Some of the busiest roads in Maribyrnong and Hobsons are also among Melbourne’s riskiest according to the RACV.
RACV’s new road safety map uses a globally recognised risk-rating system to help authorities identify safety upgrades to reduce road deaths and injury.
The Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) road safety star ratings covers major arterial and highway networks across Victoria and rates sections of roads between one to five stars with a lower star rating identifying a road as more dangerous.
According to the interactive map, a 500 metre section of Napier Streets in Footscray was rated as the worst stretch or road in the inner west, receiving a 1.7 star rating, the lowest level possible.
Vehicles travel approximately 2.2 million kilometres per year along the section running from the Napier Street bridge to between Cowper and Whitehall streets, with two fatal and serious injury crashes occurring there from 2019 to 2023.
A 700 metre section of Grieve Parade in Brooklyn between Dohertys Road and the Princess Highway was the next lowest rated at 2.4 stars, with 3 million vehicle movements and two fatal and serious crashes from 2019 to 2023.
An 800 metre section of the Princess Highway between Kingsville and Brooklyn was rated 2.6 stars
With 8.2 million vehicle movements and 12 fatal or serious crashes from 2019 to 2023, while an adjoining section from Footscray to Kingsville was rated 2.7, with 7.1 million vehicle movements and six fatal or serious crashes during the same period.
A 1.1km section of Whitehall and Francis streets in Yarraville was rated 2.8 stars, with 5.3 million vehicle movements and also six fatal or serious crashes.
RACV head of policy James Williams said the new ratings highlighted where investment was needed.
“Each additional star rating halves the risk of deaths or serious injuries,” Mr Williams said.
“AusRAP gives governments the data they need to invest with a safety-first perspective.”
RACV is calling for all major Victorian roads to be upgraded to at least three-stars and all new roads built to a four-star standard.
View the interactive map at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/98420a25d82542f1b2a9922925972c28?item=1.
