Males and Regional Victorians Admit to Speeding

22 Aug 2011

MEDIA RELEASE: 22 August, 2011

As male fatalities soar to almost three times the rate of females, latest Transport Accident Commission (TAC) research shows that males are significantly more likely than females to admit to speeding all or most of the time.

In addition, males are more likely to admit to driving when near or over .05.

The findings come from a TAC study of more than 900 Victorians conducted from May- July this year.

According to the report, males are significantly more likely than females to:

• Report that they speed all or most of the time.
• Report that they drive when near or over .05.
• Rate the risk of accident as a result of drink driving as low.

Males are significantly less likely than females to drive at or below the speed limit in a 60 km/h and 100 km/h zone, and they are more likely to agree with the following statements:

• If I'm sure I won't be caught, I drive over the speed limit.
• I tend to view speed zones as guides rather than an absolute maximum figure.
• Driving up to 10 km/h over the legal speed limit is not really speeding.
• Driving up to 10 km/h over the legal speed limit is usually quite safe.

TAC Chief Executive Officer, Janet Dore, said the findings reflected poor attitudes that needed to change.

"More than 140 men have been killed on our roads this year and if we're serious about reducing that number, attitudes towards road safety need to be drastically altered," Ms Dore said.

According to the study, females are significantly more likely than males to agree that speed is a major cause of crashes.

"It is extremely frustrating to see that despite our continuous reinforcement of the fact speed kills; there are people out there who still think it's ok to drive above the limit."

"It seems that men in particular need to adjust their way of thinking."

Ms Dore acknowledged that while most Victorians did understand the importance of road safety, there was a minority group who ignored the facts.

"We're confident most of our community understands the importance of speed limits, and understands that drink driving can kill.

"But road safety is not a part-time job – it's for everyone, all the time."

Regional motorists also appear to have more relaxed attitudes to speed with the study showing they are significantly less likely than Melbournians to drive at or below the speed limit in a 50 km/h zone.

They are also more likely to rate the risk of accident as a result of drink driving as high.

Of the 191 fatalities on Victorian roads so far this year, 105 have occurred on roads outside metropolitan Melbourne.

"We have a particular focus on regional and rural road safety this year and we hope those sentiments will change with the increased police enforcement and public education," Ms Dore said.
 
This year the TAC is supporting Victoria Police with its Rural and Regional Road Policing effort by increasing public education campaigns and signage on rural roads, and through funding Enhanced Enforcement Programs in the state's top 10 worst areas for road trauma.

For more information contact the TAC's Sarah Henderson on 0429 294 262.