Yarra City Council welcomes Inquiry recommendations to improve road safety

Monday 20 May 2024

Yarra City Council welcomes the recommendations from the 'Parliamentary Inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users' and urges the State Government to act on and fund its recommendations to improve road safety for vulnerable road users.

The report, tabled in Parliament on 1 May, centred on the behaviour of road users during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect on the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Council made a submission calling for a number of measures to improve road safety including an increase in funding, prioritising safety for vulnerable road users, improvements to micromobility safety, especially for people with a disability, and a review of the current Speed Zoning Policy.

Yarra City Council Mayor, Edward Crossland, said, “Road safety is critically important and a high priority in our community. Yarra is home to some of the busiest areas in Melbourne and some of the highest density residential and mixed-use areas, in addition to new schools and a high percentage of people walking and cycling.”

“We fully support the recommendations of the 'Parliamentary Inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours,' in particular the recommendation to review the speed limit policy to 30km/h in local roads and areas with high pedestrian activity.”

“Council also welcomes the Transport Accident Commission’s infrastructure investments, which will be made available to councils through the Safer Local Roads and Streets Program, including funding to deliver road safety infrastructure and recent access to a wider range of road safety data to assist with road safety planning.”

“Yarra is committed to helping deliver the Victorian Government’s Road Safety Strategy and other adopted local and state policies.”

Yarra City Council has been an ongoing advocate for safer roads, including leading trials for a 30km/h speed limit in the northern parts of Fitzroy and Collingwood, with support from the Department of Transport and Planning and the Transport Accident Commission.

Results from the trial found a 50 percent reduction in the total number of crashes and a 70 percent reduction in serious injury from crashes in the 5 years before the trial compared with the 5 years following the trial.

In addition, results showed reduced speeding overall, especially excessive speeding, fewer accidents and injury and an increase in community support for the lower speed limit.

In response to the success of the initial trial, Yarra launched a new 30km/h speed limit trial in May 2024 that will extend the existing 30km/h area to encompass all local streets across Fitzroy and Collingwood and is complementary to the recommendations of the Inquiry.

Recommendations from the Inquiry aligned to Yarra City Council’s submission

Yarra Submission	Inquiry Recommendation
An increase in road safety, transport and accessibility funding and resources across all levels of Government in Victoria.	Recommendation 3: The Victorian Government continues to invest in public transport to make it a more attractive option, and ensure public transport stops, interchanges and connections are incorporated into planning. Recommendation 9: The Transport Accident Commission review the Local Government Grant Program to ensure it is meeting the needs of the community. Recommendation 23: The Department of Transport and Planning prioritise the delivery of accessible tram stops.
The development of guidelines and policy for vulnerable road users, with these guidelines being prioritised over competing local and state directions when reviewing road network upgrades.	Recommendation 4: The Victorian Government convene a vulnerable road users’ advisory group to share lived experiences and to contribute to the development of road safety interventions. Recommendation 35: The Department of Transport and Planning work with councils to map existing and approved cycling infrastructure across Victoria in order to identify opportunities to link and connect cycling infrastructure projects.
A commitment from local and state governments to prioritise projects that will have the most benefit for vulnerable road users	Recommendation 8: The Victorian Government place greater emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users in future road and urban infrastructure design and strategies. Recommendation 25: The Department of Transport and Planning seek feedback from councils and the community on the locations of signalised crossings that give pedestrians too little time to safely cross, and program crossing times at these spots to ensure pedestrians of all abilities have enough time to cross safely. Recommendation 26: The Department of Transport and Planning review intersections commonly used by vulnerable road users and assess if treatments such as timed pedestrian protection would benefit. Recommendation 27: The Department of Transport and Planning review arterial roads to ensure there are regular pedestrian crossings linked to public transport stops, activity centres and schools.
Commitment from the State Government to fund and implement adopted policies in partnership with local governments, for example Strategic Cycling Corridors, walking infrastructure and public transport service and accessibility improvements.	Recommendation 2: The Victorian Government continues to promote and plan for active transport and report the proportion of the transport budget allocated to active transport. Recommendation 31: The Department of Transport and Planning continues to promote the installation of protected bike lanes in inner and middle Melbourne. Recommendation 32: The Department of Transport and Planning support the creation of cycling infrastructure on all new major roads or when upgrading existing major roads. Recommendation 34: The Department of Transport and Planning prioritise the development of the Strategic Cycling Corridor network in metropolitan and regional Victoria
Clear policy and transparent processes on how micromobility is to be safely incorporated into Victoria’s transport systems and minimise negative impacts, in particular for people with a disability and other vulnerable road users.	Recommendation 41: The Victorian Government review e‑scooter regulations following its trial. Recommendation 42: The Department of Transport and Planning develop an education campaign to reach all road users including schoolchildren about road rules relating to e‑scooter use.
A review of the current Speed Zoning Policy to allow the introduction of 30 km/h speed limit on permanent basis.	Recommendation 5: The Department of Transport and Planning revise its Speed Zoning Policy to streamline changes to speed limits on a case‑by‑case basis. Recommendation 6: The Department of Transport and Planning review the Speed Zoning Technical Guidelines with a view to minimising suburban rat running and reducing speed limits around school precincts and on arterial roads with activity centres.

