"Everyone deserves to go home safely from work, no exceptions," a leading voice in the traffic management industry has said, as he called for more driver education.
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The comment comes after the death of a 59-year-old Creswick man, who died after he was struck by a car while setting up for traffic control duties on the Western Highway at Trawalla about 7.20am Wednesday.
It is believed the traffic controller worked for Delacombe-based traffic management company BCIVIL Recruitment, and his death is being investigated by both WorkSafe and Victoria Police.
The incident shocked the community, including roadside workers from other local traffic management companies.
Assistant manager at Mitchell Park-based company, A1 Traffic Management Servicing Victoria, Rebecca Poltorasky, said it was a "tragic day" for everyone in the industry.
"It is just horrible. People seem to think that traffic management is such an easy job but it is definitely high-risk."
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The Traffic Management Association of Australia's Victorian Board Member, Anthony Simmons, said the man's death was another tragedy that highlighted why drivers needed to be diligent when approaching work sites - whether for road works, around construction sites or in emergency situations.
With multiple traffic controller deaths in Victoria, including the death of a road worker who was struck by a truck at Pykes Creek in 2004, Mr Simmons said traffic controllers were too often seriously injured or killed at work.
"Too often there are workers, particularly our frontline traffic controllers, who are in the firing line of vehicles," Mr Simmons said. "One death is one too many."
While the cause of Wednesday's collision is still under investigation, Ms Poltorasky said there was a wider problem of drivers not slowing down for traffic controllers.
She said traffic controllers at A1 would "extremely regularly" return to the office at the end of the day and remark that cars sped past them or that they were almost hit on the job that day.
"It's just ridiculous. People need to see the traffic management signs and slow down because they're there for a reason."
Mr Simmons echoed police comments - drive responsibly, to the conditions and adhere to road signage and speed zones so everyone can return home from work.
We are there for everyone's safety, so slow down and take care.
- Anthony Simmons
"We are there for everyone's safety, so slow down and take care," he said.
With road and infrastructure projects to be a major part of kickstarting Victoria's economy post-COVID, Mr Simmons said there would be more construction and therefore more roadside workers in coming months and they needed to be better protected.
While the association welcomes any initiatives that make worksites safer, it is calling for the government to provide education for drivers about why they need to obey speed signage and the directions of traffic controllers - this could be achieved through an education component when young people first sit to obtain their learner's permit.
"The spend on investment in roads and infrastructure needs to be paralleled with safety education campaigns," he said.
Earlier this year, tow truck driver Jeff Clark called for the government to strengthen laws to better protect roadside workers including tow truck drivers, roadside assistants and traffic controllers.
While road rule 79A was introduced on July 1, 2017 and requires that drivers slow to 40km/h when passing a stationary or slow moving emergency or enforcement vehicle with flashing red, blue or magenta lights, it does not require a driver to slow for other people or vehicles with flashing amber lights.
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The government said it was the responsibility of all drivers to comply with road rules and to slow down whenever there were people on the roadside next to a stationary vehicle, regardless of the circumstances.
BCIVIL Recruitment was contacted for comment.