Road users are being told to change their attitudes to vulnerable users.
Member for Bellarine Alison Merchant has chaired a parliamentary committee that’s handed down a number of recommendations for vulnerable road users, saying many don’t feel safe.
“It’s not easy to change people’s behaviour simply by educating or urging them to be more responsible,” she said.
“Complementary approaches are needed such as enforcement and infrastructure that separates vulnerable road users from motor vehicles and that guides motorists to slow down in areas with high volumes of bike riders and pedestrians.
“We need to do everything we can to work towards the Victorian Road Safety Strategy’s goal of
zero road deaths by 2050.”
She says submissions to a recent parliament committee say we have changed since the pandemic.
“We’ve noticed since the pandemic we are continuing to engage in those behaviours,” she said.
“That includes speeding, driving under the influence, being distracted by devices.
“And we are also hearing from road users that we are continuing to be more aggressive behind the wheel.”
The committee received more 300 submissions, and she says we need to look at them and change our behavior.
