New research shows the way Victorians use the roads is changing

Published date: 02 Dec 2021

The Transport Accident Commission has released findings from its annual Road Safety Monitor, which surveyed more than 2,500 Victorians to identify their 2020 road behaviors and perceptions.

The survey found an increase in the use of ‘active transport’, with 60 per cent of respondents reporting they’d walk to go somewhere at least once a week – up from 55 per cent in 2019.

Riding a bike on the roads at least once per week increased from eight per cent in 2019, to 10 per cent last year. Bike riding spiked in the October-December quarter as Victorians emerged from restrictions, with 16 per cent reporting they’d done so weekly as a means of transport.

However, the increase in people walking to get places was coupled with more than a third of respondents (34%) saying they would cross a road while listening to headphones, while one in three said they’d cross the street distracted by a mobile phone.

The findings also showed that Victorians still predominantly drove, but unsurprisingly drove fewer kilometres, less at night and weren’t driving stressed as often when behind the wheel (29% in 2020 vs 34% in 2019).

Protecting vulnerable road users, like pedestrians and people who ride bikes, and promoting active transport, are key focuses of the Victorian Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030.

The Victorian Government has recently delivered $100-million in infrastructure projects to support pedestrians and cyclists as part of the Safer Bike and Pedestrian Fund under the previous strategy.

Other key Road Safety Monitor findings include:

39% respondents admitted to intentionally exceeding the speed limit in a 60 km/h zone, while 40% sped in a 100 km/h zone (steady on previous years)
28% of drivers used their phone hand-held while driving (a decline from 37% since 2016)
38% reported driving while feeling very tired (55% among drivers aged 18-25)
41% of people say they drove after drinking alcohol (legally), a reduction from 50% in 2019

Quotes attributed to TAC CEO Joe Calafiore

“It is a busy time on the roads, and we know that the road user profile is changing with more people opting to walk or ride, so we must have safety front of mind.”

“Over the past two years, most Victorians have traveled significantly less, but now that we are traveling more, we need to look out for each other and make safe choices.”

Read the full RSM2020 report here.