That was the message from Victoria Police Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Libby Murphy at a press conference in Seymour on Tuesday.
Assistant Commissioner Murphy said there was a belief in the community that people killed on country roads were not local.
“Three quarters of the people who died on rural roads last year were close to home,” she said.
“That’s people who won’t be at the footy or netball club at the weekend. We should be angry that country people are dying on our roads.”
There have been 27 lives lost on Victorian roads in 2020, an eight per cent increase from the same time last year.
Fifteen of those lives were lost in rural Victoria.
Asst Comm Murphy said country people were not not driving to conditions, and were getting distracted.
“Just because the speed limit is 100 km/h doesn’t mean you have to go that fast. Drivers have to be aware of the conditions,” she said.
“When people drive in the city, they’re mindful of everything going on around them. Sometimes in rural areas people don’t pay as much attention.
“We’re asking the community to be aware of things like fatigue, distraction, alcohol and speed because it is disappointing how many deaths there have been on the road this year.
“The road toll is not just a number. It is families and communities that will never be the same.”
Eastern Region Division Three Senior Sergeant David Gillespie encouraged the community to report poor driving behaviour.
“If you see something dangerous or reckless, call Triple Zero or call the local police. We want to nip bad behaviour in the bud before it impacts someone,” he said.
“Don’t be frightened to speak up. We need community assistance.
“People don’t think five to 10 km/h above the speed limit is a major issue but things like that mean they can become a statistic of road trauma.
“Things like not being able to resist answering the phone while driving is an issue. You can’t be distracted when driving.
“People don’t realise the impact one poor decision can have. There is a flow on effect to families, the community and first responders who must live with the trauma they see.
“Everyone must remember driving is a privilege, not a right.”
Roadsafe Goulburn Valley chairman Des Callaghan reminded motorists to drive to the conditions at all times with regards to weather, road maintenance, speed limits and road safety signage, particularly when travelling from freeways to district roads.
‘‘Think to yourself, for every crash that takes a life, think about the friends and relatives of that one person who have got a funeral to go to, will need comforting, need financial assistance — people never get over it,’’ he said.
‘‘Safety is the community’s responsibility — it is their responsibility to be safe for themselves, their passengers and other road users.
“Drive to the conditions, observe the speed limit and pull over to a rest stop if you feel tired. Get to your destination safely.
‘‘There is no reason for the dramatic road toll we are seeing in Victoria. It’s due to people rushing or being careless.”
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