Roads in Victoria
VicRoads is responsible for road planning, motor vehicle registration, and driver licensing in Victoria.
Roads in Victoria are shared by a multitude of modes of transport, ranging from trucks to bicycles, public buses, trams, taxis as well as private cars of all types.
The number of road fatalities has declined over the past decade in line with the rest of the country.
In the 1950s and 1960s, private ownership of cars increased, and newer suburbs were created beyond the tram and rail networks.
The Victorian government were advised by American highway planners and it sent its road engineers to the United States.
This led to clashes including the showdown in 1977, over the plan to build the F19 freeway through Collingwood and Fitzroy.
In the fiercest battle, groups of protesters such as the Carlton Association barricaded Alexandra Parade.
Where they were built, population growth followed, as Melburnians moved away from the crowded inner and middle suburbs to cheaper outer suburbs; for example, Monash Freeway and Mornington Peninsula Freeway led to explosive growth of population in the south east and the Mornington Peninsula.
2010 it was announced by the State Government that trucks would be banned from the right-hand lane along a 38-kilometre section of the Princes Freeway between Geelong and Melbourne.
Suggestions of a ban began in 2005 but increased after the fatal 2007 Burnley Tunnel fire that killed three people.
[4] A fine of $358 applies to those breaking the rules, the ban being a trial before a full roll-out on the other major roads in the state.
Bicycles must stay in the left-hand shoulder (Emergency Stopping Lane) and upon interchanges follow the signed "Cyclists Cross Here With Care" at right angles on exit ramps, giving way to vehicles exiting, cross to the adjacent bullnose, to continue their journey.
While the Frankston Fwy, Mornington Peninsula Fwy and Peninsula Link are not technically in 'urban' areas, considered outer suburban or regional, these major arterials are classified as Urban Freeways, due to their closer proximity to Melbourne, larger populations, built up areas and higher traffic volumes.
Where cyclists would pose a risk of danger from vehicles, including traffic movements such as weaving and merging at junctions and ramps.
Essentially, for freeways and arterial roads, of which VicRoads is the coordinating authority, the letter drawn from the quality and purpose of the route is added to the number as determined by the ring and spoke system[citation needed] to give a highway number that reflects the quality and alignment of the road.
The Act establishes and sets the charters of the state agencies charged with integrating and coordinating the state's transport system and, as part of that activity, providing roads, managing network access and providing registration and licensing services.
