By Luke Voogt and Natalee Kerr
Crashes involving international drivers on the Great Ocean Road remain “high” despite a State Government safety program targeting the problem, according to an opposition MP.
Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur questioned the effectiveness of Tourism Victoria’s Visiting Driver Road Safety Program in reducing international driver crashes.
“VicRoads has revealed crash data for the Great Ocean Road that shows 20 per cent of crashes have involved international drivers,’ she said in parliament recently.
“This is a conservative figure given that it only includes those for which ambulances are called.
In 2017 Tourism Victoria developed the visiting driver road safety program including a simplified Chinese version of safety tips, a short road safety video and promotional materials.
Despite the program the number of crashes involving international drivers remained high, Mrs McArthur said.
But a government spokesperson said Victoria Police and TAC backed the program.
“This initiative is about raising awareness and improving safety on our roads – for international visitors and locals,” the spokesperson said.
“We have 80 per cent of car rental companies operating in Victoria on board, exposing a significant number of international drivers to targeted road safety messages.
“We will continue to do all we can to make our roads safer.”
The program includes a road safety video in English and Chinese on key social media channels and tourism websites.
The program has also seen government supply rental companies and other agencies with ‘keep left’ windscreen stickers, rear-vision mirror hangers and steering wheel tags.
Data for the Great Ocean Road showing that 20 per cent of crashes involve international drivers reflected the high number of visitors to the area, the spokesperson said.
“These figures do not indicate whether these drivers were at fault. There is no available data on the proportion of international drivers on the Great Ocean Road.
“Therefore, it is impossible to state that international drivers are over-represented in crashes on the GOR.”
