WITH the school holidays in full swing and the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays just around the corner, there is a call out for locals to take extra care on the roads.
With six fatalities on Greater Shepparton’s roads so far this year and 90 on Victorian roads, compared to two in Greater Shepparton this time last year and 58 across Victoria, the increase is a worrying trend.
Last year Victoria recorded its lowest ever number of road deaths in a calendar year, but 2019 has already shown that there is no room for complacency.
According to Transport Accident Commission (TAC) statistics, regional roads and country people are still over-represented in road deaths.
Since 2016, the Labor Government has been upgrading the safety of 20 high-risk regional roads as part of the $1.4B Towards Zero Action Plan.
Around two thirds of people who die in crashes on regional roads are people who live in regional Victoria; country people die on country roads.
Minister for Roads, Road Safety and TAC, Jaala Pulford said, “We are deeply concerned about the heartbreaking start to the year on our roads and one of our biggest concerns is the disproportionate number of deaths in regional areas.
“We’re urging all Victorians to look out for each other on the roads, plan ahead, be patient and make safe choices to ensure everyone gets to where they’re going safely.”
TAC chief executive officer, Joe Calafiore said, “Most of the deaths on our roads this year have been a result of a simple mistake, and on a high-speed regional road, mistakes often lead to fatal consequences.
“Our message to motorists is to ease up and make safe decisions when they’re using the roads, avoid fatigue, avoiding drink and drug driving, avoid distractions and slow down.”
