More than half of the deaths on Barwon South West’s roads are happening closer to home, according to recent data from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
TAC analysis of road fatalities from 2020 to 2024 found that 66 per cent of people killed on Barwon South West’s roads were locals.
Chief executive Tracey Slatter said that more than 70 per cent of people killed on the state’s roads died within 30km of their home address.
“The evidence is clear; crashes often happen close to home, on familiar roads that we know like the back our hand,” she said.
“In regional areas, road users typically travel longer distances, and around 70 per cent of regional fatalities analysed happened on high-speed roads.
“We know that in regional areas, road users typically travel longer distances in high-speed zones, and sadly and tragically, the consequences are more severe when something goes wrong.”
Ms Slatter said the data dispelled myths that most regional road deaths involved visitors or people unfamiliar with local roads, as only four per cent of fatalities were people travelling from outside Victoria or Australia.
“Our new insights reinforce the need for us all to be aware of risks on local roads, not to be complacent, and to give our undivided attention to driving until we reach our destination safely,” she said.
“We can all play a part in keeping ourselves and others safe on the road by obeying the law, avoiding risky behaviours and being 100 per cent focused every time we get behind the wheel.
“With travel on regional roads set to increase over the coming Easter school holidays, we are reminding drivers to concentrate, slow down, take breaks and make sure that you are free of distractions.”
The research followed a tragic start to the year on the state’s roads, with 74 people killed compared with 75 at the same time last year.
