Salt Lake City begins lowering speed limits to 20 mph

SALT LAKE CITY — Speed limit signs in Salt Lake City are getting switched out — going from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour on all local streets. 

The decision to lower the speed limit follows a string of deadly auto-pedestrian crashes. 

Salt Lake City Council lowers speed limit on most streets to 20 mph

It may not seem like a big difference, going from 25 to 20 mph, however, city leaders and law enforcement believe what may appear to be a slight change will make a big difference and save lives. 

“What we need in order for it to work is for drivers to treat those 70% of Salt Lake City streets like their own home street,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. 

On Wednesday, a 20 mile per hour sign was put up near Parkview Elementary School.

Speed limit signs are getting switched out in SLC, going from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour.

This is one of the first signs going up I the city. @KSL5TV @slcmayor @slcpd pic.twitter.com/SBOgER2f9m

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) July 27, 2022

Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said the change is a good thing. 

“It’ll save lives,” he said. 

Brown said they will taking this time to educate people of the change. 

“As we educate and come together as a community, we’ll have an impact on the safety on our streets.”

I am proud to join @slcmayor, @slcmoves & @slcCouncil as we take an important step to making our roads safer. Today, we installed a new 20 mph speed limit sign near Parkview Elementary School. Old 25 mph signs, citywide, are replaced with 20 mph signs. #slc #slcpd #saltlakecity pic.twitter.com/cviHuf1xnG

— Chief Mike Brown (@ChiefMikeBrown) July 27, 2022

The change affects more than 400 miles of city-owned roadways, about 70% of city streets. 

The movement to lower the speed limit on residential streets, called 20 is Plenty, goes back to a grassroots safety advocacy group called Sweet Streets.

“Over the next couple weeks, Salt Lake City workers will be switching out 575 25 mile per hour signs to 20 mile per hour signs,” Mendenhall said.

Brown said even if a person goes at a slow speed, a crash can have tragic consequences. That in mind, if a person can slow down and stop sooner, a crash or tragedy may be prevented.