BREATHE easy, motorists. Although the new 50km/h speed limit in Hobart's CBD comes into effect today, police say they will offer a bit of leniency.
Installation of 64 of the 50km/h speed limit signs begins this morning. The new speed limit will affect Macquarie, Davey, Barrack, Murray, Molle, Harrington, Regent, Campbell and Burnett streets.
Hobart City Council sought the lower speed limit from 60km/h, which was approved by the Department of Infrastructure Energy and Resources.
Sergeant John Cherry from Tasmania Police said they would not be harshly enforcing the limit from the outset.
"There will be a degree of leniency in the initial stages," he said.
"But I couldn't say it will be a blanket one. If it's a blatant disregard of the speed limit we will be taking action.
"It's an education process. People need time to adjust but I think most people will adapt quite quickly."
Sgt Cherry said most drivers would be issued with a caution, but this would be reviewed after about two weeks.
RACT spokesman Vince Taskunas said his organisation supported the revised speed limit but he believed the time frame for installing it could have been longer.
"The feedback we've had has been people saying 'Oh really, is that starting already?' Regular users of the route do not want to find themselves unwitting offenders because they have been driving at the 60km/h speed for some time."
Mr Taskunas said the change was good as it created more consistency rather than the previous "chopping and changing" of zones.
Lord Mayor Rob Valentine said flashing signs had been placed around Hobart to inform people of the impending changes. He said most people supported the change.
"Obviously you will get people who feel it's going too far and people who think it's not going far enough," Ald Valentine said.
He said he thought the new speed limit would improve traffic flow, particularly where synchronised traffic lights were concerned.
"I believe the median speed to get all the lights along Davey or Macquarie streets is about 45km/h.
"The important thing this will do is create a calmer environment in the CBD as well as reducing the severity of crashes."
Hobart alderman Jeff Briscoe said the Melbourne CBD had a 40km/h speed limit.
"It has been so successful there they are now debating whether to turn it into a 30km/h limit," he said.
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