Problem
The rate of accidents in the stretch between Napier Crescent and Woodland Street on Pascoe Vale Rd, Essendon, is escalating alarmingly making it a hotspot for traffic-related incidents, posing a significant risk to motorists and pedestrians (specially children) alike.

Proposal

• Traffic lights at Napier Crescent / Pascoe Vale Rd, Essendon
• Pedestrian crossing at Napier Cres/Pascoe Vale Rd
• Reducing speed limit to 40 kmph 

Call to Action
We are filing a petition with The Black Spot Consultative Panel to implement immediate measures to enhance road safety in this area. In addition to this we are also sending petitions to The Hon. Danny Pearson (Minister for Transport Infrastructure) and the Moonee Valley City Council to provide approvals and assistance for Vic Roads to make this happen. Your signature is invaluable to move forward and help make Pascoe Vale Rd safer for everyone.

Root Cause

• Clustering of high-density apartments leading to right-turns at close proximity impeding the traffic flow
• Lack of pedestrian crossing for school children (Essendon Primary School) and Glenbervie station train commuters
• High volume of traffic: Especially for motorists opting to bypass toll roads, irrespective of peak or off-peak periods, this section of Pascoe Vale Road offers the fastest route for traffic between the city and northern suburbs.
• Excessive speed: The curved ramp at Napier Crescent often leads even cautious drivers to exceed the speed limit, frequently surpassing 60 km/h. This problem is compounded by instances of reckless driving (hooning), particularly on certain days in this section.

Impact

1. Fatality and Serious Injuries
   In less than five years, from February 2019 to September 2023, Victoria Road Crash Data alone has documented 15 crashes in this segment. Among these, 8 resulted in casualties, including the tragic death of 19-year old George Kallianis (April 2023), while 3 others caused serious injuries. This is in addition to the majority of accidents witnessed by the community that go unreported.
2. Accident-prone Locations
   With high density apartments, speeding and high-volume traffic in play, the following spots have become dangerously accident-prone as motorists, to make turns, are forced to undertake risky manoeuvres at the following locations
   •    Traffic turning right from Napier Crescent onto Pascoe Vale Rd
   •    Traffic turning right from Pascoe Vale Rd onto Cameron Rd and Bridge St
   •    Traffic turning right from Pascoe Vale Rd onto to the apartment complexes at #312, #314, and #316
   •    Vehicles doing food delivery to the apartments, make random stops forcing the vehicles behind to sudden stops or swerve right to avoid a crash
   •    Traffic turning right from Pascoe Vale Rd onto to the businesses #299-311
3. Pedestrian casualties waiting to happen
   The build-up of new apartments has seen a surge in the number of pedestrians crossing the Pascoe Vale Rd between Napier Crescent and Woodland Street. The main group of pedestrians crossing Pascoe Vale Rd includes but not limited to 
   •    School children heading to Essendon Primary School, either accompanied or unaccompanied by adults.
   •    Train commuters heading to Glenbervie train station
   •    Pedestrians carrying pets heading to Petstock Essendon
   •    Pedestrians heading to Essendon Goodlife Gym​, Supercheap Auto Essendon

Accident Data

Next Steps

• Application to The Black Spot Consultative Panel, Department of Transport and Planning
• Petition to The Hon. Danny Pearson, Minister for Transport Infrastructure
• Petition to the Moonee Valley City Council

References

• Victoria Road Crash Data: ACCIDENT.csv
• Victoria Road Crash Data: ACCIDENT LOCATION.csv
• Victoria Road Crash Data: PERSON.csv
• Black Spot Nomination Form