Current situation
- Residents have consistently raised concerns about speeding, hooning, and dangerous driving in Carlton, particularly around Provence Drive. Many vehicles appear to be using Provence Drive as a shortcut when travelling between Carlton River Road from Dunalley and Carlton Beach Road.
- Recent traffic data shows the average speed along Provence Drive is 60 km per hour, despite the posted speed limit being 50 km per hour. This indicates a systemic speeding issue rather than isolated behaviour.
The issue
- There are limited footpaths in the area, which means many residents, including families and children, are forced to walk or ride bikes on the road. This significantly increases the risk of injury.
- Hooning behaviours such as burnouts, excessive speed, and engine revving have created ongoing anxiety for local residents and disrupted neighbourhood amenity.
- There have also been several incidents where vehicles have lost control during burnouts, leaving the road and damaging fences and letterboxes. These incidents show a clear risk to both people and property.
My plan
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Council will implement simple, cost effective infrastructure improvements that are proven to slow traffic and discourage dangerous driving.
- Modify the Carlton Beach Road and Carlton River Road intersection to make turning movements easier for trucks, reducing the need for heavy vehicles to cut through Provence Drive.
- Trial a temporary traffic island at the corner of Provence Drive and Carlton Beach Road to prevent burnouts and tighten turning movements.
- Explore planting small trees and shrubs along the Provence Drive nature strip to visually narrow the road and naturally slow vehicle speeds.
- Engage the local community to assess support for installing temporary speed cushions on Provence Drive as a trial to reduce speeding.
- Install “local traffic only” signage at each end of Provence Drive to discourage shortcutting.
- Provide formal Council support for the Safe Streets for Kids campaign, enabling residents to show visible community backing for safer streets through front yard signage.
The benefits
- Make streets safer for children, families, pedestrians, and cyclists by reducing vehicle speeds and dangerous driving behaviour.
- Improve community harmony and feeling by reducing noise, hooning, and anxiety for residents living along Provence Drive and surrounding streets.
- It will protect property and public infrastructure by lowering the risk of vehicles leaving the roadway.
- It uses low cost, trial based infrastructure solutions that can be adjusted or expanded based on community feedback and measured outcomes.
- It encourages community involvement and shared ownership of road safety, strengthening trust between Council and residents.