Improving road infrastructure
Targeted improvements to road infrastructure will help to save the lives of Victorians and reduce the severity of injuries in road crashes. arrive alive 2008 - 2017 will deliver a combination of targeted infrastructure improvements across Victoria.
Safety barriers
Steel guardrails and wire rope safety barriers are highly effective in absorbing the impact of vehicles travelling at high speeds. In particular, wire rope barriers can reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by up to 90 per cent. A combination of these barriers will be installed at places where there is a high risk of cars running off the road and hitting trees and other roadside objects.
Removal of hazards from the roadside
Deaths and serious injuries in run-off-road crashes are strongly linked to collisions with trees and other objects on the roadside. In some locations, removing trees and other objects close to the roadside will give motorists a greater chance of survival if they run off the road.
Sealing of road shoulders
Shoulder sealing will be used to provide a smoother, more stable surface at the road’s outer edge and minimise the chances of motorists losing control of their vehicles and running off the road.
Improved signage and road guidance
Lack of awareness of road conditions can be a factor in run-off-road crashes. Improvements that help drivers to become more aware of the road environment will include line marking, ‘cats eyes’ reflective road markers, and warning and advisory speed signs at locations with high crash risks.
Intersection improvements
A number of infrastructure improvements will be made to reduce the risk and severity of intersection crashes, including:
- Roundabouts – which can reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by up to 85 per cent and are the most effective way to reduce serious injury crashes at intersections because they require motorists to significantly reduce their speed when approaching and travelling through an intersection.
- Traffic lights – which will be installed at intersections to control heavy volumes of traffic and complex traffic movements which would not be effectively managed with a roundabout treatment. In some cases, the sequence of existing traffic lights will be altered to ease congestion and allow more time for difficult turns.
- Traffic separation – which will improve safety at intersections by creating a better separation between traffic turning and travelling through the intersection. Improvements will include better lane marking, traffic islands and separate lanes for left and right turning vehicles.
- Rumble strips – will be installed at certain locations which will alert motorists that they are approaching intersections and rail level crossings.
