Too many lives lost

The State Government has refocused its efforts in reducing road trauma in the new year, after 2022 marked an increase in Victoria’s road toll.

As the year ended, tragically 240 people lost their lives on Victorian roads – an increase on the 233 deaths last year, but the fourth lowest since TAC records began, including the pandemic-affected record low of 211 in 2020.

Regional road users continue to make up a disproportionate amount of road fatalities, with 134 people dying in country areas compared with 119 in 2021 – while metropolitan road deaths dropped from 114 in 2021 to 106 in 2022.

More than two-thirds of regional fatalities occurred on 100 – 110km/h roads. Crashes on rural high-speed roads continue to be too frequent, where the combination of high speeds and motorists travelling longer distances mean consequences are often more severe when something goes wrong.

There was a decline in driver and passenger deaths (126 down from 147), but despite more people than ever strapping themselves in when they get in a car, 27 per cent of people who died in a vehicle weren’t wearing a seatbelt.

Vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists (57, up from 43) and pedestrian (44, up from 29) fatalities increased year-on-year.

Victoria has historically been a world leader in road safety – from the introduction of compulsory seat belt laws to a no tolerance approach to drink driving, but Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, says work will not be complete until no lives are lost on the roads.

“Our hearts go out to all those impacted by road trauma – we can’t accept that anyone should lose their life, or have it permanently changed, as a result of getting behind the wheel,” Ms Horne said.

Under its Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 and Action Plan, the State Government aims to halve the number of road fatalities by 2030, with work focused across education, infrastructure, enforcement, policy, and technology.

The Victorian Budget 2021/22 also invested $49.4 million to install and commission new fixed road safety cameras at 35 dangerous intersection sites and two point-to-point highway camera systems. These cameras will begin enforcing throughout 2023.

In 2023, Victorians are once again urged to slow down, put the phone away, never drive drunk or on drugs, take adequate breaks when driving long distances, and be aware of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.