No room for complacency as more people are injured on Victoria’s roads

29 Jan 2013

Road users are urged to play it safe, as the latest figures show that more people are being seriously injured on Victorian roads.

Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips said the latest serious injury statistics from the Transport Accident Commission showed that in the 12 months to June last year, 939 people were injured on the state’s roads compared with 856 people in 2011.

“The number of people being killed on our roads has reduced dramatically since the 1970s when the road toll stood at more than 1,000, but hundreds of people are still sustaining serious injuries from road accidents,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

“These injuries represent the hidden road toll and they are life changing, not just for the person injured, but also for their loved ones.

“We know many Victorians do the right thing and are committed to keeping safe on our roads, but we ask people not to be complacent.

“We are asking motorists to be extra careful, especially if travelling for their summer holidays,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

An extra 26 people were injured on rural Victorian roads in the 12 months to June last year, up to 315 from 289 in 2011 while the number of people seriously injured in Melbourne increased by 65 people up to 617 from 552.

Of those injured, 542 were male and 397 were female.

Mr Rich-Phillips said the Coalition Government had placed a major focus not just on driving down the road toll, but also on reducing the number of serious injuries on Victoria’s roads.

“The Coalition Government is developing a new road safety strategy to drive the state’s road safety agenda for the next decade,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

“In the past two years we have launched major campaigns against drugs, drink driving, speeding and vehicle safety with successful partnerships like Talk the Toll Down.

“These measures are having a positive impact on the road toll, but we recognise there’s still more to be done,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

View the TAC’s latest Road Safety Statistical Summary here.