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NSW goverment: 40km/h zones are saving lives, expect more

It's official, 40km/h zones are keeping us safe and reducing the number of incidents on the road - according to the New South Wales (NSW) government.


According to a new study, the NSW Centre for Road Safety has found a 33 per cent reduction in crashes causing death or serious injury between 2005 and 2015, in areas where 40km/h zones have been introduced.

Research shows the number of people killed in permanent 40km/h speed limit locations, the number of people killed went from 12 in 2005 to just one in 2015. Additionally, the number of people seriously injured in these ones dropped from 269 in 2005 to 203 in 2015.

Melinda Pavey, minister for roads, maritime and freight, said that 40km/h speed zones are an important part of the state's road safety strategy in the future.

"We are now looking to expand the rollout of these reduced speed zones around the state," she said.

"The Centre for Road Safety will work with Roads and Maritime Services, focusing on locations with high pedestrian activity, especially around train stations, bus interchanges and shopping centres."

"Last year saw a spike in pedestrians dying on our roads with 74 people losing their lives in NSW. This was 13 more deaths than in 2015 and why we need to constantly be looking at ways to keep everyone safe on our roads including incorporating more 40kmh zones," Pavey added.

Data shows over 6300 people are injured or killed on local streets in New South Wales every year, with many cases involving "excessive or inappropriate speeds".

CarAdvice has contacted VicRoads to see if similar trends have been noticed in Victoria. Stay tuned.

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