VIC's New Bold 30km Speed Limits

Victoria is considering a major shift in road safety policy with Infrastructure Victoria proposing a default 30km/h speed limit on local residential streets. The move is aimed at dramatically reducing road deaths and injuries—especially among children, cyclists, and pedestrians—by lowering speed limits in areas where people live, walk, and play.

The Proposal: Why 30km/h?

The speed limit proposal forms part of Infrastructure Victoria’s draft 30-year strategy, which outlines over $75 billion in recommendations across 50 infrastructure priorities. One key safety measure is the introduction of a 30km/h speed cap on residential roads, especially those surrounding schools, playgrounds, and community hubs.

Victoria currently operates under a default 50km/h limit in urban areas, but statistics reveal a stark contrast in safety outcomes:

Pedestrians struck by a vehicle at 50km/h face an 85% risk of death.
At 30km/h, the risk drops to 10%.

Infrastructure Victoria argues that the proposed change would save lives without significantly impacting travel time.

Where Has This Been Trialled?

The City of Yarra has already implemented a 30km/h trial across Fitzroy and Collingwood. Originally launched in 2018 and expanded in May 2024, the trial excludes major roads like Nicholson Street and Hoddle Street. An independent evaluation found a reduction in speeding and increased community support over time.

The trial was backed by:

Department of Transport and Planning
Transport Accident Commission (TAC)

Several road safety groups have also voiced their support, including Victoria Walks, the Amy Gillett Foundation, and Bicycle Network.

What Happens Next?

The 30km/h limit remains a recommendation in a draft report, with final decisions pending community consultation. If adopted, implementation would rely heavily on cooperation with local councils and staged rollouts across suitable areas.

Enforcement and Infrastructure Challenges

One challenge is enforcement. Victoria Police have previously stated they might not prioritise enforcement of 30km/h zones, particularly if road design doesn’t encourage slower speeds.

Experts agree that lowering speed limits alone won’t ensure compliance. To be effective, physical traffic-calming measures—such as speed humps, narrowed lanes, and chicanes—may be necessary to make higher speeds feel uncomfortable and discourage rule-breaking.

What Victorians Are Saying

Online communities have been actively discussing the proposal, particularly on Reddit forums like r/melbourne:

“If they put a speed camera on my local street for a week, they would make enough revenue to balance the entire Victorian budget.” – u/nachojackson

“These types of speeds are never achieved through enforcement. People will drive as fast as a road is designed to feel safe at.” – u/Seltox

“Compliance in City of Yarra is actually pretty good. Better street design would increase compliance.” – u/jessta

“30km/h makes a lot of sense in inner city suburbs especially, but not so much in quieter outer suburbs IMO.” – u/Frogmouth_Fresh

“Reducing the speed limits is always on every list to lower accidents/deaths... Doesn’t mean they are realistic proposals.” – u/Random_Fish_Type

While some drivers see the move as overreach or revenue-raising, others believe that road design, not signage, will determine real-world speeds. There is also concern that without widespread physical changes, compliance will remain low.

Broader Infrastructure Plan

The 30km/h initiative is one of 43 proposals in Infrastructure Victoria’s draft plan, which also includes:

$8 billion in hospital expansions
$5.7 billion for new schools
Transition from stamp duty to land tax
Bus and tram network upgrades
City Loop tunnel upgrades

Victoria’s population is forecast to hit 11.5 million by 2055, placing more pressure on the state to future-proof infrastructure and improve liveability.

CarExplore's Thoughts

Whether the 30km/h recommendation becomes permanent policy will depend on consultation, evidence, and political will. But one thing is clear: Victoria is confronting difficult questions about how to balance safety, speed, and urban design in a growing state.

Public consultation on the draft strategy is now open via the Infrastructure Victoria website. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback before recommendations are finalised.