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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Andrew Brown

Woden and Gungahlin town centres to get 40km/h speed limits

Drivers on Northbourne Avenue have not yet been caught for speeding in new 40km/h zones. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

The ACT government is looking to expand the number of 40km/h zones in major centres across Canberra, following the recent success of slower speed areas in Civic and Braddon.

Town centres in Woden and Gungahlin are set to be the latest locations in Canberra where 40km/h speed zones are rolled out.

An ACT government spokesman said the new speed limits would be implemented soon, but a date had not been set.

Meanwhile, a 40km/h limit will be enforced around the Kingston Foreshore in coming days.

Streets around the Kingston Foreshore that will be part of the new 40km/h zone include Eastlake Parade, Trevillian Quay, Giles Street, sections of Printers Way, Eyre Street, Honeysett View and Kerridge Street.

It comes as new data has revealed Canberra drivers have yet to be caught out by new 40km/h zones in Civic and Braddon since they were introduced.

Since the speed limit was lowered to 40km/h on parts of Northbourne Avenue, Barry Drive and Cooyong Street in Civic, along with Lonsdale, Mort and Elouera Street in Braddon in late March, no motorist has been caught speeding in the new zones.

While there have been regular patrols of the areas in Civic and Braddon areas since the speed limit dropped from 60km/h to 40km/h, the ACT government said drivers had heeded the road safety changes.

"The ACT government has not yet issued fines from fixed speed cameras or speed vans for people travelling between 40km/h and 60km/h in the areas," a government spokesman said.

"The government, including ACT Policing, continue to monitor and enforce safe driving practices in the area.

"All motorists are reminded of their responsibility to travel within the speed limit and road conditions."

Despite the speed changes to prominent Canberra roads, drivers were not given a grace period for the lower limits if they were caught speeding.

Advisory signs were installed along the roads for two weeks before the lower speed limits were introduced, warning drivers of the changes.

The new 40km/h zones were put in place in late March on Northbourne Avenue between McKay Street and Vernon Circle, Barry Drive between Northbourne Avenue and North Road, along with Cooyong Street between Northbourne Avenue and Scotts Crossing.

Transport and City Services Minister Chris Steel said at the time of the announcement of the new zones the measures were put in place as extra safety precautions in heavily built-up areas.

"As Canberra has grown, more streets have evolved to be not only places to move through but also places for people to stop and spend time," Mr Steel said in March.

"The speed limit in these areas need to reflect this functional evolution."

Road safety experts praised the move following the speed limit reduction.

Slower speed zones of 40km/h in built-up areas have been in place since 2013 in parts of Civic, Belconnen and Tuggeranong.

The government then expanded the speed limits to 18 local shopping areas in 2015, including Amaroo, Hawker, Kaleen, Kingston, Manuka and Weston.

The 40km/h speed limit is more commonly used in school zone areas.

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