According to a report, after lowering the speed limit by 10 km/h, Edmonton saw 25.1 per cent fewer collisions and 31 per cent fewer injuries and fatalities throughout the city.
I find that I have more time to react to pedestrian's or avoid collisions when I'm doing 30-40 km/h in a playground, school or residential area. The only problem is most times drivers behind me are inpatient. They honk or try to overtake. Classic Edmonton drivers.
Idiots won't no matter the speed limit though, most of us were already driving according to the road layout. You know, those cramped streets your GPS takes you down to avoid traffic where it turns into one lane because there's cars lined on both sides.
I remember being royally pissed when I got a ticket in the mail for doing 54 in a 40, as I hadn't heard about the change (no radio/tv/newspaper). This spot https://maps.app.goo.gl/5ZSbM4JxoZ4xcAP49 is wide and open enough, it was ridiculous.
There’s a few residential roads that should have stayed at 50 (mostly ones that end in “drive” or “boulevard”), but for the most part 40 is better. Hell, some roads would be better at 30!
Slow driving can be dangerous but that's when it's slower than traffic. With the posted limit being slow obviously this doesn't apply because traffic itself is slow