FEDERAL FUNDING TO FIX 71 ‘BLACK SPOTS’ IN VICTORIA

THE safety of 71 Victorian road ‘black spots’ will be substantially improved over the next 12 months.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack today announced $25 million for the state under the Black Spot Program’s 2019–20 funding round.

“The Australian Government is committed to building safer roads across the nation,” Mr McCormack said.

“The Black Spot Program targets road locations where crashes are occurring, reducing the risk of crashes through funding safety measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations.

“The 71 black spot projects being funded across Victoria are an important contribution towards reducing the national road toll.”

Mr McCormack said this investment in black spot projects would deliver safer roads in local government areas throughout Victoria.

“Funding has been allocated to road locations that have been identified as high priority, with 326 casualty crashes recorded at these sites over the past five years, including 15 fatal crashes” he said.

“The panel that reviews priorities for the program includes representatives from the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, the Victorian Transport Association, Victoria Police, the Municipal Association of Victoria and VicRoads.”

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the Black Spot Program showcases the Liberal and National Government’s commitment to making our roads safer.

“Thanks to the strong financial management from the Liberals and Nationals Government, we can target our investment to where  it’s most needed so Victorians will be able to travel more safely across the state,” Mr Buchholz said.

“I am proud to be part of a government that is not only delivering on its commitment to do more to reduce crashes on our roads, but is delivering the infrastructure that Australians want, need and most importantly deserve.”

The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has found that, on average, Black Spot projects reduce the number of crashes causing death and injury by 30 per cent.

The Australian Government has committed $1.05 billion to the Black Spot Program from 2013–14 to 2022–23 to improve road safety across the nation.

For more information on the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, or to nominate a black spot, visit http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots.