Published on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at 12:05:00 PM
New global guidance supports what many WA Local Governments are already finding; slower streets save lives and design is the key.
A new international report, Designing for Safe Speeds (Global Designing Cities Initiative), reinforces a critical message for Western Australian Local Governments: speed management works best when it is built into street design, not just enforced through signs and policing.
The Designing for Safe Speeds report draws on numerous real‑world examples from cities and regions around the world, showing how road managers, such as Local Governments, have successfully delivered safer speeds through street design, policy leadership and governance‑led change.
Importantly, the report reinforces that delivering safe speeds is a governance responsibility, requiring decision makers to embed safe system principles into policies, design standards and everyday decision‑making, not treat speed as a standalone compliance issue.
The report provides strong evidence to support lower default speeds and practical, low‑cost design changes that reduce serious injuries and fatalities.
Why safe speeds matter
Speed is the single most important factor in crash severity. The difference between 30km/h and 50km/h on a local street can mean the difference between a survivable impact and a fatal one, particularly for children, older people and people walking or cycling.
The report recommends 30km/h as the default speed for most local streets, with 10–20km/h in school zones, activity centres, and shared streets. International examples show large reductions in deaths and serious injuries with minimal impact on travel times.
Design drives behaviour
A key takeaway for Local Government is that drivers respond to how a street feels. If streets are wide and forgiving, people drive faster, regardless of the posted speed. This finding aligns with safe system thinking, where responsibility for safety sits with the system designers and decision‑makers - not solely with individual road users.
The report highlights simple, system designer‑controlled tools that lower speeds, including (not in isolation):
- narrower traffic lanes
- tighter corner radii and removal of slip lanes
- raised crossings and intersections
- more trees, planting and street activity, and
- area‑wide traffic calming and filtered permeability.
Many of these can be delivered using interim or quick‑build treatments, allowing Local Governments to trial changes before capital upgrades.
Safe speeds should not be a special project, it should be the default starting point for every street upgrade, renewal, or place‑based initiative. For WA Local Governments, the report provides practical, evidence‑based inspiration on how global best practice can be translated into locally led action.
Access the full report here: Designing for Safe Speeds (Global Designing Cities Initiative)
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