More 40km/h zones are coming to Canberra's centres

New speed limits of 40km/h will be enacted along Northbourne Avenue between Vernon Circle and McKay Street along with sections of Barry Drive and Cooyong Street, as part of the ACT government's road safety strategy.

Braddon's commercial centre, which includes Lonsdale, Mort and Elouera streets, will also have the lower speed limits enforced in the area.

Work on expanding the 40km/h speed zones in those areas of the inner north is expected to be completed in coming weeks.

A slower speed limit area has also been completed in areas of Tuggeranong which includes Anketell Street from Athllon Drive to Pitman Street, parts of Reed Street along with all of Eileen Good Street and Cowlishaw Street.

The Kingston Foreshore will also have the 40km/h zones introduced to the area later this year, with it expected to be in place in the lead up to June.

The Kingston zone will include areas around Eastlake Parade, Trevillian Quay, Giles Street and parts of Printers Way, Eyre Street, Honeysett View and Kerridge Street.

As part of the measures in Kingston, two speed humps will be installed on the Eyre Street and Dawes Street approach to Printers Way.

Transport and City Services Minister Chris Steel said the expansion of the slower speed limit areas was part of increased safety measures in 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.

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

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Australasian College of Road Safety ACT chapter chair Eric Chalmers said the expansion of 40km/h zones was the right decision.

"There is a lot of good evidence that if you're travelling more than 40km/h around high-traffic pedestrian areas, then you're running a higher risk of hitting someone," he said.

"There have been progressive moves to tighten the rules and make sure young people are safe around built-up areas."

While 40km/h speed limits are standard practice in school zones during operational hours, the slower speed limits were rolled out to town centres in 2013 such as Civic, Belconnen and Tuggeranong.

A further 18 group centres in Canberra also got the slower speed limits in 2015.

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As the number of high-density areas in Canberra increases, Australian Road Research Board transport safety national leader David McTiernan said it was likely the slower speed limits would become more common.

"Lessons have been learnt from them and the safety benefit of the 40km/h limits have been recognised and incorporated into planning," he said.

"The overarching framework is to make sure the speed limits fit the dominant use on the road."

Mr Steel said other streets could be added to the 40km/h zones as the city expanded.

"We will continue to review the use of 40km/h zones to improve safety as Canberra continues to grow and as the function of our streets continues to change."

Eastlake Parade, Trevillian Quay, Giles Street, sections of Printers Way, Eyre Street, Honeysett View and Kerridge Street.

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