We use data to continuously improve. Our Incident Responce teams carry out both regular recurring and ad hoc analysis of incidents to identify trends and opportunities to improve road user experience and mitigate the recurrence of preventable incidents.

We collaborate with asset owners to design and implement safety improvements on the network.

Ventia’s NSW Motorways & Tunnels team collaborated with their client Transurban on a targeted safety upgrade at the Dacey Road off-ramp on the Eastern Distributor (ED) in Sydney, following a data-driven review of incident patterns and connected vehicle analytics. The initiative aimed to reduce the frequency and severity of harsh driving manoeuvres, thereby improving overall road safety.

Problem Identification

Monthly reviews of GPS-tagged incident data revealed recurring safety concerns at specific locations along the ED. One such hotspot was the Dacey Road off-ramp, where connected vehicle data indicated elevated rates of harsh swerving and braking, particularly among exiting traffic.

Intervention Measures

In collaboration with Transurban engineers, several enhancements were implemented:

• Improved linemarking
• Installation of roadside furniture
• Enhanced asset visibility
• Pre-warning signage

These measures were designed to guide driver behaviour and reduce the likelihood of sudden or unsafe manoeuvres.

Results

A comparative analysis of connected vehicle data before and after the upgrade showed significant improvements:

Through Traffic (Overpass to Crescent St):

• Harsh manoeuvres: ↓ 15%
• Harsh swerving: ↓ 28%
• Harsh braking: ↓ 43%

Exiting Traffic:

• Harsh manoeuvres: ↓ 46%
• Harsh swerving: ↓ 50%
• Harsh braking: ↓ 82%

While the exiting traffic data had lower trip counts and some ambiguity due to proximity to South Dowling Street, the reductions were nonetheless substantial and indicative of improved safety performance.

Additional Success Example

A similar approach at the Cleveland Street exit, where a Quad Guard was frequently impacted (twice monthly on average), led to an 84% reduction in incidents. The cost of damage dropped from $240,000 to $40,000 (annual) following targeted engineering interventions.

This case highlights the effectiveness of combining incident data analysis with connected vehicle insights to identify safety hotspots and implement targeted upgrades. The Dacey Road intervention demonstrates how relatively minor infrastructure changes can yield significant safety and cost benefits.