Regional Victoria features heavily in new road trauma data

21 Jun 2013

Regional and rural roads continue to remain a concern for road safety authorities despite the falling road toll, the latest Transport Accident Commission (TAC) data shows.

Newly released statistics have revealed a spike in fatalities and injuries on regional Victorian roads compared to Melbourne.

The latest Road Safety Statistical Summary data, available online, shows that between April 2012 and April 2013 there were 160 deaths in regional Victoria, an increase of 7 per cent on the previous 12 months.

In Melbourne, there were 109 fatalities in the same period, down from 129 (a 16 per cent reduction). 

TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore said the statistics served as a tragic reminder of the need for Victorians to take extra care on country roads.

“Injuries involving a hospital admission have increased four per cent in rural Victoria, with 1,863 heading to hospital after a crash,” Ms Dore said.

“This compared to a two per cent drop in Melbourne.”

Ms Dore said one of the strategies to improve Victoria’s regional road toll, was the Safer Road Infrastructure Program (SRIP) to which the TAC has dedicated $1billion over the next 10 years.

”SRIP allows for work ranging from the sealing of shoulders, installation of rumble lines, wire rope barriers or guardrails to intersection improvements,” she said.

“These improvements are targeted to roads where they are most needed in terms of reducing fatality and serious injury crashes.

“VicRoads coordinates SRIP with the support of TAC funding. SRIP is one of the key programs in the Victorian Government’s 10 year Road Safety Strategy.

“Whether it’s through improving our road network, enhancing vehicle safety or changing attitudes to speed we have a range of ways that we can reduce regional road trauma.

“Ultimately, we want to make every journey a safe one for all Victorians,” Ms Dore said.

Other key findings in the summary

Fatalities (April 2012 to April 2013)

• Cardinia had the biggest reduction of all Victorian regions in fatalities between April 2012 and April 2013 (1 fatality, down from 12 the previous year)
• Bass Coast and Surf Coast also saw significant reductions, with 3 and 4 fatalities respectively (down from 10 and 11)
• Hume, however, experienced the biggest rise with 14 fatalities (up from 5)
• Bendigo also had14 fatalities, more than the two previous years combined (6 and 6)
• - Wyndham and Mitchell’s 12-month road toll doubled with11 and 12 fatalities respectively (up from 5 and 6)

Serious Injuries (October 2011 to October 2012)

• Macedon Ranges’ serious injury claims halved in this period (12 claims, down from 24 in the 12 months prior)
• Yarra Ranges also saw a significant reduction (22 claims, down from 35), as did Ballarat (10 claims, down from 18)
• Wodonga (30 claims, up from 14), Monash (25 claims, up from 12) and Maribyrnong (24 claims, up from 12), however, all experienced more than double the serious injury claims than in October 2010 to October 2011.

Road user data (April 2012 to April 2013)

• Drivers made up 54 per cent of Victorian fatalities, up from 46 per cent in the 12 months prior
• Pedestrians made up 11.5 per cent of the road toll, down from 18 per cent previously
• 34 fatalities were 60-69 year-olds (up from 28 and 27 in the two previous years), while there were 115 seriously injured in the same age category (up from 102 and 84). There were 231 acute claims for people aged 70 or older (up from 209 and 202).

The expansion of the Safer Roads Infrastructure Program is one of the key actions to keep country road users safe, under the Victorian Government’s 10 year Road Safety Strategy. Find out more at www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au.