Cairns will be safer with lower speed limit

Published Wednesday, 12 December, 2018 at 03:34 PM

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Pedestrians in Cairns CBD will be safer with the introduction of a 40km/h speed limit on roads in the CBD early in the New Year.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey praised councillors who voted to support a recommendation for the new limit.

“I have no doubt that this is a very positive move and all road users will benefit from it,” Mr Bailey said.

“Cairns CBD has one of the highest injury rates from road crashes in Queensland, especially for pedestrians.

“I am very pleased that Cairns Regional Council accepted the recommendation of the local road safety working group to cut the speed limit in an area bounded by Florence Street, McLeod Street, Spence Street and the Esplanade.

“There is very strong evidence that speed reductions work. In Brisbane CBD there was a 26% cut in crashes in the first three years after the limit was reduced to 50km/h to 40km/h.

“It’s a simple fact of physics, lower speeds give you more time to react on the road.

“Just 10km/h slower can help to significantly lower the number of crashes in an area.

“Our election commitment was to investigate reducing speed limits in areas of high pedestrian and cycling activity and today we can say that the people of Cairns are beneficiaries of that commitment.”

Mr Bailey said he was pleased the partnership between the Queensland Government and Cairns Regional Council had resulted in a decision supported by local community and business representatives.

Existing low-speed zones in Lake Street and the Cairns Esplanade will remain unchanged.

Earlier this week, the Palaszczuk Government announced the speed limit on David Low Way, on the Sunshine Coast, would be reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h to increase safety for all road users.

Media: Adrian Taylor 0448 994 172