Council & Politics
6 August, 2025
Temporary steps taken to improve highway safety
THE horror run of crashes and deaths on the Western Highway has prompted the introduction of temporary measures to improve motorist safety.
The deaths have prompted the local community to demand action to improve the road, including calls to commence the stalled duplication which was stalled after legal and native title challenges.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett has bet with the Road Safety and Transport Minister this week in an attempt to find some solutions.
"I have heard the community’s urgent calls for road safety improvements along the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat after too many tragic accidents along this stretch.”
“I have raised local concerns directly with Ministers to get action and am pleased to see immediate changes to keep more drivers safe,” Ms Haylett said.
"The Department of Transport and Planning is implementing a new, safer speed limit of 80 km/h from this week, with additional improvements to follow in coming weeks.”
“Even if shovels were in the ground tomorrow for the highway duplication, the scale of the project would take time. These improvements are needed now as a stop gap to keep drivers safe,” Ms Haylett said.
Regional Roads Victoria confirmed it has introduced a safer speed of 80 km/h on the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat at the Langhi Ghiran rail overpass and curves.
New speed signs were installed on Wednesday 30 July and additional signs and linemarking changes to be made over the coming weeks.
In a statement, Regional Roads Victoria will also be installing additional signs and linemarking in the area over the coming weeks to raise driver awareness that this is a high-risk area.
“Safer speeds provide drivers more time to react and reduce the distance it takes for a vehicle to come to a stop.
“Reducing your speed saves lives. Road safety research shows that the human body is far more likely to survive a head-on crash at 80km/h than 100km/h,” the statement said.