in all casualty crashes in Toowoomba was similar to the 19% decrease achieved by NSW and the 13% for Victoria. A 28% decrease was achieved for all crashes involving \npedestrians which was the 2nd highest decrease after 51% in WA. There were an insufficient number of fatal crashes in 50km/h zones to make a valid analysis. \nThe economic analysis found that over the 5 years after the 50km/h speed limit was introduced in Toowoomba, there was a saving of $2.99 million dollars, and a benefit-cost ratio of 7.6. The only other economic analysis that was conducted \nwas for the ACT emulation, which had a benefit-cost ratio of 8.2. \nThe results of this evaluation support the implementation of the 50km/h default urban speed limit, by displaying a decrease in the amount and severity of crashes on Toowoomba’s 50km/h streets, with a BCR of 7.6 and a 3km/h reduction in 85th percentile vehicle speed.