'Follow the evidence': Doctors and road safety experts call for 30km per hour speed limits

Doctors and road safety experts have called for the NSW government to "follow the evidence" and reduce default speed limits in residential areas.

A bill is currently before parliament that would reduce the limit in residential streets from 50km/h to 30.

"We know that there are many other jurisdictions across the world that have introduced safer speeds to their local neighbourhood streets, and they have seen a significant reduction in road deaths and serious injuries," Greens MP Kobi Shetty said.

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Doctors are on board with the proposed laws.

"If you get hit by a car at 30 kilometres per hour, (there's a) nine in 10 chance of survival," Dr John Crozier from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said.

"If hit at 50 kilometres, (it's a) one in 10 chance of survival."

"It's really critical that we follow the evidence," Shetty said.

"Journey times are very minimally impacted when we reduce the speed limit from 50 to 30.

"Last year in New South Wales, in 2024, we had 51 pedestrians and cyclists killed on our roads.

"New South Wales has a target towards zero road deaths, and it's time that they start taking that seriously."

There are currently only two 30 zones in Sydney, one around the Domain in the CBD and another in Manly.

There was a 30 zone temporarily in Liverpool, however, it was removed after the local community opposed it.

The Australasian College of Road Safety is also in favour of the bill to lower the speed limit.

"We have some trials of lower speed limits in Western Australia," David McTiernan, representing the Australasian College of Road Safety, said.

"There is a groundswell of community support with these kinds of initiatives."

The bill is set to be voted on in parliament early next year.

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