Road safety

Speed is the biggest contributing factor to injury and fatality crashes on New South Wales roads.

About 40% of road fatalities involve speed. Under the Local Government Road Safety Program, AlburyCity applies for funding each year to work with the community to combat speed and reduce the number of crashes where speed is a contributing factor.

AlburyCity's Road Safety Action Plan identifies the area of speed as a concern for many of our residents and is a priority area when applying for funding and educating the community.

More information is available here at Transport for NSW Centre for Road Safety.

When travelling in a residential street the speed limit is 50km/h unless signposted otherwise.

It's important to always consider the environment in which you are travelling and adjust your speed accordingly. More congested areas require you to travel at a lower speed.

Parts of Albury's Central Business District have shared zones that indicate the maximum speed limit that can be travelled is 10km/h. These areas are signposted.

Speed is the biggest single danger on NSW roads, contributing to about 40 per cent of road fatalities each year.

Albury has a range of speed limits that include School zones, Shared zones and High Pedestrian Activity Areas. Please ensure you always adjust your speed, obey the limit and drive to conditions.

Speed limit signs are always a black number inside a red circle. In urban areas unless signposted otherwise, the speed limit is 50km/h.

Shared Zones

A Shared Zone is a road or network of roads where the road space is shared by vehicles and pedestrians. The maximum speed limit in a Shared Zone is 10km/h.

Drivers must give way to pedestrians at all times.

The following locations are classed as a Shared Zone:

• Volt Lane
• AMP Lane and
• Selle Lane

More information regarding shared zones can be found in the shared zoned fact sheet.

High Pedestrian Activity

The 40km/h urban limit is part of a nationwide strategy to improve safety in high pedestrian areas. Travelling at lower speeds improves a driver’s ability to stop and avoid crashes, especially in areas of high pedestrian activity.

The following locations are classed as a High Pedestrian Activity area:

• Hovell Tree Park
• Noreuil Park Foreshore
• Oddies Creek Park

You can read more about safe speed limits, safer stopping limits and speed zones at the Centre for Road Safety.

You don't have to be drunk to be affected by alcohol.

Drink Driving is a factor in about one in every five crashes in NSW where someone loses their life.

The effects of alcohol are wide ranging and impossible to avoid. After a big night out you may still have alcohol in your system for much of the next day.

Alcohol is a depressant and:

• Slows your brain so that you can't respond to situations, make decisions or react quickly.
• Reduces your ability to judge how fast you are moving or your distance from other cars, people or objects.
• Gives you a false sense of confidence - you may take greater risks, thinking that your driving is better than it really is.
• Makes it harder to do more than one thing at a time - while you concentrate on steering, you could miss seeing traffic lights, cars entering from side streets or pedestrians.
• Affects your sense of balance - a big risk if you ride a motorcycle.
• Makes you drowsy - you could fall asleep at the wheel.

Find out more about the effects of drink driving

Find out more about the Plan B Campaign

Pedestrians can be of any age and include people walking, running, disabled or using a motorised wheelchair. Pedestrians can also be young children using wheeled toys and recreational devices. At times, pedestrians can be unpredictable and difficult to see particularly in congested areas and before and after events that attract large crowds.

There are more than 1500 pedestrians hit on NSW every year. Even if you are familiar with a section of road it is important that you always look out before you step out and choose the safest place to cross.

As a pedestrian you can stay safe by:

• Using signalised crossing points
• Using zebra crossings when there is one available
• Using pedestrian refuges and pedestrian overpasses
• Standing back from the kerb until it is safe to cross
• Walking against traffic if there is no footpath available
• Holding the hand of young children
• Wearing bright or light coloured clothing
• Wearing a head torch or light when walking during dawn or dusk or reduced visibility conditions
• Planning a trip that allows you to use footpaths and shared paths.

For more information on motorisied wheelchairs visit Transport NSW

Shared Paths

Many of Albury's paths are Shared paths (greater than 2 meters in width). This means that both pedestrians and cyclists can use a path. A shared path is marked with signage indicating a cyclist or pedestrian may utilise a section. The signage is black and white.

It is important that you consider the following:

• Move off the path if you are stopped
• Walk your dog on its leash
• Be listening for passers-by
• When cycling or running, warn others by calling out or ringing your bell if you wish to pass

For more information on shared paths visit Transport NSW

Whether for recreation, fitness or the daily commute, more people are riding bicycles on NSW roads than ever before.

Unfortunately, Albury consistently records a higher number of crashes involving cyclists than both the South West Region and NSW.

Albury City and Transport for NSW support cyclists by providing a 50:50 match of funding to construct additional cycle ways throughout the city to promote safe cycling.

The AlburyCity Bicycle Plan

AlburyCity has developed a Bicycle Plan that highlights bicycle-related issues for Albury, analyses bicycle crashes in detail and outlines proposed works for the construction of cycle ways for the next five years.

Download our AlburyCity Bicycle Plan 2014-2019.

