Boost for motorcycle safety across macedon ranges

The Andrews Labor Government is boosting motorcycle safety across the Macedon Ranges with nearly $1 million in safety upgrades, funded from the Motorcycle Safety Levy.

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas announced today that motorcyclists in the Macedon Ranges will ride safer with new line marking, guard rub rails, signage and smoother road surfaces.

To help keep motorcyclists and other road users safe from being run-off road and head-on collisions, rub rail protective barriers will be installed to further reduce risks to motorcyclists who lose control.

The investment will be split across three projects in the Macedon Ranges area:

 Lancefield-Woodend Road (Lancefield to Woodend) – $580,000

 Mount Macedon Road (Macedon-Woodend Road to Mount Macedon-Hanging Rock Road) – $260,000

 Mount Macedon-Hanging Rock Road (Mount Macedon to Lancefield-Woodend Road) – $122,000 A number of intersecting driveways and roads will also be resealed to improve the road’s surface and stop hazardous gravel spilling onto the road.

Since January 2011, 27 people have been seriously injured on these roads, including two tragic fatalities.

The TAC Motorcycle Safety Levy Program aims to reduce road trauma amongst motorcyclists by funding projects that specifically benefit riders including infrastructure improvements, research projects and educational activities.

More than $37 million raised from the Levy has been committed to motorcycle safety projects since 2002.

Works on all three projects will get underway this month.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"The Macedon Ranges are one of Victoria’s most popular motorcycle riding and touring areas, and these works will ensure locals and visitors can ride safer."

"We know motorcyclists are over-represented in serious and fatal crashes which is why we’re identifying the routes riders use and improving them."