Melbourne’s traffic returns to 95 per cent of pre-COVID capacity

Melbourne’s roads seem busier but a return to work isn’t the cause, with this driver behaviour we’re all guilty of to blame.

More people are allowed back in the office, but this hasn’t impacted traffic volumes on Melbourne roads.

Department of Transport data shows the city’s road network is at 95 per cent capacity pre-COVID — with traffic levels similar to those before Victoria’s recent circuit breaker lockdown.

But DoT spokesman Chris Miller said there was one reason why Melbourne’s roads seemed busier.

“Poor driver behaviour is contributing to unnecessary congestion,” he said.

The morning peak has returned to its usual bumper-to-bumper status on the Eastern Freeway. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“It feels a lot busier than it has in a long time but this is because of collisions that don’t need to happen.”

“People are driving to closer to each other and not driving to conditions.”

Mr Miller said the number of avoidable car crashes and breakdowns seemed more apparent as coronavirus restrictions eased.

Drivers running out of petrol on major roads, not getting their car regularly serviced and failing to read overhead signs to avoid upcoming incidents all contributed to Melbourne’s traffic congestion.

Mr Miller said the morning and afternoon peaks hadn’t yet returned to their pre-pandemic levels and weekday lunchtimes were the new rush hour.

“We are seeing arterials getting greater demand in the middle of the day, and that’s an unusual time for it to happen. This is for arterials like Springvale Rd and Bell St.”

Mr Miller said workplace capacity increases from 50 per cent to 75 per cent, which came into affect Monday, hadn’t changed the number of cars on the road, with last Friday’s traffic as busy as Monday’s traffic this week.

Public transport capacity is also at 44 per cent of pre-COVID levels, with more people preferring to catch the train or tram midweek than on Mondays or Fridays.

Originally published as Melbourne’s traffic returns to 95 per cent of pre-COVID capacity