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Data
Road and intersection safety
5,000 Victorians name safety concerns on Melbourne's roads
RACV has released the final results of the inaugural My Melbourne Road survey, receiving feedback from 5,000 motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport users on their safety concerns of Melbourne’s transport network.
RACV’s My Melbourne Road, is how we listen to Victorians about their safety concerns regarding Melbourne’s transport network, so that we can act on behalf of the community to help improve safety on our roads.
Overview of key findings
- Overly complex intersections were the top safety issue identified.
- One-third of respondents called for lower speed zones on roads they use often.
- The most vulnerable road users – cyclists and pedestrians – were the most highly-represented in the feedback.
- Three of the roads with the most number of responses include Strategic Cycling Corridors, indicating that they are not safe enough for cyclists.
- Many of the solutions identified by respondents are low-cost and easy to implement, including zebra crossings and better-positioned traffic lights.
Full survey results can be found in the RACV My Melbourne Road storybook, available to download here.
Cyclists were able to highlight unsafe roads and intersections in the survey. Image: Getty
Road and intersection safety
Moonee Valley’s Mount Alexander Road –where it meets with Keilor Road –received the most responses for safety concerns in both the road and intersection categories. Dandenong Road running through Windsor, Prahran and Caulfield received the second highest number of responses, followed in third place by Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg.
Pedestrian and cycling safety
RACV Head of Policy James Williams highlighted the most vulnerable road users – cyclists and pedestrians – were the most highly represented in the feedback.
“Of the 5,000 safety concerns raised by participants, intersection safety was the area of greatest concern, followed by unsafe behaviours of other drivers, such as speeding and erratic driving,” Mr Williams said.
“One-third of participants also identified that a lower speed limit on their nominated road would improve safety.”
Notably, four of the roads and intersections with the most number of responses identified by participants had pedestrian or cyclist related safety issues as a primary concern.
“Pedestrian traffic lights where they are most needed, traffic calming infrastructure and protected cycling lanes were commonly identified as potential solutions in the feedback from cyclists and pedestrians,” Mr Williams said.
Other solutions identified included resurfacing potholes, intersection design, improving lighting and ensuring speed limits are fit for purpose.
Driver behaviour
“The survey results suggest that unsafe driving was heightened in congested traffic. These findings are a reminder that investment in road infrastructure is critical to improving safety and that motorists also need to drive safely and to the traffic conditions,” Mr Williams said.
“Whether it’s driving at a safe speed, keeping a safe distance or not using a portable device while driving, we can all do our part to make our roads safer.”
RACV will share the My Melbourne Road survey results with governments and advocate for improvements to the roads identified by participants.
| 10 roads with the most number of responses in Melbourne | ||
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mount Alexander Road |
Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale |
|
2 |
Dandenong Road |
Windsor, Prahran, Caulfield |
|
3 |
Sydney Road |
Brunswick, Coburg |
|
4 |
North Road |
McKinnon, Oakleigh, Clayton |
|
5 |
Calder Freeway |
Keilor Park, Keilor, Taylors Lakes |
|
6 |
Clyde Road / Berwick-Cranbourne Road |
Berwick, Clyde |
|
7 |
Point Cook Road |
Point Cook, Seabrook |
|
8 |
St Kilda Road |
Melbourne |
|
9 |
Barkly Street / Hopkins Street |
Footscray |
|
10 |
Western Freeway |
Melton, Rockbank |
| 10 intersections with the most number of responses in Melbourne | ||
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mount Alexander Road / Keilor Road |
Essendon |
|
2 |
Princes Freeway / Geelong Road Exit |
Werribee |
|
3 |
Wellington Road / Dorning Road |
Narre Warren East |
|
4 |
Bay Street / Liardet Road |
Port Melbourne |
|
5 |
Twickenham Crescent / Loyola Grove |
Richmond |
|
6 |
Racecourse Road / Flemington Road |
North Melbourne |
|
7 |
Point Cook Road / Sneydes Road |
Point Cook |
|
8 |
Flemington Road / Royal Parade |
North Melbourne |
|
9 |
Lorimer Street / Wurundjeri Way |
Docklands |
|
10 |
Williamstown Road / Beacon Road |
Port Melbourne |
Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg was identified as a road of concern in the survey. Image: Getty
