Beaufort Street speed limit made permanent

A 40km/h variable speed zone will be in place permanently along Beaufort Street between Crawford Road (Inglewood) and Central Avenue (Mount Lawley) after a two-year trial showed improvements to safety and no major impacts on surrounding roads.

In February 2020, Council endorsed the introduction of a trial for a 40km/h variable speed zone in response to requests from local businesses and stakeholders, with the trial becoming operational on 5 July 2021.

Mayor Mark Irwin said the City’s report found that Beaufort Street variable speed zone trial had no significant impacts on the local road network but made a significant impact on crashes and injuries.

“The City is really pleased with the results of this long-term trial, and we are confident moving forward with this variable speed zoning on a permanent basis,” he said.

“The data relating to crash statistics was a particularly decisive factor in Council’s decision; based on averages between 2016 and 2020, we saw a massive reduction of 48 per cent in overall crashes, a 62 per cent reduction in midblock crashes and an 88 per cent reduction in serious injury crashes.

“These outcomes are consistent with the objectives of the Local Planning Scheme, which seeks to reduce speeds through activity centres and corridors and to make these streets more people friendly.

“Importantly we will be maintaining the variable component of the speed limit, meaning that the 40km/h limit is in operation from 7.30am to 10.00pm every day. Outside of these times, the speed limit defaults to 60km/h.”

Inglewood on Beaufort Chair Ben Kent said they had been working hard with businesses, residents and the City to transform Inglewood into a place people walk and drive to, not just drive through

“We advocated strongly for a lower speed limit as we knew it would make Beaufort Street safer, quieter and more appealing,” he said.

“The data proves this, as does seeing more people out and about and new alfresco dining spots along the street.”

Where increases to traffic volumes were recorded, the average weekday traffic data showed the increases were well within an acceptable range, operating at 25-55 per cent of the desired maximum capacity for a local access road.

According to local town team Inglewood on Beaufort in 2021, the community had been advocating for reduced speed limits since early 2017, as there was evidence across many towns and cities that creating safer environments for pedestrians and cyclists will in turn benefit businesses to establish and prosper.

The full report with traffic and crash data is available for the public to view in the Council agenda documents.