Lower speed limit at Heritage Site welcomed

GEORGE TOWN: With the speed limit reduced to 40kph on most roads within the Unesco World Heritage Site here, trishaw rider Roshidi Abdul Rahman now feels safer in a city known for its bustling traffic and tourist crowds.

“When motorists zoom past us, I always worry about being hit from behind. With a lower speed limit within the city, not just me but customers too will feel safer,” said the 59-year-old when met at Lebuh Armenian.

Weld Quay drinks seller Ooi Hock Keong, 63, said traffic along the road in front of his shop is often fast-moving and he hopes the new speed limit would improve the safety of pedestrians in the area popular with tourists visiting the clan jetties.

“Motorcycles, especially, are always weaving through traffic, and tourists crossing the road are at risk of being hit. I hope the lower speed limit will help create more awareness among motorists,” he said.

Motorist Aaron Leong, 18, said he supported the lower speed limit for the sake of safety.

“Tourists unaccustomed to our traffic, especially foreigners, often cross the road without being alert to oncoming vehicles. Since these areas are also often congested with slow vehicles in traffic jams, it is no issue for motorists to comply with the 40kph limit,” he said.

On Wednesday, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) announced the 40kph speed limit for most roads within the core zone of the heritage enclave, with signs of the new speed limit placed on each affected road.

The new limit affects all roads within the area except for main roads like Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong, Gat Jalan Prangin, Pesara King Edward, Lebuh Light, Lebuh Farquhar and Jalan Penang, where the speed limit remains at 50kph.

MBPP traffic engineer Noor Munirah Raja Ahmad said the move is aimed at improving safety, adding that a speeding ticket by police awaits motorists caught breaching the limit.

Noor Munirah said the new ruling was gazetted last August but only enforced now after the relevant infrastructure was put in place.

City councillor Edward Tan said he expected police to begin their speed trap operations once the infrastructure is fully in place, though no fines have been issued to motorists caught speeding in the 40kph zones yet.

“Before this, the hotspots for speed traps by police were at Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and Penang Bridge. They will start the speed trap operation at selected places after all the infrastructure is covered,” he said.

More can still be done to improve safety, said retired city planner Lam Nam Fu, calling the lower speed limit good in the short-term measure.

“In the long term, the government needs to find ways to allocate a certain width along the roads as paths for pedestrians. Redevelopment plans in the future should set the buildings further back to create this space for walking and protect pedestrians from motorists,” said the 70-year-old tourist from Singapore.