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VIC Gov focuses on trauma prevention after year-on-year increase in road deaths

$20M program boosting safety for regional roads

The Victorian Government has reiterated its focus on tackling road trauma, after the state recorded an increase in the number of lives lost on the regions roads.

In 2021, 236 people died on the Victorian roads, compared with 211 in 2020. The year-on-year increase was primarily impacted by an increase in the number of lives lost on metropolitan roads, where there were 117 deaths compared with 84 in 2020.

There was also an increase in single vehicle fatal crashes, which accounted for 46 lives lost, compared with 33 last year.

Despite increases across the state, regional Victoria recorded its second-lowest number of lives lost on record with 119 deaths compared with 126 in 2020. Crashes on high-speed routes, where drivers are at a greater risk of fatigue have been identified as the main factors contributing to incidents.

Twenty pedestrians in metropolitan Melbourne and nine in regional Victoria lost their lives, while cyclist fatalities (10) were down on the 14 recorded in 2020. Motorcyclist deaths increased to 41 (from 32 in 2020) and were equal with the five-year average, with 26 of these occurring on metropolitan roads.

Victoria’s Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said the figures highlighted the need for continued support and education to reduce the volume of accidents annually.

“Far too many families feel the pain of losing a loved one or having their lives changed forever due to serious injury, which is why we’re continuing to make significant investment in education, technology, infrastructure and vehicle safety to end road trauma,” he said.

Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore encouraged motorists to take extra care when driving throughout the state.

“Whether you’re driving, riding or crossing the road, please make the right choices – pay extra attention, share the road safely, click in your seat belt, stick to the speed limit and don’t drive drunk or on drugs,” Calafiore said.

This follows the Victorian Government’s continuous support for the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 and Action Plan, which works across policy, education, technology, enforcement, vehicle safety and infrastructure to improve safety for vulnerable road users.

The Strategy sets ambitious targets to halve road deaths and significantly reduce serious injuries by 2030 and sets the state on a path to zero road deaths by 2050.

For more information on the strategy, click here.

 


 

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