Forty kilometre per hour (km/h) speed zones will be introduced this month in the Woden and Gungahlin Town Centres as part of a trial to help improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other roads users, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Simon Corbell, announced.

The 40km/h trial will run from August 2011 to January 2012 and operate on a full time basis (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

"The safety of pedestrians and all road users is important and this six month trial will provide the government with a great snapshot of how the 40km/h speed limit can better protect Canberrans in town centres," Mr Corbell said.

"Implementing safer speed limits in areas of high pedestrian and cycling activity is a proven road safety measure, as identified in the National Road Safety Strategy and the ACT Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan.

"Research indicated that the introduction of a 40km/h speed zone can significantly reduce the risk of death for vulnerable road users. For example, a 10km/h decrease in speed can reduce the risk of death for pedestrians and cyclists by over 50 percent."

The 40km/h speed limit will be applied to the core retail areas of the Woden and Gungahlin Town Centres.

"If the trial is successful the government will look to formalise the 40km/h area within the Woden and Gungahlin Town Centres and will consider introducing similar speed limits in other town centres with major shopping centre precincts."

For more information on the trial visit http://www.tams.act.gov.au/ .