Gidday. Can you help me with something in Victoria?

I think Cranbourne was a similar case Kim, its now been 60 for a while.

But it has to reach certain critera before a change is justified to inconvience
the thru traffic.

Can't make both happy unless you bypass the town.

This is whats happening in Yarra Glen beining now , and was largely based on its truck traffic.

Good old Tooradin hey.........brings back alot of good memories from when I lived there.....and Mum and Dad owned the caravan park...........Best not discussed on here........lol

I know what the traffic was like when I lived there, and Mum would hate us crossing the highway to go to the footy oval or my friends place. The traffic would have more than trippled since then, so I can see where you are coming from. Have you gone for a drive through Pearcedale and down that way to see what their speed limits are. Probably about the same size as down your way, but the traffic would not be as heavy as Tooradin.
Good luck with your fight though, you will need lots of help.
Karen

Panmure, 80 to 70 about three years ago.
Camperdown, 60 to 50 about 5 years ago with an adjustable speed limit sign, sadly this one followed a fatality right on the middle of town.
Cressy 90 to 80 about two years ago.

Having lost two of my children as well as another who I felt I had on loan from her parents in Canada, it is a crying shame to see the work that is done AFTER a fatal car accident let alone a triple fatality like we lived thru in 2005. That corner has now been redesigned, but there are many others that cry out for the same treatment. Lowering speed limits thru towns, makes them a speed trap, but it just may dave a life. Dropping the speed limit from 80 to 60 almost HALVES the force delivered in an accident.

Good luck Damn Kim and may your dog help too.

Bonz

Isn't there a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing?

In Tasmania, many towns on main highways have 50kmh speed limits through the built up area.
cheers

I know this is a crass comment, but this in light of the Lynbrook accidents, this is probably a time where it may be politically expedient to take action, as your voice and concerns could carry more weight

Whilst there may be pedestrian lights in town (? I can’t remember), these will not be controlling entry from the side streets or service roads to the Highway

Approach Vic roads, the local members of all 3 branches of parliament and the local newspapers and forcefully express your concerns. Make sure each approach is well documented with supporting evidence (even if locals have to stand at a corner on a Saturday or Sunday morning and do a rough car count (both on the Highway and the side roads)…The local towies should be able to give information of how many accidents occur.

The development plans should include details of number of people expected to use the facilities, the local council may have some information also (and some guesstimates of projected growth of the town). Make some predictions on this basis of these (50 more houses will make 150 more crossings of an uncontrolled intersection per day sort of stuff)

Make a lot of noise and embarrass the decision makers (or at least explain in subtle terms the possible political embarrassment)

Good Luck!

G'day Kim. Some years back we petitioned our local MP to get the road fixed in our area. This particular road was the main corridor through our area and carried lots of traffic in a semi-rural area of the Adelaide Hills. It's also the busiest tourist route in the region. Me & my beloved distributed petitions to all towns, businesses, pubs, etc. It was a lot of work but we felt really strongly about it so it was essentially easy. We collected over 6000 signatures which by some standards isn't a lot. However, it was enough. I'm not claiming that it was solely this that led to the state government allocating a couple of million buck to fixing the road conditions, but the feedback I got from the MP was that it helped him build a case for funding.

Phew!

So maybe that's a way to go. Find something that's a) sensitive, b) important to the prosperity of the town / region, c) sell it as the idea of the MP and help him/her raise their public image. Know what I mean? You'll be surprised what a little proactive public spirit (right words???0 can lead to.

Maybe you could also approach one of the major camping and fishing suppliers and ask the question "what would prevent you from / encourage you to opening up a store in Tooradin?" Add this to your database and present it your package with the petition. Then they'll know that you are serious and they need to be as well.

I could go on with ideas for hours but I know you get my drift. Good luck with it all. I read Bonz's post above about the 3 children. I can't imagine the pain that's involved there and I'm sure your local member probably can't either. If what you're doing has the potential to reduce or eliminate that risk just once then it's all worth while.

Louie

Could you lobby the local council for a "City Centre - Please Slow Down Signage" otherwise youd think it will come back to 60 sooner rather than later given everything else they are doing. Failing that you could always do what the bloke in China did (News Yesterday) , he threw bricks at all the vehicles speeding at one particular intersection that was a problem area. Off course they came and took him away but he got their attention.

Whats this about, didn't think Tooradin was on the nose?

http://www.govegan.com.au/patty/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/tooradin_main.jpg

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions. Whilst this post may not seem relevant on a 4wd site, I’d argue it is, because we all need to stop in a town during a trip for services, or view what the town has to offer.

Safety for locals and visitors is paramount in my view, but inappropriate speed limits can also affect the local economy if people are fearful of crossing a highway.

To my amazement, not even the coppers supported a reduction in the speed limit and the last thing I want to see is a death before something is done about it.

We’ve taken up petitions, had a traffic study done, and written to the Minister without any result. Probably time to take affirmative action....!

During my travels the disparity you see in towns with strong community support, vs. the opposite is bloody sad in my opinion.

I’ll let you know how we go.

Regards

Kim