Residents have voted on the most high-risk local intersections in the western suburbs with a junction in Deanside taking the top spot as the most dangerous.
The Western Freeway on/off ramps at Hopkins Road in Deanside won the unenviable title as part of RACV’s ‘My Melbourne Road’ campaign in which more than 12,000 road users voted on the most dangerous intersections across Melbourne.
RACV worked alongside the National Transport Research Organisation to evaluate 364 metropolitan intersections and – based on crash data, traffic volumes and intersection design – identified 84 of the very worst intersections for Victorians to vote on.
Ballarat Road and McIntyre Road in Sunshine took second place for the most dangerous intersections in the western suburbs while Mount Derrimut Road and Foleys Road came in at 11th place.
The Melton Highway and Sunshine Avenue roundabout in Taylors Lakes was an additional problem intersection identified by voters.
RACV cited the Deanside intersection as the most dangerous due to its existing infrastructure not keeping pace with significant growth in the area, resulting in exiting traffic banking up onto the freeway during peak periods.
At the intersection, vehicles turning right off the freeway need to cross over traffic turning right onto the freeway, also adding risk.
RACV said a lack of traffic signals, mismatches of speeds across the overpass, poor line markings and lanes merging suddenly add the the intersection’s danger.
A long-term solution to the problems at the intersection include a potential redesign of the northern intersection which would involve removing the on/off loop and reducing right-hand turns at Hopkins Road, according to RACV.
RACV head of policy James Williams said the insurance company will use this data to continue advocating to governments for improvements to high-risk intersections.
“We know that around 40 per cent of crashes in Melbourne occur at intersections, and if we are going to reach our Towards Zero target of halving road deaths by 2030, government needs to invest in fixing these intersections,” Mr Williams said.
“With limited funding available for new or upgraded infrastructure, RACV has provided an evidence-based approach for governments to make targeted investment decisions across a range of budgets.”
