Calls get louder to fix dangerous Birregurra intersection

THE third crash at a dangerous Birregurra intersection in the space of five days has sparked calls for the intersection to be upgraded immediately.

The crashes at the intersection of Birregurra-Forest Road and Colac-Lorne Road/Deepdene Road since Christmas Eve – which left one person dead and 12 others injured – also resulted in the repeat of requests to enforce more stringent tests on the driving ability of overseas visitors who travel along the region’s major tourist routes such as the Great Ocean Road.

At least 150 people attended a community rally held near the intersection on Sunday, and road authorities have already started a review of how to make the crossing safer.

The intersection has a history of crashes and is located just below the crest of a hill, meaning drivers heading north on Birregurra-Forrest Road cannot see vehicles coming from the east or west, and vice-versa, until the last minute.

“It is a killer intersection, and the number of people who jump those stop signs from either side of the Birregurra-Forrest Road is almost unbelievable,” Barwon Downs resident Chris Maher, who witnessed the fatal crash on Boxing Day, said. International licence holders can drive without restriction if visiting on a temporary visa, and some state and federal MPs have been calling for years for tighter restrictions – calls repeated this week by Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson and Polwarth MP Richard Riordan, who jointly convened Sunday’s rally.

“Hire car companies must be forced to provide mandatory information such on ‘drive on left’ stickers to international visitors, many of whom arrive here with virtually no driving experience,” Ms Henderson said.

VicRoads has already made a number of temporary safety improvements at the intersection.

“The severity and number of crashes that have occurred over the past few days is extremely serious and that is why an immediate review has commenced between VicRoads, Victoria Police and the Transport Accident Commission,” VicRoads south-west regional director Mark Koliba said.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the state government announced it was rolling out the Visiting Driver Road Safety Program, which is modelled on the New Zealand international driver safety project and would be supported by the major vehicle rental companies.