Speed limits on gravel roads was the topic of discussion at a community forum at Central Park on Wednesday night.
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The Slow Down and Survive forum, discussing dropping the speed limit from 100kmh to 70kmh, assisted Victoria Police to “discover and learn about things we may not understand,” Superintendent Paul Margetts said.
“It helps us understand what change might mean to people.”
Eighty per cent of Northern Grampians Shire roads, along with 1000 kilometres of Parks Victoria’s NGS roads, are gravel.
Over the past five years 41 people were seriously injured on a gravel road in the Northern Grampians Shire.
To address these statistics, Victoria Police proposed to change the speed limit on gravel roads to 70 kilometres per hour.
Police held the forum to get community input into the proposal.
About 40 community members went to the forum to have their input in the proposal.
“It’s fantastic to see so many people” attend the forum, Mr Margetts said. “We are very pleased with the turn out.”
Data from the Transport Accident Commission shows 77 per cent of deaths on rural roads, occur on roads with a speed limit of 100 kilometres an hour, or higher.
Data also shows death rates for people on rural roads are higher than for people in metro areas.
Police said at the forum “we don’t know the impact this has on community activities, rural business and the tourism sector”.
Police were pleased many people of the community attended to have their say in the proposed trial.
The forum was facilitated by the Northern Grampians Shire Council.