The City of Manningham in Melbourne’s east has released its draft Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan for comment.
The council says the 2025–2034 strategy aims to make roads safer and reduce crashes.
It considers crash and incident data alongside community feedback and input from key stakeholders, such as local authorities, road safety partners, and community groups.
Since implementing its previous Road Safety Strategy in 2010, Manningham has seen a downward trend in crash incidents. However, between 2017 and 2023, there were still 409 serious injuries and 11 fatalities on Manningham roads. Without any train or tram services in the municipality, residents rely heavily on roads for transportation.
Popular destinations in the area include Westfield Doncaster, Doncaster Park and Ride, Mullum Mullum Stadium, Westerfolds Park, and several local shopping areas.
There are some good off-road trails in the area, as well as some attractive routes for riders seeking challenges in the hills, but many major roads are testing for people on bikes.
The analysis in the draft strategy indicates fatal and serious injury crashes are most likely to happen in two types of locations:
- Where high volumes of traffic are moving at high speed and vehicles are able to cross paths – for example, on an arterial road and at major intersections (Bulleen Road–Manningham Road, Williamson Road–Doncaster Road).
- Where there are significant movements of motor vehicles in close proximity to pedestrians and cyclists – for example, higher speed local roads.
This analysis also found that 70% of crashes (258 crashes) occur on Department of Transport and Planning roads. In comparison, 30% (113 crashes) occur on council roads.
The action plan recommends the city updates its 2013 bike strategy, a move that is well overdue.
Another objective is to continue to improve the footpath and shared path network, crossings, and completion of missing pedestrian–cycling links and target areas of high active transport usage, such as schools, activity centres, and parklands.
It will also advocate for lower speed limits in activity centres and environments with high pedestrian and cycle activity.
You can provide your feedback by completing the survey before 21 February 2025.
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