Keeping speeds low in urban areas is critical not only for reducing the likelihood of a crash occurring, but also for lessening the severity of those crashes that do happen. Even small reductions in average travel speed lead to disproportionately large reductions in road trauma. A decrease of just a few kilometres per hour can translate into a significant drop in serious injury crashes, and an even greater reduction in the number of fatal incidents. This is because the relationship between speed and crash risk is not linear but exponential. Lower speeds give drivers more time to react, reduce stopping distances, and crucially, keep impact forces within survivable limits for people walking, cycling, or driving. In short, managing urban speeds is one of the most effective and proven ways to create safer, more liveable streets.
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