Familiar faces … it is hoped a new campaign by Vic Roads featuring real construction workers will encourage drivers to obey speed limits on the Ring Road
VICROADS is hoping to pull at the heart strings of drivers with a new road safety initiative.
Drivers will see new faces on the M80 Ring Road with the launch of freeway signs featuring real construction workers.
M80 Ring Road upgrade director Trevor Boyd hopes the signs will encourage drivers to slow down through road work zones and obey reduced speed limits.
“Serious injury, or even death, is a real threat when drivers speed through work zones, so the signs remind drivers that while they may not see our workers, they are busy working behind barriers,” Mr Boyd said.
“By featuring real people at work on the Ring Road every day, we believe that the message will really hit home.”
The signs, located between Pascoe Vale Rd and the Western Highway, feature actual members of the team working on the upgrade, calling on drivers to consider their safety.
Brian Felmingham, who has worked in the construction industry for more than 35 years, and features on one of the signs with his grandchildren, said safety was a big issue on the roads, particularly as drivers seemed to ignore reduced speed limits.
“Even with the measures in place to keep workers safe, when I see an irresponsible driver speeding through our work site, some days I worry that I may not make it home to see my grandkids,” he said.
Mr Boyd said VicRoads was always looking for new ways to raise safety awareness across all road projects.
“This campaign is much like the one that was used on the recent M1 project and features real workers from the M80 Upgrade on the signs.”
He said while there had not been any incidents where workers had been injured in crashes, speeding drivers through roadwork zones was a serious problem and continually put drivers and workers at risk.
