{"id":32986,"date":"2020-06-25T11:00:13","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T01:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/news\/submissions-extended-for-inquiry-into-road-toll\/"},"modified":"2020-06-25T11:00:13","modified_gmt":"2020-06-25T01:00:13","slug":"submissions-extended-for-inquiry-into-road-toll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/news\/submissions-extended-for-inquiry-into-road-toll\/","title":{"rendered":"Submissions extended for inquiry into road toll"},"content":{"rendered":"

SUBMISSIONS into a parliamentary inquiry into last year\u2019s spike in deaths on Victorian roads have been extended until next week, and and a local road safety group is backing a call for more people to share their views.<\/p>\n

The Economy and Infrastructure Committee is looking into the increase, and will examine the existing Victorian Towards Zero Road Safety Strategy 2016-2020.<\/p>\n

The terms of reference of the inquiry into the increase in Victoria\u2019s road toll also include the driver drug and alcohol testing regime, speed enforcement measures and speed management police, smart phone use, road standards and the road asset maintenance regime, and road collision data collection.<\/p>\n

In 2019, 263 people were killed on Victoria\u2019s roads – 50 more than in 2018.<\/p>\n

Liberal Member for Western Victoria Beverley McArthur, who sits on the committee, said the terms of reference were not exhaustive and \u201ceveryone was free to submit their own analysis and answers\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that some people will care most about the terrible state of some regional roads. Others believe wire-rope barriers make roads more dangerous, not safer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to make sure this enquiry has a regional perspective, and looks beyond urban and suburban settings. So I need people in regional Victoria to contribute their experience and views. Residents on the Great Ocean Road face may have a very different take on the competence of international drivers than Melbourne city-dwellers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Deans Marsh-Lorne Road Safety Group has been lobbying for four years about various road safety concerns, and group member Juliet Beatty said the community making a submission to the inquiry was \u201can opportunity not to be missed\u201d.<\/p>\n

She listed several issues the group could submit for the inquiry\u2019s consideration, including:<\/p>\n