Road Safety Programs
The Shire is committed to improving road safety, across the Peninsula, for all road users.
The work we do to meet this commitment uses the best-practice Safe System approach to improve road safety and address road trauma. This has four key pillars:
- Safer Roads – upgrade of roads and intersections
- Safer Road Users – education of drivers and other road users
- Safer Vehicles – improvement of vehicle safety
- Safer Speeds – appropriate speed limits and reduction of the number of vehicles travelling over the posted speed limit
Our ultimate goal is for all journeys to be safe and feel safe for all modes of transport by addressing systemic crash risks through the implementation of Safe System principles.
Read on to learn more about what we are doing to improve road safety under each of these pillars and how you can be involved.
Safer Roads
The Shire is uses a risk-based road assessment program called The Australian National Risk Assessment Model (ANRAM) to identify road sections with the highest risk of severe crashes.
This provides a way for the Shire to identify, measure and report on crash risk for the prioritisation of future road improvements.
Safer Road Users
Several programs are run to address road safety around schools and road safety for young drivers across the Peninsula.
Road Safety around Schools - The Kiss & Go program is designed to provide families with a safe and convenient area for dropping off and picking up children from school. It’s a short-term stopping area for children to be able to walk between the car and the school, using the safety of the footpath. Park and Stride, along with remote drop-off locations also serve to reduce congestions around schools.
Fit to Drive - Fit to Drive is an annual program that visits Secondary schools on the Mornington Peninsula and provides educational sessions on young driver safety to students from years 10, 11 and 12. The program is supported by the Shire, the Arthur's Seat Challenge fun run and Blue Scope Steel in Western Port.
DriveSafe Speed Awareness Program (SAM) - The Shire uses a Speed Awareness trailer to promote the need to slow down on residential streets.
Hoon Hotline - If you have hooning issues in your street this can be reported to the hoon hotline via crimestoppers on 1800 333 000. You can contact them 24 hours a day seven days a week and talk to operator who will pass on the information to the local police. It is helpful if you can provide them with the licence plate details for the hoons.
Safer Vehicles
“If all drivers drove the safest car in their class we could reduce the road toll by thirty percent.” -Traffic Accident Commission.
All new cars sold in Australia undergo Australia’s New Car Crash Assessment Program and receive a safety star rating.
Sixty percent of all new cars in Australia are sold as fleet vehicles, so if companies chose safer cars this would improve the safety standard of all second hand cars and the overall road safety conditions for everyone.
Safer Speeds
In December 2019, the Shire implemented a two-year Safer Speeds trial of 80 km/h speeds limits on 38 high risk sealed rural roads which had 90 and 100 km/h speed limits.
Research indicates that the project is expected to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 25% and 15% respectively on these roads. The trial is being comprehensively evaluated by Road Safety Victoria.
Get involved
Join RoadSafe SouthEast inc
RoadSafe SouthEast is a Community based Road Safety group part funded by Victorian Community Road Safety Alliance to implement local road safety programs. It meets once a month and is made up of community members, Victoria Police members, emergency services, and the local road safety officer.
For more information, contact RoadSafe SouthEast via email at roadsafesoutheast@gmail.com or phone 0410 002 825.
Why not become a role model for Road Safety in your street?
Research shows that 90 per cent of all speeding in residential streets is by local residents themselves, so slow down and model the behaviour you want to occur in your street.