Transport Victoria has confirmed the final design for intersection upgrades along Sunshine Avenue in Taylors Lakes. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. Two roundabouts at Melton Highway and Old Calder Highway will be replaced with signalised intersections, with additional lanes and new signalised pedestrian crossings. New walking and cycling paths and street lighting will also be built. A bus stop on the northern side of Melton Highway will move to the eastern side of Sunshine Avenue.
Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Stephen Batty and local psychologist Danielle Jacobs have started a petition calling for urgent safety upgrades at three busy Mt Eliza intersections. The intersections are Volitans Avenue, Mount Eliza Way and Baden Powell Drive. The petition, addressed to the Victorian Parliament, seeks independent safety audits, a review of speed limits, signage, line marking, lighting, vegetation and sightlines, and a clear timetable for any recommendations. Batty said the intersections needed fixing and could not wait. Jacobs said the petition was about neighbours and asked residents to sign and share it.
Researchers measured speeds at 33 roadside sites across southeastern Queensland. Speeding fell from 55 per cent of drivers to 26 per cent after an alert appeared on the Waze app. The biggest drop was in 100km/h zones. Once the alert passed, drivers who had slowed down could speed again. The researchers say the findings suggest police should rethink how road enforcement works in a connected world, rather than ban these apps.
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Police from the Cairns Forensic Crash Unit are appealing for information about a serious single-vehicle crash at Little Mulgrave on October 25. A passing motorist saw a 24-year-old man on the side of Gillies Range Road near Roos Road, who appeared to have come off his motorbike at about 10.30am. He suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to hospital by Rescue 510. Anyone with information or dashcam footage is asked to come forward. Investigations are continuing.
A man believed to be 58 years old died at the scene after an SUV left the M1 Pacific Motorway at Fingal Head and hit a tree on Friday, 23 October. He has not yet been formally identified. Police have established a crime scene and a report will be prepared for the Coroner. Separately, an 83-year-old woman died in hospital on Saturday, 24 October, more than two weeks after a hatchback crashed into a parked vehicle on the Pacific Highway at Herons Creek on Wednesday, 7 October.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns the Mary River may exceed minor flood level at Maryborough early Monday. Two bridges are already closed, and Lamington Bridge is expected to close Sunday evening. Granville Bridge may also close depending on river levels. Motorists are urged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and check road conditions. Residents should never drive through floodwaters, even without closure signs.
Motorcyclists are warning that worsening potholes on South Australian roads are creating serious safety risks. Hundreds of riders are expected at an Adelaide rally on October 31. Adelaide rider Dylan Thorp counted at least 80 potholes in 500 metres on Ridley Rd between Sedan and Mannum. Riders say the holes can upset bike stability and force them to watch the road surface instead of looking ahead.
A 59-year-old woman and her 18-year-old passenger were taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in critical condition after a single-vehicle crash at Federal on the Sunshine Coast. Emergency services were called to the Old Bruce Highway, near Sankeys Road, at 1.45pm after reports a white BYD Seal sedan had left the road. The Old Bruce Highway was closed in both directions for almost three hours. The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating. Anyone who saw the crash or has dashcam footage is asked to contact Policelink, quoting reference QP2602102133.
National insurer AAMI says 73 per cent of Australian drivers believe they are safer than other motorists. Yet 52 per cent admit to driving tired, 49 per cent to speeding, and 36 per cent to mentally drifting off behind the wheel. AAMI has identified five driver profiles, including The Zoner-Out and The In-a-Hurry Driver, to help motorists spot risky habits. AAMI Motor Claims Manager Leah James says everyday habits, such as switching to autopilot on familiar roads, can contribute to crashes. The findings are linked to long highway trips, including the Sturt, Cobb and Mid-Western Highways.
City of Wanneroo officers are recommending against a pedestrian crossing outside a Landsdale early learning centre, despite a petition signed by 89 people. The centre says children regularly cross Kingsway to reach Brockwell Park and that the road is hard to cross. Officers estimate a crossing could cost up to $200,000 and say a video survey recorded only four people crossing. They instead propose a $30,000 footpath on the south side of Kingsway. The council is expected to vote on the recommendation on October 27.
