Safe Speeds

Speed limits in a Safe System are based on aiding crash-avoidance and reducing the speed at which impacts occur. This ensures the body’s limit for physical trauma is not reached or exceeded. The Safe System aims to establish appropriate speed limits according to the features of the road, the function it serves, and the physical tolerance of those who use it.

The key factors that should be taken into account in any decisions on local speed limits are:

• history of collisions
• road geometry and engineering
• road function
• composition of road users (including existing and potential levels of vulnerable road users)
• existing traffic speeds
• road environment