VICROADS has made a wise decision in reducing the speed limit at the Ravenswood intersection on the Calder Highway to 80kmh as we wait for the $86 million upgrade to start.
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The decision will not please all but it's a move that has the potential to save lives.
The best way to save the most lives is for the governments who pledged the cash to fix this notorious intersection to actually get on with the work.
But there should also be disappointment in the words expressed by VicRoads regional director Mal Kirsting in announcing the speed limit reduction on Thursday.
“It is the only practical alternative to reducing this ongoing safety concern while we prepare to build the new interchange,” he said.
Earlier this month he said “apart from putting a policeman at the intersection I’m not sure what more we could do to get the message across”.
How sad drivers cannot follow the rules at this intersection.
The crux of the safety issue at Ravenswood is driver attitude.
This intersection is well sign posted with flashing lights.
It's clear to anyone who pulls up there that caution is essential.
So how do the crashes continue?
A Bendigo Advertiser poll on the VicRoads decision to reduce the speed limit showed community sentiment heavily favours driver attention being the issue at Ravenswood.
Readers were asked: What do you think of the move to lower the speed limit at the Ravenswood intersection?
A huge 84.6 per cent of respondents said the new speed limit would make no difference because it was driver attitudes that needed changing for the accidents to stop.
Yes, sad but true.
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