Melbourne’s most dangerous roads revealed by AAMI analysis of accident claims

THE most dangerous road in Australia is a notoriously busy thoroughfare in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Find out where, and more of the worst roads in our city.

Springvale Road, Glen Waverley, has been named the most dangerous in Australia by AAMI, based on crash claims to the insurance company.

MELBOURNE’s most dangerous roads have been revealed in an insurer’s annual analysis of accident claims.

AAMI’s analysis of accident claims between August 2015 and August 2016 named Springvale Rd in Glen Waverley as both Victoria’s and Australia’s most dangerous road, for the fourth year in a row.

It also rated Plenty Rd, Bundoora; Springvale Rd, Springvale; and the Princes Highway, Dandenong, among Melbourne’s most dangerous.

And AAMI’s Jake Krausmann said Melbourne was the only Australian city in which accident hot spots remained unchanged from last year.

The latest AAMI Insurance Crash Index also said Bell St in Preston remained one of Melbourne’s most accident-ridden roads, despite a controversial speed limit cut.

In June last year, VicRoads dropped the speed limit from 70 to 60km/h.

But according to the index, the change has done little to reduce accidents: the street was still rated as Melbourne’s fourth most dangerous road.

Springvale Rd at Glen Waverley is where heavy traffic and a popular shopping precinct clash. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Motorists and road groups called for the limit to be restored to 70km/h between Alva Grove in Coburg and Waterdale Rd in Heidelberg West.

But VicRoads stood firm.

“We stand by our decision, as it not only helps to reduce the risk and severity of crashes, it also improves safety for pedestrians and provides a consistent 60km/h speed limit along Bell St,” said VicRoads director for the Metro North West region, Vince Punaro.

“We have seen a decrease in crashes resulting in serious injury on this section of Bell St.”

VicRoads data shows that before the speed reduction there was an average of 10 serious injuries a year; in the first six months after the change, there were three.

VicRoads is yet to collate the results of the past six months for an annual trend.

“While this is a positive trend, we will continue to monitor this section of road and evaluate the data over a longer period of time,” Mr Punaro said.

He said that in the five years to 2013 there were 199 crashes recorded on Bell St, in 152 of which speed was a factor.

But five months ago, the RACV questioned the validity of these figures.

An RACV consultant who surveyed police reports claimed that 30 per cent of the 199 crashes hadn’t even occurred on Bell St.

Mr Krausmann advised: “Drivers should always ensure they leave enough room between them and the car in front, avoid distracting activities like mobile phone use and keep to the speed limit.”

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