Blue Mountains News

“There is no such thing as safe speeding,” Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said. “Speed alone, regardless of how good a driver you may be, increases both the likelihood and severity of a crash.

“By reducing your speed on local roads, you’re doing your bit to save local lives.”

Council’s ‘Slow Down in My Street’ campaign will run in May and June to encourage motorists to slow down on local roads and drive to the conditions. 

Speeding remains the highest identifiable behavioural factor in crashes within the Blue Mountains. Transport for NSW (TfNSW) data shows that in the five years between 2017 – 2021, 28.3% of all crashes involved speeding. 

“Travelling at 5km over the speed limit in good weather conditions can put you, your passengers, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users at increased risk. It’s simple: the faster you travel the longer it takes to stop. Add adverse weather conditions into the mix and the impact of a crash is more severe.”

According to the NSW Centre for Road Safety, even small reductions in speed can make a large difference to the probability of serious injury. When driving at 50 km/h, it takes about 38 metres to stop, but at 60 km/h that distance increases significantly up to 58 metres.

Driving to conditions and slower speeds improves a driver’s ability to stop and avoid crashes, especially in residential areas. Where crashes do occur they are less severe, especially to vulnerable pedestrians and passengers, such as children and the elderly.

The Blue Mountains Police Area Command supports Blue Mountains City Council in its ‘Slow Down In My Street’ program. Police will be targeting speeding on local streets during the campaign.  Demerit points and fines will be issued to any motorist caught speeding.

As part of this campaign, Council will be installing speed monitoring devices in selected streets and a speed display LED sign advising drivers of their speed.

The campaign will be supported by Slow Down in My Street stickers provided to residents. Council is asking residents to apply the sticker to their waste bin as an ongoing visual reminder for motorists to slow down in our local streets. Residents can request a bin sticker by emailing: here

‘Slow Down In My Street’, is jointly funded by TfNSW and Council.