Atlanta Lowers Speed Limits Citywide

"Atlanta’s local roads now have a default speed limit of 25 miles per hour  after the City Council formally adopted the Vision Zero plan on April 20, which focuses on eliminating traffic deaths and reducing crashes and serious injuries," according to an article published by Atlanta Intown.

"The default speed limit applies to any city road without another speed limit expressly posted," according to the article.

The new speed limits are the key component of a Vision Zero plan now approved by the Atlanta City Council. A separate article by David Ederer calls on the city to go beyond the posted speed limits to improve traffic safety in the city, tackling the tougher problem of the design and engineering decisions that enable drivers to choose unsafe speeds in the first place.

Atlanta, while late to the Vision Zero movement, could lead by explicitly designating people walking or rolling as their design user. For too long, Atlanta has prioritized convenience over safety in its transportation system. By beginning with the principle that it will design a transportation system with the most vulnerable as its key users, Atlanta will start on a path to an effective Vision Zero program.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Bill Torpy is the sole voice from that publication to discuss the new speed limits, in case anyone wants to read barely concealed, car-centric skepticism about the decision.