By Kirsty Ross
HOBSONS Bay Council has formally adopted a plan aimed at reducing accidents on its roads.
The Road Safety Strategic Plan 2005-2007 outlines a series of short and long-term actions the Council hopes will cut the number of fatalities and injuries.
Road Safe Westgate Road Safety Council executive member and Altona Ward councillor Leigh Hardinge said road accident statistics were steadily increasing in Hobsons Bay.
“On average, someone is seriously injured every five days on Hobsons Bay roads,” he said.
Cr Hardinge said council was accountable for giving residents and visitors an infrastructure that is safe throughout the road network of 463 kilometres and more than 649 kilometres of footpaths.
The plan places a key focus on improving the safety of the city’s more vulnerable road users, like children, the elderly, pedestrians and cyclists.
Some of the works include implementing reduced speed limits in school and shopping precincts, traffic calming work near schools, and the Walking School Bus program.
Some of the key components of the plan identify improvements for areas near community centres, where pedestrians are particularly at risk.
“A range of road safety work has already been carried out across the city to support those more at risk from injury, but more needs to be done,” Cr Hardinge said.
