New TAC Campaign Focuses on Speed Trauma

07 Mar 2006

Media Release - 7 March 2006

Victorian road users have been reminded of the consequences of speeding at the launch of a new TAC public education campaign today.

Minister for the TAC, John Lenders, said an extra five kilometres per hour was enough to turn a minor incident into a fatality.

“There have been a number of high profile road incidents this year which have reminded us all of the agony that road trauma can cause our families,” Mr Lenders said.

“It is never safe to speed.

“Since the first Wipe off 5 campaign was launched in 2001 travel speeds in 60 kilometre per hour zones have dropped by almost 3 kilometres per hour, showing some improvement in driver behaviour.

“Fatalities in low speed zones have dropped by 34 per cent in the same period. 

“While Victorians are beginning to improve their driving behaviour there is still room for improvement.”

In 2005, 92 people died in 40, 50 and 60 kilometre per hour speed zones, and in the twelve months to the end of November last year, 2,981 people were seriously injured.  Almost 40 per cent of the people injured or killed were under the age of 25.

The campaign features Police investigator Sergeant Peter Bellion in a crash reconstruction and will be broadcast on television networks tonight in addition to radio and outdoor advertisements.

Mr Lenders said over-confidence was still a problem on Victoria’s roads.

“People are too quick to assume that going five kilometres per hour faster is safe because they’re skilled drivers,” Mr Lenders said. 

“Driving just five kilometres per hour over the speed limit in a 60 zone is as dangerous as driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05. 

“When you speed you have less time to react, when you brake it takes longer to stop, and if you crash you’ll hit harder.

“Travelling at 65 kilometres per hour instead of 60 won’t get you to your destination much quicker – at best you’ll save just 46 seconds over a ten kilometre trip.”

Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research and the Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit both contributed expert opinion to the campaign.  

Victoria’s road toll currently stands at 63, down from 65 for the previous year - a reduction of 3 per cent.