Road safety in Cardinia Shire

Key points

Council is strongly committed to improving the safety of our road network for all road users and pedestrians.

Our work to improve roads

We're committed to improving the local road network as part of our Better Local Roads Program. This program includes all major road projects we deliver, including:

We’ve recently made it easier to report a problem with a road and made important improvements to the way we manage roads

Black Spot Program

We advocate for road safety improvements in locations where crashes are occurring, then carry out these works when they’re funded through the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program.

Black Spot works that have taken place during 2023 and 2024 in Cardinia Shire include:

  • Bald Hill Road, Nar Nar Goon
  • McDonalds Track (Kettles Rd to Steeles Rd), Lang Lang
  • Henry Road, Village Way and Caversham Drive, Officer

We advocate for better major roads and public transport

  • We continuously advocate for improvements to major roads in Cardinia Shire, as well as for more transport options.
  • Public transport options are not as accessible in Cardinia Shire as in municipalities closer to the CBD. This leads to high levels of car dependency, which has safety, environmental, access, health, and financial impacts on the community.

Road safety initiatives we support or implement

These include:

  • road safety and speed awareness campaigns 
  • installing dual road signs that feature road safety messages
  • supporting programs such as Looking After our Mates, L2P (Learner Driver Program), safe driver and bike education
  • driver expo events, including the upcoming Senior's Driver Expo.

We're part of RoadSafe South East

We’re a member of RoadSafe South East, a road safety committee made up of representatives from councils in the south east region and key agencies. We work in partnership to raise awareness and improve road safety across the region.

Factors that influence road safety in Cardinia Shire

  • Cardinia Shire has a high dependence on car-based travel, which can be attributed to the lack of public transport and other convenient forms of transport.
  • The reliance on car-based travel results in environmental impacts along with health conditions that result from sedentary lifestyles.
  • The vast size of the municipality means that walking and cycling is not a realistic alternative for many journeys.
  • There are about 831 kilometres of unsealed roads in Cardinia Shire. Unsealed roads and shoulders can increase the severity of injuries when involved in a crash as it is harder to control the vehicle on these surfaces.
  • The municipality is a mix of rural and urban environments resulting in differing road safety issues throughout the municipality.
  • Older roads were designed to meet previous safety standards.
  • Inexperience, peer pressure and overconfidence in drivers aged 18 to 25 contributes significantly to road fatalities and injuries in our shire.  
  • Financial pressures on residents may result in drivers purchasing vehicles that do not have the optimal level of safety features. Rising fuel and maintenance costs also place financial pressures on vehicle owners. The cost of public transport and car parking also affect the travel decisions made by residents.

What we can all do to stay safe on the roads

  • Slow down
  • Obey the road rules
  • Concentrate and put devices away
  • Do not drive drug or alcohol effected
  • Drive to the conditions of the road
  • Be considerate of other road users

Staying safe around school zones

Our advice for safer drop-off and pick-ups  

  1. Slow down 
    Always drive at or below the 40km/h school zone speed limit. Lower speeds give you more time to react. 

  1. Use designated areas 
    Drop off and pick up your child in the school’s designated zones on the school frontage wherever possible. Avoid stopping in intersections or across driveways. 

  1. Exit on the footpath side 
    Make sure children get out of the car on the footpath side, away from traffic. 

  1. Stay in the car 
    If you’re in a short term drop-off / pick up zone (like exists in Kenneth Rdoad), remain in your vehicle to keep traffic moving and reduce congestion. 

  1. Avoid U-turns near the school 
    U-turns can be dangerous in busy school zones. Drive around the block, or use roundabouts instead. 

  1. Never park on footpaths or nature strips 
    This is illegal and unsafe for pedestrians. Keep all four wheels on the road. 

  1. Teach road safety 
    Remind children to look both ways before crossing and never run around the front or back of vehicles. 

  1. Plan ahead 
    Arrive a few minutes early or late to avoid peak congestion times. 

  1. Be patient and courteous 
    Everyone is trying to get their kids to school safely—take a deep breath and allow extra time. 

More info

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