Sydney, Thursday 13 November 2025
The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) joined leading medical, academic, and active-transport experts at a media conference in Sydney this morning, where NSW Greens MP Kobi Shetty introduced the Safer Speeds Bill for its second reading. The Bill seeks to make it easier for local governments to implement 30 km/h limits on neighbourhood streets, a proven measure for reducing road trauma.
ACRS Council Member David McTiernan represented the College at the event, standing alongside Dr John Crozier, Chair of the National Trauma Committee at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of the ACRS Finance, Risk and Audit Committee; Dr Jennifer Kent (UNSW), who discussed international evidence from jurisdictions such as Wales and Stockholm; and Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW.
The proposed legislation would reduce barriers for councils seeking to create safer, calmer local streets by adopting 30 km/h limits as the default urban speed limit, an evidence-based measure long supported by health and road safety specialists. Research referenced at the media conference highlights the substantial reduction in fatality risk when speeds are lowered: a pedestrian struck at 50 km/h has only a 10% chance of surviving, compared with a 90% chance at 30 km/h.
A journalist asked ACRS to provide a national perspective on how 30 km/h limits are applied in Australia. In response, David McTiernan outlined the substantial body of science, evidence, and experience supporting safer speeds:
- Science: Physics is unequivocal: higher speeds reduce reaction time and increase stopping distances. Crash energy rises exponentially with speed, leading to more severe injuries.
- Evidence: Countries already using widespread 30 km/h limits are saving lives and reducing trauma. International examples include Wales, Spain and Stockholm, while locally the City of Yarra’s 30 km/h trial demonstrated safety gains that led the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning to update its speed-zone guidelines, enabling further council-led applications. Western Australia’s Southwest Region trial provides another Australian example.
- Experience: 30 km/h limits have been introduced in multiple communities with strong grassroots support. This community backing should give legislators confidence that the Bill is both feasible and widely welcomed.
David McTiernan also emphasised that this Bill represents an opportunity for NSW to lead the nation by prioritising safety on the streets where people live, work, walk, cycle, and play.
MP Kobi Shetty thanked participating organisations and reiterated the urgency of reform, noting that NSW is on track for its highest road-death toll in 15 years. She described the Bill as a “common-sense” measure aligned with global best practice, already adopted in cities such as Bogotá and Ho Chi Minh City, and increasingly implemented in Australian jurisdictions.
The ACRS expressed gratitude to MP Shetty and the NSW Greens for championing this important road-safety reform. The College reaffirmed its long-standing position, previously articulated by CEO Dr Ingrid Johnston, that 30 km/h limits create safer, quieter, and more liveable communitieswith negligible impacts on travel time.
Around 30 to 40 attendees from across the community and other road safety advocate organisations were present in the public gallery as the Bill was introduced for its second reading. Debate is expected to continue in the new year. The proposed changes apply only to local residential streets, not arterial or major roads, and aim to support safer environments for walking, cycling and community activity.