Towards-Zero Common Sense
The Victorian Government has been urged to ditch plans for any more wire rope barriers on the state’s roads.
In the 2019-20 financial year nearly $121 million was spent putting the barriers on 36 roads.
It brings the total spend on the barriers to nearly $1 billion.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has condemned the program for its failed outcomes and huge costs.
“Victoria’s road toll has actually increased in recent years. In 2018, 213 lives were lost and in 2019, 266 lives were lost on Victorian roads.
“In 2020, the road toll was reduced to 211, however that was with 60 per cent less traffic on our roads,” Mrs McArthur told the Victorian Parliament this week.
The funding for the wire rope barriers comes from vehicle registrations, the largest annual levy Victorians pay to the Government, other than business costs or stamp duty.
“Victorians must ask themselves – is their hefty car rego being put to good use?”
“Most regional Victorians will be able to provide you with a litany of better ways to reduce the road toll than the near-$1 billion wire rope barrier expenditure.
“Widening or duplicating roads, improving pullover areas, fixing potholes, removing trees or vegetation close to roadsides and a range of other solutions would be a far better use of money.”
The barriers began as part of the TAC’s ‘Towards Zero Strategy and Action Plan’.
She said while other countries and Australian states are removing the barriers Victoria is expanding the roll out. These barriers because add to the costs of doing farm business, cause huge difficulty for large vehicles, trap wildlife, endanger motorcyclists and have caused cars to flip upon impact.
“Victorians hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being wasted on dodgy and overpriced infrastructure that has questionable benefit of improving motorists’ safety.”
“Unfortunately, these barriers are more akin to zero common sense, than achieving zero deaths on our roads.”
21 March 2021