It has been a shocking start to the year on Victorian roads, with the police road safety chief saying people would be “outraged” if the same number of people have died by homicides.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing, Glenn Weir, said speed, mobile device distractions and loss of concentration had been the leading cause of road deaths in 2023, which stands at 139.
That is 39 more than for the same period last year — an alarming 39 per cent spike.
“If we’d had that many homicides then people would be outraged, but as a community we seem to accept that road trauma will happen and we just deal with it, but my view is that we should never accept it,” Assistant Commissioner Weir told the Sunday Herald Sun.
The 2023 toll includes all road user groups — cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, drivers and passengers — across all age groups.
Police Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing, Glenn Weir. Picture: Jason Edwards
Most deaths have occurred in the regions (81) – an increase of 35 per cent from last year. But a truly shocking spike of 45 per cent has been seen in Greater Melbourne, bringing the total number of road deaths in the city to 58 this year.
There have been 110 single vehicle fatalities, eight double fatality crashes, two quadruple fatalities and one quintuple fatality this year compared with 98 single vehicle and one double fatality at the same time last year.
More than half of lives lost have been on rural roads with the vast majority on high-speed roads and freeways with posted speed limits above 100km/h.
Assistant Commissioner Weir said despite what some may think, it was not just Melburnians or tourists travelling through rural areas that were dying in these crashes, but a high percentage of locals.
In January alone 21 of the 24 lives lost on rural roads were local residents.
According to the TAC, risky behaviours have played a part in road trauma this year, but simple mistakes and misjudgements have caused a substantial number of fatal crashes.
This includes in “an unusual spike in multi-fatality crashes” and a more than 200 per cent increase in vehicle passenger deaths.
Victoria is a state that has long been a leader in road safety initiatives from mandating seatbelt use in 1970 to legislating random breath testing in 1976 and introducing speed cameras in 1986.
Yet this year’s toll comes after two years of record low road deaths, with authorities fearing the state could surpass 300 lives lost on the roads this year – the highest in more than a decade and a far cry from the state’s target to halve serious injuries and fatalities by 2030, and reach zero road deaths by 2050.
The Bochara fatal crash scene where four people were killed in a car accident. Picture: David Crosling
A car went through a Give Way sign and collided with another car which then was hit by a truck, killing five people at Strathmerton. Picture: Ian Currie
Excessive and inappropriate speed, drink and drug driving, seatbelt non-compliance, distraction causing critical concentration lapses and basic driver errors like disobeying stop and give way signs have all been evident.
“The faster you are going when you have a collision then the more chance you have of serious injury or death. We are seeing speed playing a part but also distraction with phones and not paying attention,” Assistant Commissioner Weir said.
“Basic errors like failing to stop at stop and give way signs are another leading cause of these accidents.”
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TAC acting chief executive officer Tony Dudley said the hidden toll was the number of severe injuries from crashes.
“Every life lost on Victorian roads is one too many and our thoughts are with anyone who has been impacted by road trauma,” he said.
“(But) while we often speak of the lives that are lost, we don’t forget the ripple effect of serious injuries and the enormous toll this trauma takes on people in our community,” he said.
“Every year, thousands of people become TAC clients as a result of serious injuries received in crashes on Victorian roads, many of whom have their lives permanently changed due to their injury.”
The car in which four people died at Pine Lodge after it went through a stop sign and collided with a ute and trailer. Picture: Ian Currie
Last financial year, 3795 people suffered catastrophic or severe injuries from road incidents, requiring ongoing support from the TAC.
Mr Dudley said while the TAC was playing a part to address road trauma, it was everybody’s responsibility.
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“We are always working to deliver road safety initiatives to keep Victorians safe, but driving down road trauma takes all of us doing the right thing every time we hit the road – stay focused when you’re behind the wheel, wear a seatbelt and don’t take reckless risks by speeding or drink driving.”
Assistant Commissioner Weir also emphasised the need for the community to take responsibility and drive responsibly.
“We’re really keen to make sure that people aren’t complacent and don’t have that split second of inattention because that is really concerning to us,” he said.
Bochara fatal crash where four people were killed in a car accident. Hamilton. Tributes are placed at scene of the crash on Wannon-Nigretta Falls Road. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
“When you look at all these collisions, there’s a common theme of all being completely avoidable, which is incredibly frustrating to police.
“It is obvious that many of these could be avoided through limiting reckless behaviour, not speeding and not being distracted by use of devices.”
Assistant Commissioner Weir said he “shakes his head” at some of the risk-taking behaviour seen on the roads and stressed driving down road trauma wasn’t only a police responsibility.
“We need people to take responsibility for their own actions behind the wheel,” he said.
“We can’t be everywhere all the time. We try and be as visible as we can and prevent rather than enforce but we can’t do that everywhere at all times.
“We need people to self-regulate.
“We also need people to listen to what’s being said, and if you won’t listen to police, then listen to the families who have lost their loved ones as a result from road trauma – we don’t want that to be you.
“We’re here to help and hold people to account but really the solution lies with those behind the wheel, not those in the police car.”