Image: Life-saving safety barrier installation along one of Hepburn’s most dangerous roads

Australia’s road toll has fallen to its lowest since 2014 according to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) recent statistical analysis.

The analysis also revealed Victoria’s lowest road toll in at least 3 decades, reporting 214 road fatalities in 2018 driven by a large drop in rural and regional road deaths; 45 fewer than 2017, and 29 fewer than the previous record low in 2013.

Ms Cockfield said, “The barriers have been hit over 3000 times this year [2018], but they catch drivers like a net and they just drive away.”

As a result, earlier this month the state government committed to installing an extra 500 kilometres of the flexible barriers, giving Victoria 2000 kilometres of safer rural roads in 2019.

But Acting Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Mr. Michael McCormack cautiously reminds us that while these are positive outcomes there is still a long way Towards Zero and people shouldn’t become complacent on our roads. 

Particularly with the Australia Day long weekend ahead we need to remember we have an obligation to exercise safety on our roads for ourselves, for the safety of others, and in respect of toll victim’s families and emergency service workers.

At Laino Piling & Rock Drilling we have proudly made our contribution to reducing road toll statistics through the installation of safety barriers and by encouraging smart driving habits in our personal and professional lives by: