Feedback on these proposed changes has now been reviewed, and an external independent analysis has been undertaken considering community feedback, road network and safety factors.

The changes listed below will now be formally submitted to the Department of Transport and Planning for approval. Pending approval, updated signage will then be installed.

Horseshoe Bend Road, Torquay (South Beach Road to The Esplanade)

• Current: 60km/h signed speed limit
• New limit: 50km/h signed speed limit

The primary reasons for this recommendation are:

• High pedestrian/cyclist activity along Horseshoe Bend Road.
• Vulnerable road users expected due to presence of primary school and child learning centre in the area.
• Quay Reserve located adjacent to unprotected on-road bicycle lanes.
• High number of driveways due to surrounding residential areas.
• Significant crash history involving cyclists
• Vehicles manoeuvring in/out of Horseshoe Bend Road to access the indented, parallel parking bays
• Buses expected along the route manoeuvring in and out of bus bays.

On the 60km/h segment of Horseshoe Bend Road there were 11 injury crashes over the past ten years of which one resulted in death and three resulted in serious injuries.

See statistics across the road network using interactive crash maps

Blackgate Road, Horseshoe Bend Road to Point Impossible Rd

• Current: 100km/h default limit
• New limit: 80km/h signed speed limit

The primary factors influencing this recommendation are as follows:

• High number of cyclists along this route, with cyclists required to ride in the relatively narrow shoulder of the traffic lanes.
• Lack of turn lanes into Torquay Airport leading to a higher risk of rear-end collisions.
• Significant crash history along this section of Blackgate Road.
• Significant vegetation parallel to the road along this section.
• Ties into the 80km/h speed limit on the eastern approach to the intersection with Horseshoe Bend Road.

Blackgate Road had 11 injury crashes over the past ten years of which four resulted in serious injuries.

See stats across the network using interactive crash maps

Feedback on the proposed changes has now been reviewed, and an external independent analysis has been undertaken considering community feedback, road network and safety factors.

The changes listed below will now be formally submitted to the Department of Transport and Planning for approval. Pending approval, updated signage will then be installed.

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Atkins Road, Winchelsea - East of Mathisons Road

• Current: 100km/h default limit
• Retain existing: 100km/h default speed limit east of Mathisons Road

The primary considerations which influenced this recommendation are:

• Wider carriageway width and shoulders of road.
• Blackspot project funded to provide additional barrier to protect roadside hazards.
• Straight road alignment.
• Road safety treatments such as rumble edge lines, shoulders and barrier reduce crash risk.
• Relatively low traffic volumes, straight alignment and few vulnerable road users.

Atkins Road, Winchelsea - West of Mathisons Road (where road narrows)

• Current: 100km/h default limit
• New limit to be adopted: reduce speed limit to 80km/h west of Mathisons Road

The primary considerations which influenced this recommendation are:

• Curved road geometry around Orchards Road.
• Lack of sealed shoulder and edge line treatments through this section.
• Roadside hazards present close to the road including utility poles and vegetation.
• Poor road pavement condition in some sections.

For further details on the analysis and recommendation please refer to link below.

Atkins Road had four crashes over the past ten years of which one resulted in death.

See stats across the network using interactive crash maps

Buckley Road South, Atkins Road to Cape Otway Road

• Current: 100km/h default limit
• Retain existing: 100km/h default speed limit

The primary considerations which influenced this recommendation are:

• Wider road carriageway width and shoulders.
• Limited driveways/access points along this route.
• Straight road alignment.
• Road safety treatments along this section of road, such as rumble edge lines and shoulder treatment reduce crash risk.
• No recent crashes on this route.

Cape Otway Road, Moriac township

• Current: 60km/h signed speed limit
• New limit to be adopted: 50km/h signed speed limit

The primary considerations which influenced this recommendation are:

• Vlimit assessment recommends 50km/h speed limit as standard treatment.
• Pedestrian activity expected around the town centre, with the general store and public toilets on either side.
• On-road bicycle lanes with undefined roadside edges.
• Level crossing at town centre.
• Driveways along road with residential properties adjacent.
• School children present with Moriac Primary School in the vicinity.

38 injury crashes occurred on Cape Otway Road between 2010 and 2020. Four people lost their lives in these collisions and 20 of these crashes resulted in serious injuries.

See stats across the network using interactive crash maps

Cape Otway Road, Taylors Road to Shire Boundary

Cape Otway Road, Between Buckley Road South and west of Taylors Road

• Current: 100km/h default limit
• Retain existing: default speed limit of 100km/h east of Buckley Road South to west of Taylors Road

The primary considerations which influenced this recommendation are:

• Wider carriageway width and shoulders through this section.
• Relatively straight road alignment.
• Road safety treatments such as rumble edge lines and shoulder treatment reduce crash risk.
• Reduction in crash rate observable since road safety upgrade works undertaken between 2017 and 2022. Will need to continue to monitor as traffic grows.

Cape Otway Road, Between Buckley Road South and Winchelsea Deans Marsh Road (where road narrows and around reservoir)

• Current: 100km/h default limit
• New limit to be adopted: reduce speed limit to 80km/h between Buckley Road South and Winchelsea Deans Marsh Road (where road narrows and around reservoir)

The primary considerations which influenced this recommendation are:

• Sharp curves along the road particularly around reservoir.
• Narrow road width and no shoulders on edge of road through a significant portion of this area.
• Significant crash history, with five crashes occurring in five years (two leading to loss of life, two serious injuries and one other injury).
• Drainage issues leading to water pooling on the road and polished pavement road surface (section parallel to the Wurdiboluc Reservoir).
• Road side hazards close to edge of road with little protection (only small sections have barrier treatments).
• Gravel spill onto the road from unsealed driveways.
• Several priority controlled intersections along the road, which require motorists to slow from 100km/h to safely navigate the intersection.
• Presence of vulnerable road users based on local school bus activities.

Cape Otway Road, West of Winchlesea-Deans Marsh Road to Salk Creek Lane

• Current: 100km/h default limit
• Retain existing: default speed limit of 100km/h west of Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Road to Salk Creek Lane

The primary considerations which influenced this recommendation are:

• Limited driveways/access points along this road.
• Relatively straight road alignment.
• Lower traffic volumes on this portion of the route leading to reduced cross traffic crash risk.
• Lower ten year crash rate along this portion of the road than adjacent road.

Council have sought a third party review of the proposed speed zone changes, providing independent, detailed and considered advice on a best practice approach to speed limit setting on each road being considered.

The third party review of the proposed changes to speed zones has included a review of the following:

1. Community feedback
2. Road network data
3. Transport efficiency
4. Road safety considerations and crash patterns
5. Alignment of speed zone changes with speed zoning principles and guidelines
6. Current use and operation of the routes in question