Why do we need a Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan?

Frankston City Council is committed to halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and eliminating the risk of fatalities and lifelong injuries by 2040.

The physical, emotional, and social costs of road trauma can be life changing and long lasting. Council and its road safety partners are committed to ensuring that our future road network is designed so that everyone can travel safely across Frankston City.

Our role in road safety

Council has developed a draft Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan that uses community feedback and local safety data to identify priority risk groups and areas for action. It is anticipated that the Strategy will be used by various Council departments for the following purposes:

• Informing decisions about Council’s delivery of road safety programs.
• Identifying road safety partnerships and new initiatives for Council to become involved in.
• Providing an evidence base for funding applications.
• Informing the Frankston community of ways in which they can become involved in road safety initiatives.
• Community education.

The strategy is funded by TAC and will align with the National and State Road Safety Strategies so that we're all working towards the same targets of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and eliminating the risk of fatalities and lifelong injuries by 2040.

Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we will work with our road safety partners, community, and stakeholders to achieve shared objectives. The split of responsibilities between different levels of government are shown below.

How can you help to develop our road safety plan?

If you live, work or travel in the area regularly, we’re sure that you know some local road safety hot spots. We’ve already listened to many concerns raised during previous community engagement projects, and have used this to mark known hot spots on our map below. From 7 August to 15 September 2024, members of the community added pins to the map to share areas of concern.

With a comprehensive map, we can better prioritise and seek funding for our actions in our new Road Safety Strategy.

What you told us

As part of developing this road safety strategy, community consultation was undertaken to identify road safety concerns and possible solutions.

Draft Road Safety and Action Plan Consultation

Between 7^th August 2024 and 15^th September 2024 Council received 334 responses to the online survey and mapping tool which the community used to identify locations of road safety concern. The responses will help Council identify areas of perceived risk to proactively introduce measures to promote safety on our roads.

A summary of the common themes raised in the responses is described below.

Intersection Safety

Comments pointed to unsafe intersections, especially those with insufficient control measures. Many suggested the installation of traffic lights or roundabouts to improve safety and reduce congestion. For intersections operated by traffic signals, there were several reports of vehicles running red lights, especially during peak traffic hours. More enforcement or red-light camera installations were suggested. Comments also suggest improvements to the signal timings, especially during peak hours as delays and poorly synchronised signals frustrate drivers and cause congestion. Better coordination of signals could improve traffic flow.

Pedestrian Safety

Comments pointed out the lack of pedestrian crossings, poor visibility at crossings, and unsafe walking paths.

Cyclist Safety

Concerns for cyclists included abrupt ends to cycle trails, unsafe crossings, and poor road-sharing conditions. Frequent near misses highlight the need for designated cycle lanes and safer crossing points. Improved cycling infrastructure was a common suggestion.

Speed

Comments proposed changes to speed limits in various areas to enhance safety. While most suggested reducing limits in high-risk zones, a few argued for higher limits where current restrictions seem overly cautious. There were also concerns raised about frequent speeding, particularly in residential areas and near schools. Stricter enforcement and traffic calming measures were suggested.

Maintenance

Responses identified locations of overgrown vegetation, damaged infrastructure, poor road conditions, including potholes and uneven surfaces. The comments expressed that these issues lead to visibility issues, cause discomfort, and lead to potential vehicle damage.

Accessway Safety

Comments highlighted poor visibility and unsafe turning conditions at various accessways/driveways. Drivers struggle to see oncoming traffic, especially at busy intersections or when turning onto major roads.

Parking

Comments highlighted challenges with limited parking and unsafe parking practices, such as double parking. Narrow streets become more dangerous with parked cars reducing visibility.

Traffic Operations

Comments identified inefficiencies in traffic flow, such as poorly managed merging points and excessive congestion. There were also reports of unsafe U-turns at various locations, leading to frequent near misses.

Other Consultation

Council also reviewed and analysed the feedback provided in other strategies that related to road safety in Frankston. A summary of these is shown below.

Safe Community Policy and Strategy 2022-2032 Engagement

Stage 1: 28 February – 3 April 2022

192 total responses reviewed

Key Data

• 35% of respondents saw road safety amongst their top 5 safety concerns.
• 23% of respondents said people driving slowly and obeying the road rules will help them feel safe.
• 25% of respondents saw road safety upgrades amongst the top 5 actions Council could take to make Frankston City safer.

What are your main safety concerns for your local area over the next 10 years relating to safety in public places?

• 19% of respondents selected hoon driving.
• 17% of respondents selected pedestrian safety.

What are your main safety concerns for your local area over the next 10 years relating to harm reduction?

• 43% of respondents selected road safety for pedestrians.
• 40% of respondents selected road safety for drivers.
• 35% of respondents selected road safety for cyclists.

What are your main safety concerns for Frankston’s City Centre over the next 10 years?

• 33% of respondents selected pedestrian safety.
• 27% of respondents selected accessibility for people with disability.

Community Vision/Council Plan Engagement

March – 31 May 2024

770 total responses reviewed

Key Data

• 31% of respondents would like the Council to either focus more on or the same on planning connections between walking, riding and driving.
• 30% of respondents would like the Council to either focus more on or the same on providing a safe, connected and accessible transport network.
• 27% of respondents would like the Council to either focus more on or the same on taking care of Council managed roads.

Key Concerns from these Strategies

• Use of dirt bikes/monkey bikes/electric bikes in pedestrian areas.
• Increased developments in school zones resulting in increased traffic flow and risk to school children.
• Overgrown vegetation obstructing visibility to road signs and forming an obstruction in pedestrian areas.
• Improvements to lighting on roads and paths.
• Safe shared footpaths and connecting bike paths.
• Walking along areas where there is no footpath.
• Speeding and hooning issues.
• Safety around school areas.
• Safe crossing facilities outside schools and across arterial roads.

• Road and path maintenance.