Hilton's 40km/h Trial
The results are in
Hilton's 40km/h speed zone has now been in place for more than a year, and the results of the City of Fremantle's trial are in.
The lower speed limit was introduced across Hilton's local residential streets on 21 July 2025, following years of local advocacy about speeding and road safety.
In August 2026, the City of Fremantle reviewed the trial, with the results showing reduced vehicle speeds across the majority of monitoring locations.
The trial has provided the City with real-world information about what happens when an area-wide 40km/h speed limit is introduced on residential streets.
How It Started
The push for safer speeds in Hilton started locally.
Hilton resident Alice raised concerns about vehicles travelling too quickly along Oldham Crescent and requested traffic data to determine whether what residents were experiencing was reflected in actual vehicle speeds.
The data supported those concerns.
From there, conversations about traffic speeds grew into a broader discussion about road safety across Hilton.
In August 2024, Hilton Precinct held a community meeting focused on traffic calming, bringing residents together with City of Fremantle representatives and elected members.
Traffic data was shared and residents discussed practical ways to encourage slower, safer streets throughout Hilton.
The 40km/h Trial
In December 2024, Fremantle Council approved a 12-month trial of an area-wide 40km/h speed limit on Hilton's local roads.
Main Roads WA subsequently approved the change.
From 21 July 2025, local roads within the area bounded by South Street, Carrington Street, Winterfold Road and Stock Road changed from 50km/h to 40km/h.
New 40 Area signs were installed at entry points into the neighbourhood.
What Did the Trial Find?
Throughout the trial, vehicle speeds were monitored at locations around Hilton to assess whether changing the posted speed limit resulted in changes to driver behaviour.
The results presented to the City in August 2026 showed reduced vehicle speeds across the majority of monitoring locations.
Importantly, the trial was largely implemented through a change to the posted speed limit and signage, rather than widespread construction of new traffic-calming infrastructure.
The results provide useful local evidence about the role lower speed limits can play in creating safer residential streets.
The Trial Is Complete – Hilton Stays at 40km/h
In August 2026, the City of Fremantle's Strategic Planning Committee considered the results of the Hilton trial.
The committee unanimously supported the item.
The 40km/h area in Hilton will remain, while the City continues looking at opportunities to reduce vehicle speeds more broadly across Fremantle.
City officers advised that discussions with Main Roads WA were already underway and that the City was looking towards a five-year program of road treatments to help achieve further speed reductions.
More Than Changing a Sign
A lower speed limit is only one part of creating safer streets.
Throughout the project, Hilton Precinct has continued to raise locations where residents identify particular traffic or road-safety concerns.
We've also supported community-led initiatives including the Go Slow for Freo bin sticker campaign and continued conversations about traffic calming and safer street design.
The aim isn't simply to make cars travel more slowly.
It's about creating residential streets that work safely for everyone who uses them – including residents, children, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
What Happens Next?
For Hilton, the 40km/h trial may be finished, but work on safer streets isn't.
The results are now helping inform a broader conversation between the City of Fremantle and Main Roads WA about lower speeds and future road treatments.
Hilton Precinct will continue to raise local traffic concerns with the City and keep residents informed about future projects and opportunities to have a say.
What began with a Hilton resident questioning the speed of vehicles on her own street ultimately contributed to a suburb-wide trial and a much broader conversation about safer residential streets.
That's a pretty good result for a local idea.