Victoria records lowest road toll in 90 years

03 Jan 2014

Victoria has just recorded its lowest road toll in 90 years. The last time the road toll was this low was in 1924.

A number of strategies implemented by the Victorian Coalition Government, in partnership with road safety agencies and Victoria Police, have helped make this achievement possible. For example, we have toughened our drink-driving sanctions, increased the penalties for using a mobile phone while driving, released the “Road Mode” app, and started an education program for reckless drivers to supplement some of Australia’s toughest ‘hoon’ penalties.

The Coalition Government has also committed $1 billion over the next decade to make Victoria’s most dangerous roads safer for everyone. This is over and above the $1.1 billion the Coalition Government is spending in 2013/14 on road projects and maintenance across Victoria.

In addition, the release of the Parliamentary Road Safety Committee inquiry into serious injury later this year will give us a better understanding of what more we can do to prevent life-changing injuries.

Reducing the road toll requires a team effort, and I wish to offer my heartfelt gratitude to the motorists on our roads who have done their part by heeding the government’s road-safety messages, Victoria Police for their tireless work in this area, the TAC and VicRoads.

But no matter how low the toll, every death on our roads is an absolute tragedy, which is why we must all work even harder in 2014. The Coalition Government will not rest until the road toll is zero.