REGIONAL Victoria has recorded its second lowest number of road fatalities in a calendar year, despite the state’s overall number of lives lost increasing by 11 per cent.
In 2021, 119 people were killed on roads in regional Victoria – down from 126 lives lost in 2020, and a further reduction on the 146 regional road deaths in 2019.
Twenty-three people have died on Loddon Mallee roads, compared with 29 in 2020.
There were two fatalities in the Swan Hill Council area last year, the lowest since three recorded in 2019.
Gannawarra Shire recorded no fatalities, the first time in a number of years. Research from the Transport Accident Commission this year revealed that more than two thirds of people killed on regional Victorian roads were locals to the area, including 80 per cent in 2020, dispelling the myth that it is predominantly people dying on unfamiliar roads.
Between 2016 and 2020, 65 per cent of people killed on Loddon Mallee roads died within a 30km radius of their home.
Crashes on high-speed roads continued to be a challenge in regional Victoria where people are often driving longer distances and fatigue is too often fatal.
Over the past year, 236 people died on the Victorian roads, compared with 211 in 2020.
There was also an increase in single vehicle fatal crashes, which accounted for 46 lives lost, compared with 33 last year.
Thirty-six people died while not wearing a seat belt, well up on the five-year average (23).
Assistant Commissioner Road Policing Glenn Weir said 236 was not just a number, but represented 236 lives lost on Victorian roads.
“These are people whose lives have tragically been cut short with families, friends and loved ones left behind – their lives forever changed,” he said.
“There have been great strides made to improve road safety in recent years, however there are still many people killed or seriously injured on Victorian roads each year.
“As we enter a new year, we cannot stress enough that the onus of road safety is on all of us. Everyone has the ability to make good choices to keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe.
“We will continue our enforcement efforts to deter and target unlawful road user behaviour, with a focus on intentional high-risk driving, speeding, impaired driving, wearing of seatbelts, distraction and authorised driving.”
