Proposal
Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit around the Kyneton township. This project is fully funded through the Victorian Government's Safe Local Roads and Streets Program, to improve road safety.
The program adopts a Safe System Approach, which focuses on designing and improving roads to reduce crash severity and improve safety by addressing human error and the road environment. The program is a collaborative effort between local governments, the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
Proposed Works
A township-wide speed limit reduction will greatly enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users, with studies showing that reducing speed limits has the potential to decrease fatalities by more than 50% (50km/h to 40km/h).
Lowering speed limits reduces the severity of collisions. Additionally, slower speeds allow for better reaction times, helping drivers avoid accidents and ensuring greater safety for vulnerable road users. This project will transform streets into safer, more liveable spaces, encouraging more people to utilise active transport options while promoting a safer driving culture.
The project was identified based on the following considerations:
Proposed roads
- Piper Street (Mollison Street to Wedge Street)
- Yaldwyn Street West (Mollison Street to Powlett Street)
- Mair Street (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
- Yaldwyn Street East (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
- Bowen Street (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
- Lauriston Street (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
- Market Street (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
- Welsh Street (Mollison Street to High Street)
- Bodkin Street (Mollison Street to New Street)
- Begg Street (Mollison Street to Ross Street)
- Ross Street (entire length)
- Maxwell Street (Mollison Street to Ross Street)
- Franklin Place (Begg Street to end of seal)
- New Street (Begg Street to High Street)
- Clowes Street (Mollison Street to Ebden Street)
- Pohlman Street (Mollison Street to Ebden Street)
- Donnithorne Street (Mollison Street to the west of Ebden Street)
- Simpson Street (Mollison Street to Ebden Street)
- Jennings Street (Mollison Street to Powlett Street)
- Baynton Street (Mollison Street to Ebden Street)
- Mollison Street (Piper Street to Begg Street)
- High Street (Mollison Street to New Street)
- Ferguson Street (Market Street to High Street)
- Victoria Street (Market Street to Mair Street)
- Langley Street (Begg Street to Franklin Place)
- Mollison Street (Piper Street to north of Beauchamp Street)
A map showing proposed speed limit reductions to roads around Kyneton. This includes traffic count data that helped to inform these decisions.
Project Benefits
Lowering speed limits helps reduce the likelihood of accidents, especially those involving pedestrians and cyclists.
The slower vehicles are moving, the less forceful the impact in case of a collision, which reduces both the severity and frequency of accidents.
A study by the Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre showed that speed contributed to the severity of road crashes and resulting injuries, especially for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians or cyclists.
The study found that by reducing the speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h, the chance of a fatal injury is reduced by more than half (from 80% to 26%).
Slower-moving vehicles make people feel safer walking and cycling. With reduced speeds, pedestrians have more time to cross streets safely, especially at busy intersections.
This enhances safety and encourages healthier lifestyles by promoting walking and cycling.
Safer streets encourage people to participate more in activities such as walking, relaxing outdoors, or interacting with neighbours.
FAQ
Have your say
Feedback has now closed on this proposal - thank you to everyone who took the time to review and provide feedback. Officers will review all feedback received and summarise key themes to brief internally, before communicating on next steps.
