Adelaide is about to introduce 50 Km/h speed limits on local streets. There is a lot of discussion about this and how bad it will be but I have seen 50 speed limits work really well in Sydney and other places. In local streets where kids might be about I have no problem slowing down to 50.
What I do have a problem with is the way that they are saying that the speed limit is 50 unless otherwise signposted. Speed limits around Adelaide are already quite low, there are a lot of places that are 60 that should be more. Making 50 the default is just a way to save money by not putting up more signs. I bet they don’t bother to do a comprehensive review of where more 60 signs are required either. This will mean that major streets that really should be 60 will be 50 Km/h meaning either frustration for drivers or people just ignoring 50 limits in general, even in areas where they are justified. This is bad.
I reckon that if they are going to do 50 limits properly they should do what they do in areas of Sydney where they put up a sign that sayds “50 area” which means that all of the streets are 50 in this area. That way 60 is still the default and areas that should be 50 are better marked. Of course this would cost more….