Cycle Lanes

The installation of cycle lanes between Wodonga Place and Olive Street provide a safer travel experience for all road users including pedestrians, motorists and cyclists. Additional cycle lanes on Smollett Street between Olive and Young Streets will allow cyclists to travel into the city via a dedicated lane.

The green marked cycle lanes require motorists to ensure that their vehicle is parked within their parking bay and not across the green cycle lane, otherwise fines will be imposed.

Cycling trails

Albury is served by a network of more than 40 kilometres of interlinked on-road and off-road trails and pathways providing cyclists and walkers with a safe and enjoyable means of exploring the city.

Cycling on the road

When cycling on the road it is important to be visible, predictable in your actions and aware of what is happening around you. You also need to wear a correctly fitted, approved bicycle helmet. For day riding, wear bright coloured clothing and reflective clothing at night. Lights and reflectors, front and back, are also needed for night riding.

As a bicycle rider always make sure you:

• Give way to motorists and pedestrians when they have right of way
• Cycle about a metre away from the kerb to avoid debris and from parked cars to avoid opening doors
• Let people know your intentions by using hand signals when turning or changing lanes
• Remember, eye contact with other road users is important to signal clear intention

For more information on Bicycle Safety visit Transport NSW

Using shared paths

Across NSW there are paths that can be used by both pedestrians and bicycle riders. To avoid collisions and make using these paths a pleasant experience, both pedestrians and bicycle riders need to look out for each other and follow a few simple rules.

As a bicycle rider always make sure you:

• Keep to the left
• Give way to pedestrians, slowing down or even stopping if needed
• Use your bell or horn, if needed, to avoid a collision
• Be particularly careful around older pedestrians, young children and dogs as they are often unpredictable

Always travel at a speed that promotes safety for you and the pedestrians you encounter.
When walking on a shared path be aware that cyclists can travel much faster and may suddenly appear around a corner or behind you.

As a pedestrian make sure you:

• Keep to the left
• Move off the path to the left if you wish to stop
• Keep animals on short leads and under control

AlburyCity conducts a minimum of two Learner Driver Workshops per year that aim to increase the knowledge and confidence of supervisors of a learner driver.

Topics covered during the workshop include:

• What is involved with being a supervising driver
• Issues facing young drivers
• How the NSW graduated licensing scheme works
• The importance of learner driver experience
• Lesson planning and dealing with stress and
• Tips for safe solo driving

Our next workshop will be on Wednesday 6 March 2024 at 5.30pm at our Admin Building, 553 Kiewa Street, Albury. A light supper will be provided.

Book now

Motorcycling is now more popular than ever. The growth in motorcycle registration and licences is more pronounced than other transport modes. Motorcycle registrations since 2006 have increased by 41 per cent in comparison to passenger vehicle registrations and the number of motorcycle licences issued has increased by 17 per cent. Unfortunately motorcycle serious injury has also increased from 4 in 2015 to 8 in 2019 in the Albury Local Government Area.

Saving motorcycle riders' lives and preventing injuries in our region is a critical road safety challenge for AlburyCity.

By choosing a safe helmet and appropriate riding gear, motorcyclists can ensure they have the best protection, while regular bike maintenance helps keep motorcycles in a safe condition for riding.

Things to check include:

• Tyre pressure and tread
• Fluid levels in engine, coolant and brakes
• Nut and bolt tightness
• Lights, indicators and horn
• Brake pads
• Chain and sprockets
• Suspension

Maintaining a three-second gap, scanning the road and setting up are some of the riding tips that can help motorcyclists avoid danger. Riders need to be aware that speed, alcohol and fatigue can all increase the risk of having a crash and being injured.

For more information on motorcycle safety visit Transport NSW

Driver fatigue is one of the top three contributors to crashes in New South Wales.

Fatigue can be as dangerous as other road safety issues, such as drink driving and speeding. Drivers of all ages get tired – even the young and fit - and you may not even be aware that fatigue is eroding your driving skills.

Sleep is the only cure for tiredness.

It's up to motorists to be aware of the signs of fatigue:

• Plan ahead to ensure you are not tired before you hit the road.
• Take regular breaks.
• Swap drivers if you can, particularly on long drives.

Remember, fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip no matter how long or short or what time of day. It's important to think about how tired you are before driving, recognise the early warning signs when driving and know what to do to avoid driving tired.

Test your tired self here.

On the road 65Plus has advice and safety tips for people in our community aged 65 or over to help make safer choices when driving, riding, walking, using a mobility scooter or catching public transport.
Further information can be found at On the road 65Plus - Staying safe - NSW Centre for Road Safety
The next On the Road 65 Plus workshop will be held at the City Offices on Wednesday, 4th May. Register online today.

The Arrive Home Safely Taxi Voucher Program supports local businesses to promote responsible alcohol messages and offer an alternative transport option for staff attending end of year Christmas celebrations.

Businesses can register for $10 taxi vouchers redeemable with Albury Taxis, Wodonga Taxis and 13Cabs.