MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS

The Allan Labor Government is making it safer for Victorians to walk to school and get to major events – with almost 30 safety upgrades to make some of our busiest roads safer.

Victoria has seen a spike in pedestrian fatalities this year with 26 pedestrians losing their lives on Victorian roads – up 62 per cent on the same time last year. Failing to give way by both drivers and pedestrians has been attributed to the majority of pedestrian deaths this year.

This round of funding will support developments at some high priority sites across the Macedon Ranges:

Pedestrian Safety Improvement at High Street, Woodend, Service Lane
Raised Wombat Crossing with 40km/h speed limit

Pedestrian Safety Improvement at Jenning Street, Kyneton
Raised Wombat Crossing with 40km/h speed

Upgrading school crossing to raised wombat crossing at Epping Street, Kyneton
Raised Wombat Crossing with 40km/h speed

Pedestrian Safety Improvement at roundabout of Hamilton/Aitken Street, Gisborne
3 legs Raised Wombat Crossing with 40km/h speed

Pedestrian Safety Improvement Intersection of Fisher/Aitken Street Gisborne
Raised Wombat Crossing with 40km/h speed

Upgrading school crossing and improving pedestrian safety Improvement at Fisher Street Outside Gisborne Primary School
Raised Wombat Crossing with 40km/h speed

Pedestrian Intersection Safety Improvement at Station Street and Sutherland Street, Riddells Creek
Two Raised Wombat Crossing with 40km/h Speed

Pedestrian Safety Improvement at New Street, Kyneton
‍Raised Wombat Crossing with 40km/h speed

The MCG will be one of dozens of sites right across the state that will be made safer for pedestrians as part of the $23 million package.

Averaging more than 60,000 people during a weekend AFL match, and up to more than 100,000 during major events, the lack of pedestrian crossings at the MCG may have contributed to the 207 crashes involving pedestrians that occurred in the East Melbourne and Jolimont precinct within the five-year period ending June 2021.

An investment of $1.25 million in East Melbourne will deliver zebra crossings with speed humps and reduced road width at five sites across the suburb – reducing the risk of crashes in intersections which see large volumes of pedestrian traffic.

Pedestrian crossings, zebra crossings with speed humps and raised intersections will be installed as part of the safety package, at the Dandenong Market precinct, at busy intersections in Brunswick West and Woodend, as well as in Mildura, Ararat, Ocean Grove, Bacchus Marsh and Bendigo.

The Labor Government has worked with local councils to decide which projects should be delivered with council nominating areas or on sections of road in their community as high risk to pedestrians in their community.

The package supports Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 which aims to significantly reduce road trauma and halve road deaths by 2030.

Quote attributable to Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Macedon
“We are making roads safer for pedestrians across the state by making it easier for everyone to get where they need to go, especially pedestrians.”‍

Quote attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne
“We’ve seen too many pedestrians lose their lives on our roads this year. This investment will ensure we see more zebra crossings, raised intersections and pedestrian crossings where we need them to keep Victorians safe.”

Quote attributable to Head of Road Safety Victoria Marcelo Vidales
“Sharing the road safely is everyone’s responsibility and it’s important to remember that road trauma is preventable. We all need to behave responsibly regardless of the way we chose to travel.”