Victoria achieves lowest road toll on record

01 Jan 2004

Media release - 1 January, 2004

Acting Premier John Thwaites has challenged Victorian motorists to continue to bring down the road toll, after the state achieved its lowest ever road toll on record – with 333 people killed on the state's roads in 2003.

Mr Thwaites said the record-low road toll of 333 – down 16% from 397 in 2002 – showed the Bracks Government's road safety policies were working, but complacency on the roads could quickly reverse such gains.

"A road toll of 333 is a good effort by the Victorian community, Victoria Police, the Transport Accident Commission, VicRoads, the emergency services and other agencies," Mr Thwaites said.

"But it is no cause for celebration. The family, friends and loved ones of 333 people have all been devastated by the grief and tragedy of losing a sister, a mother, a brother, a father, a friend or a loved one this year.

"We must all continue to be vigilant against the key factors that lead to road deaths – speed, alcohol and fatigue – to try to reach another record low in 2004.

"We need only look at Victoria's horrific holiday period, in which 13 people have died, to see how quickly things can change."

Mr Thwaites said the 2003 road toll of 333 was 44 fewer than the previous record total of 377 in 1997. The road toll has dropped by 111 since 2001.

A breakdown of 2003 figures compared with 2002 shows:

Fatalities among all road user groups decreased;
Metropolitan deaths decreased by 43 (23%) from 186 to 143, and country deaths decreased by 21 (10%) from 211 to 190;
Deaths among the more vulnerable road user groups decreased significantly, including motorcyclists (from 56 to 38) and pedestrians (from 58 to 41);
Deaths among the traditionally high risk group of 18 to 25 year olds decreased by 32 (down 31% from 104 to 72);
Fatalities in the lower speed zones – 50kmh, 60kmh and 70kmh – fell from 138 to 106, a decrease of 23%;
Despite an annual vehicle growth rate of 2.4% in Victoria, deaths per 10,000 registered vehicles dropped to 0.95, the lowest on record and one of the lowest among all OECD countries;
Despite a population growth 1.4%, deaths per 100,000 population dropped from 8.15 to 6.74, the lowest on record; and
Deaths per 100 million kilometres travelled dropped from 0.77 to 0.69, the lowest on record.

Mr Thwaites said the 2003 road toll statistics dispelled the myth that it is city people who die on country roads.

"The 2003 road toll figures show that 85% of people killed on country roads in 2003 were country people," Mr Thwaites said.

"Tragically, approximately 60% of people killed on country roads, died on roads in their own local government area."

He said the Government, together with road safety agencies, would use the information to see what new approaches can be taken to help bring down the road toll even further in country Victoria.

"The positive news this year is that we have seen a reduction in fatalities for every road user category – with significant decreases among motorcyclists and pedestrians," Mr Thwaites said.

"It is particularly pleasing to see the country road toll fall by 10%. Victoria has again achieved the lowest metropolitan toll on record of 143, a decrease of 23% on the previous year.

"Two years ago the Bracks Government launched the comprehensive arrive alive! road safety strategy. Based on independent research, arrive alive! aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Victoria's roads by 20% over five years.

"Over that two year period, we have seen road deaths fall by 111 and we are starting to reverse what was a disturbing increase in serious injuries."

Mr Thwaites said a range of initiatives introduced by the Bracks Government were addressing the areas of speed, alcohol and fatigue and helping to reduce the road toll, such as:
The introduction of the 50kmh default urban speed limit;

• The $240 million Statewide Blackspot Program;
• Tough new penalties for speeding offences, including automatic licence suspension for breaking the speed limit by 25kmh or more;
• On-the-spot licence suspension for repeat drink driving offenders, any driver with a BAC of 0.15 or above and any L or P plate driver with a BAC of 0.07 or above;
• Alcohol interlocks for repeat drink drivers;
• Demerit points for driving with a hand held mobile phone;
• The introduction of red light speed cameras and fixed speed cameras;
• The TAC's Wipe off 5 public education campaign;
• New penalties for driving under the influence of drugs and the announcement of a trial of new roadside drug-driving testing equipment; and
• The statewide roll-out of 40kmh school speed zones.

"Without a doubt, the coordinated effort of our road safety agencies to reduce speeding, drink driving and fatigue on Victorian roads has delivered results," Mr Thwaites said.

"The challenge for all Victorians in 2004 is to continue to take action on the key factors that cause loss of life and serious injury on our roads."