New and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas in remote South Australia are now open for use. A new rest stop at Pimba, beside Spud's Roadhouse, and an upgraded site at Arcoona along the Stuart Highway are complete. The $4.25 million project was funded by the federal and state governments. Both sites can accommodate four triple road trains at a time, with separate parking for light vehicles. Officials say fatigue is a major contributor to serious heavy vehicle incidents. From 2020 to 2024, 51 crashes on a section of the Stuart Highway caused four deaths and eight serious injuries.
The NSW government has intensified its scrutiny of motor vehicle inspection services, with 207 operators facing licence cancellations or suspensions and 223 issued warnings for fraudulent practices. Inspections across Sydney and regional areas revealed widespread issuance of pink and blue slips without proper vehicle checks, compromising road safety. These documents, required for vehicle registration, were often marketed as convenient online solutions but posed serious risks by allowing unroadworthy vehicles to operate. Transport for NSW's regulatory team has removed 1300 unsafe vehicles from roads after identifying over 6000 defects.
City of Moreton Bay is using a motion-activated mobile camera to monitor kangaroo activity at hotspots where animals are often struck by vehicles. Footage is being analysed to decide which fauna protection methods could reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Mayor Peter Flannery said kangaroos are most active at dawn and dusk and urged drivers to take care at those times and report injured wildlife quickly. The council's Green Infrastructure Program already includes 150 LED vehicle-activated signs, 48 fauna underpasses and more than 40 locations with fauna exclusion fencing.
Children at Sandon Point Children’s Centre are campaigning for their local council to build a footpath on Point Street. Director Zarah Tonkin says the children made posters and plan to visit a nearby café once it is safe to walk there. A petition has gathered more than 800 signatures. Two city councillors support the idea, but say the project is costly because it needs retaining walls and competes with other projects for limited funding. Tonkin says the children are learning that their voices matter.
Flash flooding is already being reported in low-lying areas across Gympie Region, with rain and scattered storms forecast for the rest of the week. Flash floods can arrive quickly and without warning, and not every flooded road is recorded on the Disaster Dashboard. Residents are urged to check local conditions before travelling, obey road closures and warning signs, and monitor the Disaster Dashboard for updates. Hazards, damage and fallen trees can be reported to the council. Authorities advise never driving through floodwater.
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Three workers were treated at the scene after a freight train and a loaded grain truck collided at a railway crossing on Goode Road in Ceduna, South Australia. Police are investigating the cause and no charges have been laid. SafeWork SA is also investigating. Local landowner Mario Nicholls says he raised concerns about the crossing's stop sign with the council 16 months ago. Aurizon says the sign matters sit with the relevant road authority, and the council has agreed to discuss upgrades with the rail operator.
Queensland Police Service is urging families to keep safety in mind this Halloween as children head out trick or treating. Police are asking people to leave e-scooters, e-bikes, skateboards and bicycles at home, as heavy foot and road traffic is expected. Acting Superintendent Tracey Hartley said children should be supervised by a trusted adult and travel in groups. Motorists have been asked to slow down, especially around dusk and in the evening, when children may be harder to see.
A koala mother and her joey survived a dangerous encounter with traffic on the Bruce Highway near Cooroy. Wildcare says a motorist swerved to avoid the pair at Coles Creek on 12 October. The mother, Rachel, and her joey, Casper, were taken to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and released into nearby bushland. Wildcare says seven other koalas have been killed on the highway between Cooroy and Gympie since July. The group is calling on the Queensland Government and Transport and Main Roads to improve fencing and wildlife crossings.
Police have urged fans heading to the final Phillip Island MotoGP to ride safely and stay sober. Sergeant Peter Pearce expressed sympathy after a fatal collision on Monday night, in which a car driver died after crossing onto the wrong side of Back Beach Road in Ventnor and hitting a bus. Officers warned riders about speed, protective gear and wildlife such as geese and wallabies. Police said alcohol was overrepresented in motorcycle fatalities and that booze buses would be testing for drugs and alcohol.
A 40-year-old man has been charged over a hit-and-run that killed cyclist Joseph Paratore in Bibra Lake, in Perth's southern suburbs. Police allege the driver of a white four-wheel drive struck Mr Paratore on North Lake Road at about 5.20am on Tuesday. Mr Paratore died at the scene. The alleged driver was arrested later in Yangebup and refused bail. He faces Fremantle Magistrates Court. Mr Paratore's death is the sixth cycling death in Western Australia this year, according to WestCycle.