Yarra Submission	Inquiry Recommendation
An increase in road safety, transport and accessibility funding and resources across all levels of Government in Victoria.	Recommendation 3: The Victorian Government continues to invest in public transport to make it a more attractive option, and ensure public transport stops, interchanges and connections are incorporated into planning. Recommendation 9: The Transport Accident Commission review the Local Government Grant Program to ensure it is meeting the needs of the community. Recommendation 23: The Department of Transport and Planning prioritise the delivery of accessible tram stops.
The development of guidelines and policy for vulnerable road users, with these guidelines being prioritised over competing local and state directions when reviewing road network upgrades.	Recommendation 4: The Victorian Government convene a vulnerable road users’ advisory group to share lived experiences and to contribute to the development of road safety interventions. Recommendation 35: The Department of Transport and Planning work with councils to map existing and approved cycling infrastructure across Victoria in order to identify opportunities to link and connect cycling infrastructure projects.
A commitment from local and state governments to prioritise projects that will have the most benefit for vulnerable road users	Recommendation 8: The Victorian Government place greater emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users in future road and urban infrastructure design and strategies. Recommendation 25: The Department of Transport and Planning seek feedback from councils and the community on the locations of signalised crossings that give pedestrians too little time to safely cross, and program crossing times at these spots to ensure pedestrians of all abilities have enough time to cross safely. Recommendation 26: The Department of Transport and Planning review intersections commonly used by vulnerable road users and assess if treatments such as timed pedestrian protection would benefit. Recommendation 27: The Department of Transport and Planning review arterial roads to ensure there are regular pedestrian crossings linked to public transport stops, activity centres and schools.
Commitment from the State Government to fund and implement adopted policies in partnership with local governments, for example Strategic Cycling Corridors, walking infrastructure and public transport service and accessibility improvements.	Recommendation 2: The Victorian Government continues to promote and plan for active transport and report the proportion of the transport budget allocated to active transport. Recommendation 31: The Department of Transport and Planning continues to promote the installation of protected bike lanes in inner and middle Melbourne. Recommendation 32: The Department of Transport and Planning support the creation of cycling infrastructure on all new major roads or when upgrading existing major roads. Recommendation 34: The Department of Transport and Planning prioritise the development of the Strategic Cycling Corridor network in metropolitan and regional Victoria
Clear policy and transparent processes on how micromobility is to be safely incorporated into Victoria’s transport systems and minimise negative impacts, in particular for people with a disability and other vulnerable road users.	Recommendation 41: The Victorian Government review e‑scooter regulations following its trial. Recommendation 42: The Department of Transport and Planning develop an education campaign to reach all road users including schoolchildren about road rules relating to e‑scooter use.
A review of the current Speed Zoning Policy to allow the introduction of 30 km/h speed limit on permanent basis.	Recommendation 5: The Department of Transport and Planning revise its Speed Zoning Policy to streamline changes to speed limits on a case‑by‑case basis. Recommendation 6: The Department of Transport and Planning review the Speed Zoning Technical Guidelines with a view to minimising suburban rat running and reducing speed limits around school precincts and on arterial roads with activity centres.

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