Austroads: Transport Research and Trends

This webinar provided an overview of the Austroads’ report, Keeping People Safe When Walking – Stream 2: Economic Assessment of Safer Speeds, completed as part of the Keeping People Safe When Walking program. The assessment applies a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) approach, which estimates and compares the costs and benefits for society from 12 different hypothetical speed limit reductions in a variety of (mostly urban) contexts. Emerging economic techniques were applied to value, in dollar terms, the benefits of reduced speed limits for society from reduced road trauma and improved pedestrian mobility. This was weighed against productivity-related costs from increased travel time. The assessment builds a framework and evidence to support road managers looking to assess speed limit changes.

In this webinar, attendees heard about:

• how speed limit reductions can be assessed using a cost-benefit analysis framework
• why it appears there is a strong case for safer speed limits as a key pedestrian safety intervention
• the key drivers of this result and areas where further evidence would add value for future policy reform assessments.

This webinar was presented by Anna Wilson. The Q+A was moderated by Phil Harbutt.