Road Toll

2011 road toll statistics

A total of 287 people died on Victoria’s roads in 2011. This represents Victoria’s lowest annual road toll since monthly records began in 1952.

The reduction in road toll highlights the impact of ongoing road safety programs, in particular speed enforcement, alcohol and drug testing, and road infrastructure upgrades.

Victorian road toll and road safety enforcement initiatives

Death rate per 100,000

Getting Victoria's toll below 300 is the culmination of a 40-year campaign since the highest recorded annual toll of 1,061 in 1970.

In 1970, the road death rate was higher than 30 deaths per 100,000 population. Despite a significant increase in both population and vehicles on the road, the annual toll has been reduced by over 70 per cent in real numbers. The road death rate is now 5.4 deaths per 100,000 population. While this significant decrease in the death rate is certainly an achievement, even one preventable death on our roads is one too many.

Good Driver

This TAC campaign advertisement explores the common excuses drivers use for speeding.

Question

There are more and more cameras being installed. How does this improve road safety?

Answer

There has been a significant and sustained reduction in Victoria's road toll over the past 30 years. This is notwithstanding the marked increase of the amount of travel.

When road safety cameras were introduced in 1989, a total of 776 people died on Victorian roads. The cameras and increased enforcement of drink driving laws were largely responsible for bringing the toll down to an average of 400 per year in the decade up to 2002.

In 2011 the road toll was brought down to 287, the lowest on record.

In short, speed enforcement, and in particular the camera program, has been a major factor in saving the lives of hundreds of Victorians.

This is supported by specific research undertaken by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC). MUARC's evaluations of road safety camera operations do indeed show that they reduce speeding, and hence deaths and injuries. Cameras however are not the sole factor in this improved road toll. Improved vehicle safety, better roads, and better enforcement of drink and drug driving laws have also played a part.