Speeding Attitudes Heading in the Right Direction

16 Jul 2012

MEDIA RELEASE: 16 July 2012

Victorian attitudes to speeding appear to be heading in the right direction, the latest TAC research has revealed. 

Since 2001, the proportion of those who report to 'never speed' has doubled from seven to 15 per cent and the percentage of those who speed all or most of the time has dropped from 23 to 12 per cent.

In addition, Victorian attitudes to low-level speeding have improved with 87 per cent of respondents to the survey agreeing that travelling 10 km/h or less over the legal limit is speeding, up 17 per cent since 2001.

The latest survey results have pleased the TAC, but Acting Chief Executive Officer Clare Amies said there was always room for improvement.

"Speeding is illegal, it is dangerous and it is one of the biggest killers on our roads so it makes absolutely no sense why anyone would think it's OK to do it," Ms Amies said.

The findings come as the TAC this week started its ad campaign "Reconstruction" to reinforce the dangers associated with low-level speeding.

The ad shows a graphic demonstration of how a car driving just five km/h over the limit can impact on the severity of injuries sustained by a pedestrian after a crash.

Ms Amies said despite this year's road toll being 14 % down on last year, there were some people in the community that needed a reality check when it comes to driving and riding.

"Inappropriate or excessive speeding is considered to be a causal factor in about 30% of fatalities in Victoria," she said.

Ms Amies said research proves that even small reductions in average speeds result in significant road safety benefits.

"For every increase in speed of 5 km/h above a 60 km/h limit, the crash-risk doubles," she said.

Despite seeing some positive results in the research findings, it was also revealed that almost a third of respondents viewed speed zones as guides rather than an absolute or maximum figure.

Ms Amies said if Victorians are serious about reducing road trauma attitudes needed to change.
 
"Every day at the TAC we work with thousands of road trauma victims and their families who have suffered injuries from preventable crashes.

"These people and their struggles should serve as reminders to the rest of our community of the need to stay within the speed limit," Ms Amies said.

The findings came out of the TAC's first quarter tracking research for 2012 which involved telephone interviews of a sample of about 900 Victorian licence holders.

The TAC Reconstruction campaign runs for two weeks and can be viewed online here