The city’s police will strictly enforce a new limit of 60km/h along the thoroughfare between Derby Street and the western side of Warrnambool at Hopetoun Road.

The previous limit was 70km/h and the new rules will come into play later this month.

It goes without saying that anything that makes roads safer is welcome.

This particular stretch of road is anything but safe.

Large volumes of traffic, including hundreds of trucks, use it daily.

It runs through the centre of Warrnambool past several schools, shops and residential areas.

Not surprisingly, it has been the scene of numerous accidents.

VicRoads said almost 28 per cent of all crashes on the Princes Highway between Colac and the South Australian border occurred in the Warrnambool CBD section — that is, on Raglan Parade.

From July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2014, between Colac and the South Australian border, 219 crashes occurred. Eight were fatalities and 77 resulted in severe injury trauma.

Sixty-one of those occurred in Warrnambool.

In light of statistics like this, some might be asking why speed limits were not lowered a long time ago.

VicRoads research shows that a 10km/h reduction in speed on arterial roads significantly reduces the number of road crashes.

Even travelling at just 5km/h above a speed limit significantly reduces the amount of time a driver has to slow down to avoid a crash.

Undoubtedly there will be some motorists, especially those who rely on their vehicles for business such as truck drivers or taxis, who will grumble about this change.

But the fact is the move will reduce the number of accidents and injuries and save lives.

Local highway patrol officers will be out in force to make sure motorists abide by the new limits, not revenue raising just making sure drivers are getting the message.

And that’s a very good thing indeed.