Funding for community road safety

The State Government is now accepting applications for a new round of grants to help community groups address road safety issues, with up to $30,000 on offer.

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Community Road Safety Grant Program provides grants to not-for-profit groups, schools, and other community organisations to develop and implement road safety projects.

Grants are offered in two rounds per year, and groups are encouraged to work closely with their local communities to develop solutions to address road safety issues, on projects that align with the Victorian Road Safety Strategy (2021-2030).

Communities often have unique road safety needs, and local groups can be well-placed to identify these specific problems and implement solutions.

As the year has progressed, authorities have become increasingly concerned with the upward trend in vulnerable road user fatalities.

36 pedestrians have lost their lives on Victorian roads so far this year, up from 20 at this time in 2021 – this figure is also considerably higher than the five-year average of 26.

To address this issue, the program will prioritise projects that focus on protecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

CEO of the TAC Joe Calafiore said it was terrible to see a rise in the road toll, and that the TAC would work with community groups to bring it down.

“The number of people dying on our roads is unacceptable, and the TAC is committed to working with local communities through initiatives like our Community Road Safety Grants Program to help reduce road trauma,” Mr Calafiore said.

2022’s first round of Community Road Safety Grant Program funding in April went towards a range of initiatives, including additional road safety signage around local schools, and the further development of local transport strategies.

Applications for the second round of the 2022 TAC Community Road Safety Grant Program opened on Monday 10 October, and close on Wednesday 9 November.

Program guidelines and information on how to apply can be found at www.tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/community/grants/community-road-safety-grant-program.