Are you concerned about Driver behaviour?
Surf Coast often receives requests for assistance from the community concerned about a Road Safety issues that can be attributed to poor driver behaviour. Surf Coast does this through education campaigns, speed limits, traffic calming, improving roads signs and line marking, street lighting, and installing other infrastructure such as footpaths and pedestrian crossings. Information is available on each of these areas.
Can you help address poor driver behaviour?
The Shire uses a Speed Advisory Trailer to promote the need to slow down on residential streets. The Variable Message Sign (VMS) is available to be parked in streets that are experiencing drivers traveling just over the speed limit for education.
Hoon Hotline
If you have hooning issues in your street, this can be reported to the hoon hotline via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. You can contact Crime Stoppers 24/7 and report high risk driving. It is helpful if you can provide them with the licence plate details for the hooning vehicle and upload any images.
For more information refer to the hooning page on the Victoria Police Website.
To report a high risk driver refer to the Crime Stoppers Victoria Website.
Why not become a “role model” for road safety in your street?
Research shows that 90 per cent of all speeding in residential streets is by local residents. So if we all slow down as a community and model the behaviour we want to see in ours streets then we will achieve safer neighbourhoods together.
Crash statistics
The highest number of severe crashes and injuries happen in January, the month with the highest population peak with increased severe crashes on weekends. A high number of severe crashes occur between 10am and 4pm.
In general, crashes happen in many places on Council roads, but Torquay has been a significant hotspot for many years, and saw a significant increase in crashes with severe injuries in 2019. There were more fatal and serious injury crashes on Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) roads than on Council roads.
IMAGE - Crash stats
More information on Crash Statistics, please refer to our Coasting towards Zero Link here.(PDF, 11MB)
Connection to our Road Safety Strategy
Coasting towards Zero – Strategic Focus Area 5 – Supporting and Enforcing Safer Driver Behaviour
- Support safer driver behaviour through deterrence and both active and passive enforcement activities and initiatives.
- Keep focus on high and low-level speeding, as well as drug and drink driving, wearing of seatbelts, and distracted driving such as using a mobile phone.
- Compliment enforcement with ongoing behaviour change programs and communications to promote positive and safe driver behaviours.
Linked Goals
Goal 9 - Reduce fatalities and serious injuries where speed, alcohol, and/ drugs are involved
We are working with Victoria Police focusing in on National and State messaging campaigns in our local area. We will seek to measure changes in the high-risk driver behaviour to help determine local effectiveness of campaigns.
Goal 10 - Reduce fatalities and serious injuries where drivers engage in distracting behaviour
We are seeking funding for a strategic mass action program for installation of infrastructure-based solutions that help bring driver attention back to the roadway in higher risk areas.
Driver safety
There is more information available on the VicRoads Website with tips and resources to help make you a safer driver.