In the lead-up to the fourth UN Global Road Safety Week, Northern Beaches Council is reminding motorists to observe speed limits and drive safely in Council car parks.

The 2017 focus of the global campaign is speeding and what can be done to address it.

Northern Beaches Council Deputy General Manager Ben Taylor said that between a third and a half of all fatal road crashes worldwide have speed as a major contributing factor.

“We know that pedestrian safety is a particular concern in urban areas and speeding can increase that risk.

“Our Council car parks generally have 20 km/h speed limits, which often can feel so slow that drivers exceed the speed limit.

“However, for every 10 km/h your speed increases, so does the risk of a crash and serious injury to yourself and others.

“We are asking users of Council car parks and other facilities to abide by the speed limit.

“Slow down and you might just help save a life,” Mr Taylor said.

People walking to and from their cars through Council car parks include the elderly and other less mobile people, as well as mothers with infants and school children. 

Global research has found that three of the five proven strategies for addressing speed include establishing and enforcing speed limits and raising awareness about the dangers of speeding.