Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Adjournment

Roadworks safety campaign

Mr HODGETT (Croydon) (19:00): (6216) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and I call upon the minister to implement an advertising campaign reminding drivers to slow down and follow the signs and directions of traffic controllers when driving through roadworks to help protect traffic controllers from coming to harm. The Flashing Lights: Pass at 40 campaign is an example of how a similar campaign could be successfully used to raise more awareness. The campaign was launched in June 2020 to remind drivers of the rule of slowing to 40 kilometres per hour when passing stationary or slow-moving emergency or enforcement vehicles flashing red, blue or purple lights. The campaign was created because if a vulnerable road user such as a pedestrian or first responder working on the roadside is hit by a car at a speed of more than 40 kilometres an hour, it is rarely survivable.

Whilst emergency service responders work on our roads on a case-by-case basis responding to emergencies, traffic controllers work on our roads for the entire duration of their shift. Traffic controllers also flash amber lights in many roadwork situations but are sadly not shown the same level of respect or awareness of the rules. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, part 5.1, section 322, defines high-risk work in subsection (o) as:

on or adjacent to roadways or railways used by road or rail traffic …

Traffic controllers place themselves in these high-risk settings daily. Raising awareness about slowing down when driving through roadworks would ensure a safer workplace for traffic controllers. Mass media has shown to be an effective way to get these messages across to the public. Sadly, on 9 November 2021 Timmy Rakei was working as a traffic controller at a roadworks site in Carrum Downs when a car ploughed into him, killing him at the scene. Another colleague was also badly injured. We need to change the behaviour of motorists around roadworks sites and raise more awareness of the road rules in place to protect our traffic controllers.

Minister, implementing a campaign could help to save lives and make our roads safer for all who travel and work on them. Surely this is something worth investing in. So again, I call on the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to implement an advertising campaign reminding drivers to slow down and follow the signs and directions of traffic controllers when driving through roadworks to help protect traffic controllers from coming to harm.