2023 a horror year on the road

Victoria Police is more determined than ever to drive down road trauma in 2024 following a horror 12 months which saw the state record its highest number of lives lost in 15 years.

There were 296 lives lost in 2023 compared with 241 in 2022.

The last time so many lives were lost was in 2008 when 303 people were killed.

Police have identified single acts of non-compliance, or people making basic driving errors, contributed to more than half of fatalities in 2023.

These are behaviours such as low-range speeding, lower-level drink driving, failing to obey road signs, and distraction, like using a mobile phone while driving.

At least 10 per cent of fatal collisions had one or more vehicle occupants failing to wear a seatbelt.

Extreme behaviours such as driving without a licence, travelling at extreme speeds, high-range drink driving, illicit drug driving or often a combination of these behaviours contributed to approximately a quarter of fatal collisions in 2023.

Multiple fatality collisions contributed significantly to the increase in lives lost with 14 double fatalities, four quadruple fatalities and two quintuple fatalities.

Statewide driver fatalities increased from 99 in 2022 to 130 in 2023, and passenger fatalities rose from 23 in 2022 to 56 in 2023.

“The sheer number of lives lost has been devastating, but we must never forget that these are not numbers but people whose family and friends will mourn their loss for years to come. As we embark on a new year, I urge everyone to take this opportunity to stop and reset their behaviour on the roads,” Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said.

“All road users should remember they have a responsibility to keep everyone safe. This means sticking to the speed limit, not driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, avoiding distractions like mobile phones and ensuring everyone is wearing a properly fitted seatbelt.

There were 124 lives lost on metropolitan roads, up from 104 in 2022, and 172 lives lost on regional roads, up from 130 in 2022.

November was the worst month on Victorian roads, with 35 lives lost during the month.

Police are determined to avoid a repeat of 2023 and urging all road users to consider their actions and behaviours when getting behind the wheel.

Victoria Police will continue to work closely with its road safety partners to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury collisions.

Road policing enforcement will continue to be a priority, with a number of operations to be conducted throughout the year both during high-risk periods but also at random, in line with an ‘anywhere, anytime’ deterrent approach.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.