Simple errors driving up road toll

Published date: 30 Mar 2022

The Victorian Government has released a new campaign urging motorists to avoid complacency behind the wheel with majority of deaths on Victorian roads caused by simple errors.

Analysis of Transport Accident Commission Data has revealed that tragic judgement errors, as opposed to intentional risk taking, have played a role in around 70 per cent of Victorian road deaths since 2017.

The new TAC campaign highlights the everyday concentration lapses that people are susceptible to when driving, and how distractions can have disastrous consequences.

Last year, 128 (58 per cent) road deaths in Victoria involved a common basic error like taking a corner too wide or a concentration lapse, opposed to high-risk behaviours such as speeding, drink-driving and drug-driving.

The campaign comes as the number of fatalities on Victorian road remains above the same time last year, with 63 people having lost their lives compared to 57 in 2021.

While intentional risky behaviour like excessive speed, using a hand-held device, drink driving and drug driving rightfully remain a strong focus of the Victorian road safety strategy, everyone is being reminded that even the best drivers can be a split second away from the unthinkable happening.

Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 aims to halve the number of fatalities and reduce serious injury in the state by 2030, with long-term goal of zero deaths and serious injuries.

The latest campaign from the TAC will run across social media over the next month, and follows the extension of the hard-hitting Lucky Ones Get Caught enforcement campaign and the new confronting motorcycle safety campaign, Only Protected for a Moment.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll

“We know that all road deaths and injuries are avoidable, and it’s particularly tragic that small lapses in concentration are responsible for so much community heartache every year.”

“Most Victorians do the right thing and don’t take risks when using the roads but if we can reduce the simple errors we are all susceptible to then we will see a rapid reduction in road trauma.”

Quotes attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore

“Year-on-year, our road user surveys and community engagement insights tell us that most people think they are good drivers, but we know even the best drivers can be a split second away from the unthinkable happening.”

“This campaign is about acknowledging that road trauma doesn’t discriminate, and that we can all make Victoria’s roads safer for everyone by focusing on the task of driving.”