Gateway alert signs

By Helen Tatchell

Have you seen these new signs? Can’t really miss them and they are eye-catching, but will they do what the government expects them to do?
It is expected Ballan drivers, pedestrians and cyclists will have safer journeys with improvements being installed at the town’s west entrance on the Old Melbourne road.
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said the eye-catching signage and soon to be unique road markings, are being installed as part of an $8 million Labor Government investment to increase safety for regional Victorians.
Ms Settle said it’s vital that drivers are aware of the reduced speed limit when travelling through our regional townships.
“We’re delivering these ‘community gateway’ upgrades to save lives and reduce serious injuries.
“These small changes will make a big difference to Ballan locals and boost the safety of all road users,” she said.
In a media statement to the Moorabool News, it read similar community gateway treatments have already reduced crashes by 26 to 35 per cent in towns in New Zealand and more than 300 gateway locations will be rolled out across Victoria.
‘Community gateways’ are proven to increase safety by providing a visual reminder to drivers that they’re entering a town, ultimately boosting compliance with reduced speed limits and driver alertness.
The road safety upgrades are part of the $1.4 billion Towards Zero Action Plan and
aims to reduce the number of lives lost on our roads to 200 or fewer and decrease serious injuries by 15 per cent by 2020.