New safety technology will be installed at a high-risk intersection in south western Victoria to reduce road accidents and keep drivers safe.
Side Road Activated Speed technology, which helps slow traffic for drivers entering busy roads, will be installed at the intersection of Cobden-Warrnambool Road and Ayresford Road.
In the past five years there have been four crashes at the intersection, which resulted in two serious injuries and six other injuries.
New electronic speed signs will be triggered by sensors that detect cars approaching on the side road, Ayresford Road, temporarily reducing the speed on Cobden-Warrnambool Road by 30km/h – from 100km/h to 70km/h – until the car is able to turn.
The reduced speed limit will only stay active until there are no more vehicles waiting to turn onto Cobden-Warrnambool Road.
This will boost safety by providing drivers waiting on the side roads more opportunity to enter the highway safely, while also giving drivers on the highway more time to react if the side traffic fails to give way.
It will also significantly reduce the severity of crashes if they do occur.
The technology will be installed at this intersection in late August and will be completed in October. Safety barriers will also be installed as part of the works.
The upgrade is part of the $1.4 billion Towards Zero Action Plan and is being delivered in partnership between the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Regional Roads Victoria.
Victorian Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC, Jaala Pulford, said, “Using technology to manage the entry of traffic on to the Cobden-Warrnambool Road from Ayresford Road will better protect road users, especially when a simple mistake or the unexpected happens.
“This will make a huge difference for drivers by giving them a better opportunity to turn safely onto the highway, while reducing the severity of crashes if they do unfortunately happen.”
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney, said, “We’ve listened to community feedback and we’re taking action to boost safety for everyone travelling through this important local intersection.”
