Road Safety

Since the Mornington Peninsula Shire joined forces with the TAC, VicRoads and Victoria Police in 2016 to become the state's first Towards Zero municipality the Shire has commenced many road safety initiatives.

Towards Zero is a vision for a future free of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

Despite the efforts of VicRoads, Mornington Peninsula Shire, the TAC and Victoria Police, road trauma is still an issue on the peninsula. In collaboration with TAC, VicRoads and Victoria Police, programs are being developed that demonstrate the safe system principles in a coordinated effort to reduce road related serious injuries and fatalities.

We are working towards safer road use, safer roads, safer speeds and safer vehicles. 

Visit the Towards Zero website for more information.

The Safe Speed component of Towards Zero relates to travelling at speeds that correspond with the conditions. If speed limits are set appropriately and drivers travel within those limits, the effectiveness of the Safer Roads and Safer Vehicle initiatives are enhanced and help reduce trauma.

In collaboration with the Victorian Police and VicRoads a number of roads have been identified as high priorities for speed limit reductions and community feedback has been sought for proposed speed limit changes on:

• South Beach Road, Bittern (Trafalgar Street to Urquart Crescent)
• Davies Road, Bittern
• Bruce Road, Mount Martha (Nepean Highway to east of Martha Cove Boulevard)
• Watt Road, Mornington
• Truemans Road, Tootgarook (South of Karella Drive to Belar Road)
• Jetty Road, Rosebud (Old Cape Schanck Road to Duells Road).

Factors like the number of recorded crashes, road environment, volume of traffic, abutting land uses, driveways and intersecting roads and the number of community concerns or requests received have been considered in determining these roads to be priority speed limit change proposals.

Safer roads can reduce the most common crash types:

1. Vehicles leaving the road.
2. Head-on collisions.
3. Side-impacts at intersections.
4. Collisions with pedestrians and cyclists.

Road infrastructure plays a vital role in reducing crashes and the severity of injuries if there is an accident.

The Shire is undertaking a number of projects under the safer roads initiative:

 Safer Residential Areas

• Council has recently matched up to $1 Million in funding from the State Government’s Safe System Road Infrastructure Program (SSRIP) to implement road safety treatments across the Shire’s highest crash risk residential areas. Initially the priority areas include Dromana, Hastings and Rosebud with other areas to be considered depending on further funding opportunities.

• High risk rural intersections

In collaboration with VicRoads and TAC, the Shire is developing innovative intersection treatments to be trialled at various high risk rural intersections throughout the Shire. Proposals for more cost effective roundabouts are being developed for funding consideration to address crashes at:

• Mornington Flinders Rd/ Shands Rd
• Stanleys Rd/ Merricks Rd

Other high risk intersections are also being considered however this will also be dependent on funding availability.

High Pedestrian & Cyclist Activity Areas – Main St, Mornington precinct

The Shire in collaboration with VicRoads is developing a proposal for road safety improvements in this busy pedestrian activity area. Community consultation has recently displayed strong support for various proposals including a 40 Area speed limit.

High Pedestrian & Cyclist Activity Areas - Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud and adjacent area

VicRoads is developing a proposal to address the high level of road trauma involving pedestrians and cyclists in the section for Point Nepean Rd between Rosebud and Capel Sound. Additional pedestrian and cyclist facilities with a reduced speed limit are being considered.

Rye Township Plan

The Council has recently adopted the Rye Township Plan strategy that will incorporate many road safety improvements particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. The Shire is seeking funding support from the TAC towards the safe system treatments.

Mornington Peninsula Freeway M11 upgrade

VicRoads is implementing road safety improvements along the M11 from Mt Martha to Rosebud that will assist to address the very high number of fatalities and serious injuries occurring. The installation of wire rope barriers is underway to reduce the severity of run-off road crashes that are the most frequent crash type.  This project is being funded by the State Government.