Transport Department blocking key black spot crash data

Transport engineers say the Department of Transport is blocking their access to data on crash black spots, hampering their ability to identify and fix dangerous roads.

The Age reports the Institute of Transport Engineers Australia and New Zealand is being forced to rely on a public VicRoads database which is four years out of date and full of errors, and it’s hindering their ability to draw conclusions about problems on our roads.

The Transport Department claims the data is being withheld due to privacy concerns, but road safety consultant with more than 40 years’ experience, Robert Morgan, says that’s “a bit of a furphy”.

Press PLAY below to hear what data is being blocked and the impact it’s having

The revelation comes amid a heightened road toll, with 167 people killed on the state’s roads so far this year — 35 more than the five-year average.