New funding for road safety
Road safety awareness programs a motorcycle safety campaign and road safety signage are among road safety initiatives being funded in Baw Baw Shire.
The State Government last week announced $1.5 million funding for schools, councils and not-for-profit organisations to deliver programs that reduce road trauma and save lives.
More than $139,000 has been invested in the Gippsland region across 35 local initiatives including bike education workshops for students and adults, mentoring programs for motorcyclists, education sessions on vehicle safety and fatigue.
Baw Baw Shire will receive funding for installation or maintenance of speed advisory messages and variable messaging signs.
RoadSafe Gippsland also will receive funding to deliver programs in the shire including:
Road Safety awareness focusing on drink and drug driving, fatigue, safe vehicles and driving to the conditions;
Motorcycle safety campaign; and,
Setting Kids Up Safely – encouraging newly licenced drivers and their parents to consider purchasing or using a five-star ANCAP rate vehicle.
Roads and Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll said 232 initiatives would deliver targeted education programs and provide localised solutions to road safety.
He said funding would help all road user groups, including pedestrians, drivers, motorcyclists and bike riders, and reach a range of ages from young students to retirees.
“Sadly, too many communities understand the impact road trauma can have – this program gives schools and groups the opportunity to work together at a grassroots level to improve road safety.”
More than $700,000 has been invested in rural and regional communities to drive down trauma and address issues including vehicle safety, fatigue, and high-risk driver behaviour such as drink and drug driving.
Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said whether it was bike education in Morwell or a motorcycle mentoring program in Yallourn, the grants were vital to enhancing road safety and helping to drive down road trauma across the region.