- Published:
- Thursday 5 August 2021
The Australian and Victorian governments are trialling innovative new technologies to help reduce death and injury on regional roads in Victoria.
In a first for regional Victoria, LED tactile pavings will be installed at pedestrian crossings in Bendigo and Trafalgar, with trials of glow-in-the-dark line marking and signage, and high reflectivity paint also being rolled out at locations across the state.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said one life lost on Australian roads is one too many.
“That’s why the Australian Government has committed $3 billion for the nationwide Road Safety Program,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Our Government is committed to keeping our communities safe, while securing our economic recovery.
“The funding supports the fast roll-out of life-saving safety works on rural and regional roads, and is another example of the Australian Government working to reduce the number of Australians missing around the dinner table due to tragedies on our roads.”
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said driving down road trauma and ensuring more Victorians make it home safely every day was at the core of the Victorian Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030.
“Whether it’s mandating seatbelts or legislating random breath tests, Victoria has always been at the forefront of road safety with a track record in leading the introduction of lifesaving road safety initiatives,” Minister Carroll said.
“We’re investing in better and safer infrastructure which includes looking at new and innovative ways to create a safer road environment for motorists and for overrepresented groups including pedestrians.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said road safety was a key priority for the Australian Government and this investment in road upgrades would provide a boost to the economy while ensuring Victorians can get home sooner and safer.
“Making our roads safer is a critical component of our work to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads and move towards achieving vision zero – that is zero deaths or serious injuries on our roads by 2050,” Mr Buchholz said.
“We are also investing significantly in other life-saving road safety initiatives including the Black Spot Program, Targeted Road Safety Works initiative and Road Safety Innovation Fund.
“This additional funding complements that work, resulting in an even greater roll out of improved infrastructure and roads right across the nation.”
The in-ground LED tactile paving being installed in August at pedestrian intersections in Bendigo and Trafalgar, changes colour to match the red/green phases of the pedestrian signals. This provides a clearer signal for pedestrians, including those looking down at the road or on their phone, when it’s safe to cross the road.
Glow-in-the-dark (photo-luminescent) line markings or signage is being trialled on roads in the east, south west and north of the state, and on a shared user path in Bendigo, from September. It looks and functions like ordinary line marking in daylight but emits stored light enhancing its visibility to road users when dark.
High reflectivity paint, which stays brighter for longer and is more durable, is being trialled on roads in Gippsland and the south west of the state to test its long-term effectiveness.
For more information go to the Road Safety Program Innovative Package page on Regional Roads Victoria website.
More information on the Australian Government’s road safety initiatives is available at www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au.