Council this week joined forces with Transport for NSW to run ‘Slow Down in My Street’, a local road safety initiative, from October to November 9.
The campaign encourages motorists to slow down on local roads and drive to the conditions.
Transport for NSW data shows that in the five years between 2019 and 2023, 29 per cent of all casualty crashes in the Blue Mountains involved speeding. 26 per cent of crashes occur on local roads.
Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill, said: speed and road safety is everyone’s responsibility, every day.
"There is no such thing as safe speeding, no matter how good a driver you are," he said.
“Speed alone increases both the likelihood and severity of a crash. In fact, speed remains the highest factor in crashes on Blue Mountains roads. Reducing your speed on local roads is a small thing we can all do, that will save local lives.
“The ‘Slow Down in My Street’ campaign is a reminder to each of us to slow down, pay attention to the speed limits, conditions and our surroundings and be the safest drivers we can.
“The faster you travel, the longer it takes to stop. Even travelling at just 5km over the speed limit in good weather conditions can put you, your passengers, pedestrians and other road users at an increased risk.
“Disturbingly, Transport for NSW’s data shows that many people define speeding by five – 10 km/h as merely 'driving over the limit' and even view speeding by 10 – 20 km/h as 'acceptable speeding'.
“These are extremely dangerous attitudes. Let me say it again, there is no such thing as safe speeding. Speed increases both the risk of having a crash, as well as the severity of the crash outcome.”
According to the NSW Centre for Road Safety, even small reductions in speed can make a difference.
It takes approximately 38 metres to stop when driving at 50 km/h, but at 60 km/h that distance increases significantly to up to 58 metres. Small differences in impact speed make a large difference to the probability of serious injury, particularly on residential streets.
Driving to conditions and maintaining slower speeds improves a driver’s ability to stop and avoid crashes, especially in residential areas. If crashes do occur, they are less severe, especially for vulnerable pedestrians and passengers such as children and older people.
Police will be targeting speeding on local streets during the campaign. Demerit points and fines will be issued to any motorist caught speeding.
“Residents can contact Council to get a ‘Slow Down in My Street’ sticker, which go on the side of your kerbside bins. These are completely free and we are encourage residents to request and use their stickers as ongoing reminder for motorists to slow down in our local streets,” Greenhill said.
‘Slow Down in My Street’ is jointly funded by Transport for NSW and Blue Mountains City Council, with enforcement support from Blue Mountains Police Area Command to make our local streets safer for everyone.
Troy has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.