Victorian's 2008 road toll is the lowest on record.

02 Jan 2009

MEDIA RELEASE: Friday, 02 January 2009

Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said 304 people lost their lives in 2008, the lowest since records began in 1952 and 28 less than 2007.

“While Victoria has achieved the lowest-ever road toll, any life lost on our roads is one too many,” Mr Pallas said.

Mr Pallas said statistics released today showed a number of improving trends compared with 2007:

Drivers and passengers – reductions of 19 per cent and 24 per cent respectively;
18-20 year olds – reduction of 28 per cent;
Significant reduction in road deaths in regional areas – there were 134 regional deaths in 2008 compared to 174 in 2007.
However, the following road user groups have experienced increased fatalities:

Pedestrians – an increase of 41 per cent, (equal to 2006). During the same 12 month period, 14 pedestrians killed had a BAC of at least 0.05, representing 28 per cent of killed pedestrians. Of these, 11 (79 per cent) had a BAC over 0.15.
Road users aged 70+ – deaths among this age group are up by 32 per cent, returning to the same level as 2006.

Mr Pallas said alcohol continued to be a significant contributor to the road toll.
“In the 12 months to September 2008, a total of 49 drivers and riders who were killed had a Blood Alcohol Content at or over 0.05 g/100ml. This represents 25 per cent of the driver and rider road toll for the year.”

“The fact remains that 304 people have lost their lives on Victoria’s roads.

“And each day dozens of people are admitted to hospital because of serious injuries received in road accidents. This is the hidden road toll.

“And these numbers do not take into account the impact of these crashes on families and friends of those killed or seriously injured.”

Mr Pallas said the Brumby Government has continued its commitment to road safety under its new arrive alive strategy, which sets an aggressive goal to cut the road toll and reduce serious injuries by 30 per cent.

“Under the strategy, we have seen a record public education campaigns, tougher enforcement, the new Graduated Licensing System for young drivers as well as additional road infrastructure and other programs that have contributed to the reduced road toll,” Mr Pallas said.

“This Government has brought in speed reductions in high pedestrian activity areas such as strip shopping centres, as well as implementing consistent slower school speed zones across the state.

“While the Brumby Government is working to reduce the road toll, the responsibility lies with motorists to drive safely and all other road users to act responsibly to look out for each other. “

In 2008 the Brumby Government introduced many initiatives to help reduce the road toll, including:

Continued roll out of electronic school speed signs and more reduced speed limits in pedestrian precincts;
Advertising campaigns targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, motorcyclists and fatigue, including the highly powerful and emotive Pictures of You;
A crackdown on road users who place the community at risk by targeting specific behaviours such as repeat drink driving and speeding offenders and hoons on roads across Victoria – with a total of 3012 cars impounded in 2008 as at 16 December;
The final phase of the introduction of the Graduated Licensing System occurred in July 2008, to ensure young drivers gain adequate supervision and experience as learners, introducing the two stage P-plate system and restricting the number of peer passengers for P1 drivers; and
Increased focus on police enforcement over the 2008/09 summer period.

Mr Pallas said these figures were a reminder of how important road safety is and how much more still needed to be done.

The holiday road toll count ends at midnight on January 2, 2009.

Mr Pallas said the Brumby Government would continue to develop and implement new initiatives to combat road trauma in 2009.

“I urge all Victorians to heed the road safety message over the remainder of the holiday period and build on the gains we’ve made over recent years,” he said.
 
Assistant Commissioner (Traffic and Transit Safety) Ken Lay said despite the record road toll there was no cause for celebration.

“Let’s face the facts, 304 people still died on our roads this year and this means that police have still had to tell people they will never see their loved ones again,” Mr Lay said.

“This figure is by no means acceptable. The Victorian Government and Police have set a target to reduce the road toll by 30 per cent over the next 10 years and are doing everything possible to stop these avoidable tragedies.

“All the enforcement in the world is not going to have an impact unless everyone starts taking more responsibility and less risk on our roads.  It’s not about what more we can do to tackle this issue it’s about what you can do to stop another 304 people being killed in 2009.”

Mr Lay said whilst some deaths were the result of clear criminal negligence many others were the result of silly mistakes that could have all too easily been avoided.

“All too often ordinary people, often kids, are dying because they have been a bit thoughtless and are dead for no other reason than perhaps not wearing a seatbelt or running a red light,” he said.