Improving road safety

Overview

We want to reduce the number of people getting hurt on our roads.

We are working with Transport for NSW, Police and other organisations to achieve zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. This is part of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021 - 2030

Designing safer roads, reducing speed limits, and supporting road safety campaigns are some of the ways we are doing this. Read on to find out more. 

Designing safer roads

We design new roads to minimise the risk and severity of incidents.  Examples include:

  • Traffic calming including chicanes, refuges and crossings.
  • Warning signs such as speed signs, school zone signage and cycle signage.
  • Road alignment which ensures good driver sight distances and reduces sharp corners.
  • Separating vulnerable users from motor vehicles such as off-road cycle lanes.
  • Longer lasting road surfaces and shoulder areas.

For examples of these projects visit Council projects

Report concerns about speeding in your local area

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Transport for NSW review and approve changes to speed limits. If you have concerns about vehicles speeding in your local area there are a few options:

Send a request to Safer Roads NSW

  1. Submit your feedback at Safer Roads NSW - Have Your Say About Speed Limits
  2. If approved by Transport for NSW, they will ask us to make the changes.

Suggest a location for a speed camera

Visit Safer Roads NSW - Have Your Say About Speed Cameras


Request a Vehicle Activated Speed (VAS) sign

We use Vehicle Activated Speed signs (also known as a SAM or happy/sad face sign) to reduce speeding behaviour in urban areas. The signs have proven to be very effective in the short term.

We also have Slow Down stickers which you can place on your Council wheelie bins. If you'd like some of these, please let us know.

  1. Use Report it to Council select Roads, signs, footpaths and provide the details.
  2. We’ll review to see if we can add the location to our schedule.

Look out before you step out campaign

Look out before you step out

We want to protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, so that everyone feels safe using our roads. We also want to encourage active forms of transport and reduce car dependence.

As part of the Transport for NSW Look Out Before You Step Out campaign, we are installing footpath stickers at pedestrian crossings as a reminder to be aware of vehicles before crossing the street. 

If you would like to provide feedback on unsafe pedestrian crossings in your area, contact our Road Safety Officer using Report it to Council and select Roads, signs, footpaths.

Drink Driving - What's Your Plan B?

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Byron Shire has the highest incidence of alcohol related crashes and blood alcohol infringements in the northern part of NSW (this region extends from Newcastle to the Queensland border). 

We don't want to stop people having a good time, but we do want them to get home safely afterwards.

Win a Swag

In partnership with Byron Shire businesses, we will be running the Transport for NSW Plan B - Win a Swag campaign in April 2024. 

Visit one of the below venues during April, fill in an entry form with how you plan to get home safely and you can enter the draw to win a swag (each venue will have one to give away). 

Venues

  • The Great Northern Hotel – Byron Bay
  • Ginn Jinn Café & Restaurant – Byron Bay
  • The Cellar Byron Bay – Byron Bay
  • The Cellar Byron Plaza – Byron Bay
  • Billinudgel Hotel – Billinudgel
  • Byron Bay Services Club – Byron Bay
  • Ocean Shores Country Club – Ocean Shores.

For more information see Plan B Win A Swag Competition Terms & Conditions(PDF, 281KB)

Contact Council's Road Safety Officer, Shelley Currie council@byron.nsw.gov.au