Speed stoush

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Speed stoush

THE speed limits on four South Gippsland roads have been reduced in a bid to save lives, but the move has drawn criticism from the public.

VicRoads has already reduced the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h on two high-speed roads in South Gippsland.

Slower limits on another two roads will come into effect from this Thursday, December 22.

The limit on Boolarra South-Mirboo North Road, Mirboo, was changed on December 6 and the limit on Mirboo North-Trafalgar Road, Thorpdale, was changed last Thursday.

This Thursday, limits will be lowered on Meeniyan-Mirboo North Road, from Mirboo North to Dumbalk, and Korumburra-Wonthaggi Road, Korumburra to Kongwak.

VicRoads Eastern Region regional director Scott Lawrence said the roads had a history of devastating road trauma.

“The road safety initiative is supported by evidence-based research with the aim of reducing the number of serious injuries and lives lost,” he said.

“The project involves the installation of new guide posts, warning signs and alignment markers along these roads and the adoption of a safer travel speed.”

The installation of the new guide posts, warning signs and alignment markers along these roads is scheduled for early 2017.

“Speed is the major causal factor in a quarter of serious injury crashes and lives lost on Gippsland roads, but evidence-based research speaks volumes: if we drive at a safer speed, travel times increase minimally and the chances of serious injuries or

being killed decrease dramatically,” Mr Lawrence said.

Dumbalk North’s Adrian Harris said the changes to Boolarra South-Mirboo North Road and Meeniyan-Mirboo North Road were unnecessary.

“I think it’s a ploy by the State Government to slow down the roads instead of repairing them to up their safety record,” he said.

“I will have to travel at 80km/h all the way from Dumbalk to Mirboo North.

“It’s not necessary. Loves Lane has a bad corner but if you’re doing 80km/h you will still go off the bank.”

Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien was concerned the changes had been introduced unilaterally with little or no consultation with locals.

“The Andrews Labor Government has made a habit of placing speed restrictions on certain roads to cover for its cuts to roads spending and I’m concerned this is another instance of that occurring,” he said.

“I can’t see why this road, which has been at 100 km/h for decades, suddenly needs to change.”

Mr Lawrence said replacing the 100km/h speed limits with an 80km/h limit reduced the chances of serious injury or death by 60 per cent, but the increase in travel time would be minimal:

  • Boolarra South-Mirboo North Road: change in travel time increased by just over 40 seconds;
  • Meeniyan-Mirboo North Road, Mirboo North to Dumbalk: change in travel time increased by just over 40 seconds;
  • Korumburra-Wonthaggi Road, Korumburra to Kongwak: change in travel time increased by just over 30 seconds; and
  • Mirboo North-Trafalgar Road: change in travel time increased by just over 70 seconds.

“Since 1994, there have been 310 crashes along these roads, in which 11 people lost their lives and 126 were seriously injured. Another 297 people sustained other injuries and 223 escaped injury,” Mr Lawrence said.

“Each death or serious injury on our roads has far reaching effects.”

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Posted by on Dec 20 2016. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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