So liveable, but Melbourne’s unsafe roads revealed
"Daily near misses" and motorist "confusion" are the result of Melbourne's worst roads and intersections. Have you travelled on these?
Residz Team 4 min read
Melbourne might be the third most liveable city in the world, but, like most cities, it still suffers from some black spots in its road and transport system.
In the RACV’s My Melbourne Road survey, 5,000 respondents shared which roads and intersections they felt to be unsafe, and why.
Here we take a look at the report, and comments from the motorists, bike riders, pedestrians and public transport users about particular roads of concern.
Melbourne - a Growth City
First up, let’s look at how Melbourne is growing and changing.
Following strong international immigration and a boundary change earlier this year, Melbourne was declared to have overtaken Sydney as Australia’s biggest city.
And, according to the BBC, the federal government predicts Greater Melbourne will overtake Greater Sydney in 2031-32. This takes into account the “functional areas,” including populations who frequent or work within the city, but may live in small towns and rural areas surrounding it.
Meanwhile, the Committee for Melbourne says the city is set to increase to 6 million by 2031, and 8 million by 2051.
It all adds up to enormous pressure on Melbourne’s transport corridors, as more people take advantage of the city’s cultural, educational, and employment opportunities.
The State of Melbourne Roads: A Safety Analysis
RACV’s My Melbourne Road 2023 report shows widespread concern from respondents about intersection safety, driver behaviour, and vulnerabilities faced by pedestrians and cyclists.
Indeed, bike riders and pedestrians, the most vulnerable types of road users,mwere the most highly represented in the feedback.
And, no wonder. The Transport Accident Commission says that in a five-year period to 2021, 55 bicycle riders were killed on Victorian roads – an average of 11 each year - with 56% of them killed on metro roads.
In the same period 175 pedestrians have been killed on Victorian roads - an average of 35 pedestrians killed each year - and 70% died in Metro Melbourne.
Intersection and Road Safety: The Trouble Zones
Complex intersections stand out as a glaring issue, with many of the My Melbourne Road survey’s respondents pointing out specific examples.
Nearly one-third felt that lowering speeds on frequently used roads would vastly improve safety.
Small-scale solutions like zebra crossings and optimally positioned traffic lights were often suggested, underlining the fact that sometimes basic modifications can make a huge difference.
Three roads have particularly caught the attention of Melbournians:
- Mount Alexander Road at its intersection with Keilor Road in Moonee Valley: An overwhelming number of responses indicated safety issues here. Users cited confusing roundabouts and perilous conditions for pedestrians crossing the road. The lack of protected cycling infrastructure added to the woes.
- Dandenong Road in Windsor, Prahran, and Caulfield stood out as the second riskiest, with pedestrian crossings deemed to be inadequate for school children, inappropriate clearway times causing risky merging, and sudden drops in speed not well observed.
- Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg came in as the third riskiest, with issues including unsafe interaction between motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and trams.
Meanwhile, Bay Street / Liardet Road in Port Melbourne was described by survey respondents as “the most hated intersection in Port Melbourne.” They said that although the data only shows collisions reported, near misses happen every day for pedestrians, cyclists and cars. It really needs a better solution.”
Pedestrian and Cycling Safety: Vulnerable and Exposed
RACV Head of Policy James Williams said pedestrians and cyclists were represented in the most feedback. In fact, “daily near misses” were mentioned in the comments about certain intersections.
Three particularly hazardous roads for cyclists, all of which are Strategic Cycling Corridors, were identified:
- St Kilda Road in Melbourne where motorists and cyclists were said to be experiencing confusion since the cycling infrastructure upgrades. Further awareness and education required to mitigate this perception issue.
- Barkly and Hopkins Streets in Footscray, where there were reports of inadequate or missing bike infrastructure, narrow footpaths and heavy trucks mixing with bike riders.
When it came to dangerous intersections, respondents emphasised Bay Street and Liardet Road in Port Melbourne, Flemington Road and Royal Parade in North Melbourne, and Williamstown Road and Beacon Road in Port Melbourne.
Driver Behaviour: A Growing Concern
Dangerous driving, especially speeding, was a top concern among respondents. About one-third felt that reducing speed limits on specific roads would enhance safety significantly. Some intersections and stretches evoked intense reactions:
- The intersection of Mount Alexander Road and Keilor Road in Essendon was described as a "nightmare," even for locals familiar with its intricacies.
- Princes Freeway’s exit onto Geelong Road in Werribee is hazardous, with cars queuing up for kilometres in the emergency lane, risking confrontations with high-speed trucks.
- The Wellington Road and Dorning Road junction in Narre Warren East was criticised for its low visibility bend, high-speed limit, and lack of a turning lane.
- In Port Melbourne, the Bay Street and Liardet Road intersection was called out for daily near misses involving pedestrians, cyclists, and cars.
- Flemington Road and Royal Parade in North Melbourne stood out due to its confusing layout, made worse by a tram line and heavy usage by unfamiliar drivers, given its proximity to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
A Call for Action
The RACV says it will share the survey results with governments and advocate for improvements to the roads identified by participants.
“Pedestrian traffic lights where they are most needed, traffic calming infrastructure and protected cycling lanes were commonly identified as potential solutions in the feedback from cyclists and pedestrians,” Mr Williams said.
Other solutions identified included resurfacing potholes, intersection design, improving lighting and ensuring speed limits are fit for purpose.
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