The Transport Accident Commission is calling on everyone to prioritise safety, especially those taking long trips and using regional roads.
So far this year, 287 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads, the highest road toll in 15 years.
TAC Head of Road Safety Samantha Cockfield said people planning to travel long distances over the holiday period were encouraged to get a good night’s sleep before driving, allow plenty of travel time, drive to the conditions, remove distractions and take regular breaks.
“It’s been a devastating year on Victorian roads, and we can’t forget that there are more than 280 families across our state heading into the holiday period missing someone they’ve lost to road trauma this year,” she said.
“With more people travelling at this time of year, often with friends and family and for longer periods, on unfamiliar roads, we are urging people to plan ahead and take pause stops along the way.
“We’re calling on Victorians to put safety on the top of their ‘to do’ list this holiday season — let’s work together to avoid leaving another family and community mourning the senseless death of a loved one this Christmas.”
Fatigue is a major factor in fatal crashes in country Victoria, where people are travelling longer distances and at higher speeds.
To tackle fatigue-related trauma, the TAC and the Victoria Tourism Industry Council have joined together to set up 15 ‘Pause Stop’ locations within Visitor Information Centres across the state.
Each Pause Stop location will provide visitors with a range of resources, including information on avoiding drowsy driving, activities to keep the kids entertained and help plan a safe journey.
For more information on Pause Stop locations and how to avoid drowsy driving, visit https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/pausestop
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