PROVISIONAL 2010 ROAD TOLL DATA RELEASED

02 Jan 2010

MEDIA RELEASE: Saturday, 1 January 2010

Victoria recorded 291 deaths on the state's roads in 2010, the secondlowest provisional road toll since records began in 1952.

But Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay said that 291 deaths was still not acceptable and that police, VicRoads, TAC and other partners would be working together to reduce road trauma even further in 2011.

Provisional road toll data released today shows a significant rise in motorcycle deaths, with 48 riders and one pillion passenger killed throughout the year. Motorcyclists represented 17 per cent of the 2010 road toll, with a 32 per cent increase in deaths from 2009, in which 36 riders were killed.

Of motorcyclists killed, 94 per cent were male (46), 53 per cent were on rural roads (26), and 56 per cent were aged between 30 and 59 (32).

In total, there were 291 road deaths from 263 fatal collisions - the lowest number of fatal crashes on record.

Provisional results included:
*       Some 16 more people were killed in country areas than last year, with 147 deaths in regional Victoria.
*       Metropolitan Melbourne recorded a decrease in fatal collisions with 144 deaths in the year compared with 159 last year and a five-year average of 168 deaths per year.
*       There were 39 pedestrian deaths across the state throughout the year - 11 fewer than 2009 (50).
*       Some 60 fatalities involved heavy vehicles, an increase of 54 per cent from 2009.
*       Males represented 77 per cent of road deaths in 2010 with 224 killed compared to 67 females. This is an increase of 29 males killed compared with 2009 with 194 deaths.
*       A total of 133 drivers were killed in 2010, 9 fewer compared to the same period in 2009.  Of these, 36 (28 per cent) were aged 18 to 25, an increase of three compared to the same period in 2009.
*       October was the state's worst month with 37 people killed in 34 collisions, the most number people killed in one month since December 2007.
*       This was followed by Victoria's lowest monthly road toll on record in November, with 13 people killed.

Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay said that while the road toll is decreasing, there is still a long way to go.

"In Victoria we have a partnership approach to reducing road trauma. Police work with key partners VicRoads, the TAC, and Department of Justice in looking at key causes behind road trauma - and we work together to address them," Mr Lay said.

"Victoria's road toll peaked in 1970 with 1061 deaths. We have come a long way in the past forty years to have a death toll of 291 today.

"But we can do better and we must do better. The fact that 291 families won't have loved ones spending 2011 with them is absolutely tragic.

"By 2017 we aim to have our road toll at 237. We are on track, but we can't do it alone.

"So many of these deaths that we are talking about today could have been avoidable if people were travelling within the speed limit, wearing seatbelts, not driving distracted through mobile phone use or use of other devices and not driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

"With driving comes responsibility - a responsibility to people we are sharing the road with. We all know the risks and we are all responsible for road trauma. Let's work to lower our road toll even further in 2011."

VicRoads Road User Safety Director James Holgate said that it is appropriate at this time to look forward not just to a new year but to a new decade.

"The United Nations has resolved that this will be a decade of action on road safety and  Australia's road safety strategy to 2020 has been released for public comment," Mr Holgate said.

"Victoria's road safety agencies will be continuing the strong partnership that has led to the improvements we have seen to date to drive the road toll down.

"The responsibility rests with all road users to support this decade of action.  And this can be done very simply - slow down, don't drink and drive, wear seat belts and helmets, take care to ensure drivers are rested and alert to the important task of driving safely without distractions."

Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay also reminded people of police road operations over the Christmas holiday period.

"We all know that this holiday period is one of the most dangerous on our roads. With summer celebrations comes the risk of drink-drivers on our roads and with long trips to holiday destination drivers are faced with the risks of speed and fatigue," he said.

"Police are continuing our state-wide Operation AEGIS ix, with thousands of police in every corner of the state focusing on road safety.

"We are targeting speeding drivers, distracted drivers and dangerous drivers. If you do the wrong thing and put others at risk - you will be caught."