Parents and school staff are urging the ACT government to trial a 30kmh speed limit in school zones, citing research from the University of Adelaide that shows reducing speeds lowers the risk of injury or death in pedestrian collisions. A petition has been submitted to the ACT Legislative Assembly calling for the change.
Veronica Fortune, a parent who walks her children to school, described a near-miss with a speeding driver. She has written to assembly members and submitted a petition advocating for safety improvements, including speed bumps and raised zebra crossings. Despite her efforts, no changes have been implemented.
Dr James Thompson, a road safety expert from the University of Adelaide, led research focused on the ACT. He stated that 30kmh is a critical threshold for pedestrian survival in a crash. The study recommends reducing school zone speed limits to 30kmh or less, extending active school zone times from 7am to 5pm weekdays, and installing traffic calming measures like speed bumps and narrower lanes.
South Australia is currently the only state with a sub-40kmh school zone limit, set at 25kmh. The research found high rates of speeding in ACT school zones, with 36% of drivers exceeding limits during active times and 50% when the default speed was 60kmh.
Dr Ann Cleary, principal of St Clare's College, led a consultation that received over 200 submissions from families concerned about road risks. St Clare's, located near St Edmunds College where two students were seriously injured by a speeding driver earlier this year, is surrounded by 60kmh roads. Dr Cleary believes families would support a 30kmh limit but stresses the need to review surrounding roads.
