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Road safety
Our initiatives include infrastructure, such as cycling lanes and wider footpaths, as well as the introduction of a 40 km/h speed limit across the central city. We also run education campaigns and raise awareness of car-dooring, pedestrian distraction, and driver and cyclist etiquette.
Horse-drawn vehicles prohibited from Hoddle Grid
From July 2022, it is an offence under the Road Safety Road Rules 2017Opens in new tab for a horse-drawn vehicle to ride on all roads and paths within the area bound by Flinders, Spring, La Trobe and Spencer streets. Removing these vehicles from our busiest streets makes it safer for pedestrians, drivers, cyclists and trams, while also protecting the welfare of horses.
Safety around school crossings
With 17 schools in the City of Melbourne, it’s important that we all play our part in slowing down and staying below the required 40km per hour in school zones. When parking in a school area, avoid parking 20 metres in front of, or 10 metres behind, a school crossing while the flags are displayed, unless otherwise signed.
The City of Melbourne monitors school crossings to ensure the safety of pedestrians and students attending schools within the municipality. School crossing supervisors are allocated to schools on a needs basis. Supervisors are predominantly funded by the City of Melbourne, with some funding from the Department of Transport.
Improving pedestrian safety in Sturt Street
A new 40km per hour School Speed Zone will be introduced in Sturt Street, Southbank, between Kings Way and Grant Street. The new speed limit will apply between 8am to 9:30am and 2:30pm to 4pm on school days. The new zone is designed to improve safety for students of the Victoria College of the Arts Secondary School when accessing the nearby tram stop in Sturt Street. This project has been developed in consultation with VicRoads, Yarra Trams, Victoria Police and the school.
Speed limits
City of Melbourne’s Transport Strategy 2030 outlines our plan to improve safety for all by reducing vehicle speed limits across the municipality.
Lower speed limits decrease the likelihood of crashes by reducing the vehicle stopping distance, giving all road users more time to react to hazards.
Cities with streets which support safe transport have healthier populations leading to a more equitable society. Streets designed for people attract investment and promote economic growth.
We’re continuing to implement a range of speed limit reductions across the city.
20km/h speed limits – Little streets
From September 2020, the speed limit on our Little streets was reduced from 40 km/h to 20 km/h on all one-way sections of Flinders Lane, Little Collins Street, Little Bourke Street and Little Lonsdale Street.
People walking along the city’s Little streets have right of way over vehicles and bikes.
30 km/h speed limits
Swanston Street through the central city will remain 30 km/h for permitted vehicles. There are some other zones with lower speed limits.
40 km/h speed limits
In line with the Transport Strategy 2030, we’re working with the Department of Transport to achieve a consistent maximum speed limit of 40 km/h on local roads across inner Melbourne, delivering changes at a neighbourhood level.
Speed limits can vary across the municipality and neighbouring areas. Providing consistent speed limits will ensure safer streets for all users and more intuitive driving conditions.
Implemented 40 km/h limits
New 40km/h limits have already been implemented in a number of areas across the municipality, including:
- North and West Melbourne (2023)
- East Melbourne and Jolimont (2022)
- Domain Parklands (2017)
- South Yarra (2017)
- Hoddle Grid (2014)
- Parkville (2013)
Support and compliance
The speed limits are supported by Victoria Police, VicRoads and the Transport Accident Commission. Victoria Police has responsibility for ensuring compliance across all signed 40 km/h zones.
