Slow down near aged care homes
There needs to be better traffic management around aged care facilities, but there will be no “silver bullets” in reducing speed limits, according to Brett Hughes, Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre director. Mr Hughes tells DPS News 30km/h speed limit trials around ‘high-risk’ areas such as aged care facilities and hospitals are needed.
There needs to be better traffic management around aged care facilities, but there will be no “silver bullets” in reducing speed limits, according to Brett Hughes, Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre director.
Mr Hughes tells DPS News 30km/h speed limit trials around ‘high-risk’ areas such as aged care facilities and hospitals are needed after 26 pedestrians were killed by vehicles in Western Australia last year.
“Older people are often frailer and may have trouble crossing traffic due to mobility and other limitations,” he says.
Despite statistics revealing the rise in pedestrian deaths, Mr Hughes adds drivers should not be held accountable for every incident on the road, claiming pedestrians and the government both have on-road responsibilities to follow to prevent pedestrian deaths.
“It’s easy to blame drivers, but pedestrians also have to take responsibility by following road rules and crossing roads safely,” Mr Hughes says.
He adds lower speed limits should also be tested in Perth’s busy areas, such as shopping precincts and where there were high numbers of vulnerable pedestrians, such as the elderly and sick.
To better protect older pedestrians, he would like to see the government put in practice a good evaluation scheme to determine whether reducing speed limits around “high-risk” areas, such as aged care facilities, would be beneficial.
Main Roads WA has tested lower speed limits at various locations, which reportedly cut the limit by 10 km/h to 40 km/h.
Transport Minister Troy Buswell says the trial results will provide a “valuable guide in determining the most effective and appropriate treatments to enhance pedestrian safety at specific locations”.
Main Roads will meet the Office of Road Safety and local government representatives next month to discuss the trials.
