Almost half of Victorians admitted to speeding last year

Almost half of Victorians admitted to flouting speed laws last year, despite it contributing to 30 per cent of deaths on state roads.

According to the Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) latest Road Safety Monitor Report, which quizzes more than 2500 Victorians on their road safety behaviours and attitudes as a proportion of the entire population, the state has experienced the highest level of intentional speeding since 2016.

Speed remains a key factor in Victorian road trauma too – contributing to around 30 per cent of deaths each year, and 25 per cent of serious injuries.

Sadly, so far this year, 147 people have been killed on Victoria’s roads, compared to 130 at the same time last year.

3

“We know the majority of Victorians do the right thing, but it is unacceptable that there are still a small number of people who willingly put themselves and others at risk,” said Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll.

“It is deeply concerning to see so many lives being lost on our roads, and we can’t sit by and accept it – we are pleading with anyone thinking of partaking in risk-taking behaviour to heed the warning and slow down.”

More drivers admitted to intentionally speeding in 60km/h zones last year (42 per cent versus 39 per cent in 2020) or 100km/h zones (45 per cent versus 40 per cent the year before).

The report also uncovered that people viewed speeding as less dangerous than most other high-risk driving behaviours, such as drink driving and driving while using a mobile phone.

3

Forty-five per cent of those surveyed admitted to driving while feeling drowsy, and 29 per cent said they had used their phone illegally behind the wheel at some point over the last three months – however the latter has dropped substantially from 37 per cent in 2016, as has the number of people who have confessed to being over the blood-alcohol limit which is now at four per cent.

The findings come as the TAC launches the second wave of an advertising campaign targeting risk-taking behaviours, like speeding, in a bid to reduce the number of people being killed and seriously injured on our roads.

“Our research shows us that attitudes to road safety have improved over the years, but it is concerning that an increasing proportion of motorists still value saving a few minutes over their lives and the lives of others,” said Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore.

“If you think going just a little bit over the speed limit is safe – think again. The evidence is clear that even small increases in speed can make a big difference in how seriously we are injured in a crash, or whether we survive at all.”