Last year, there were 1266 fatalities on Australian roads, including 295 Victorians, marking a 15-year peak in road-related deaths for the state.
This year, 96 road deaths have been recorded in Victoria and 126 in NSW.
While there has been a decrease in Victorian lives lost compared to 107 at the same time last year, in NSW there has been an increase from last year’s 109.
“We’ve seen a devastating loss of life on the roads, not only in Victoria but across the nation,” Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said.
“Road trauma doesn’t discriminate.
“From the lives lost to their family members, partners, friends, work colleagues and emergency services who attend the scene – thousands of lives are impacted.”
National Road Safety Week was created by Peter Frazer OAM after his 23-year-old daughter Sarah was killed on the Hume Highway after being hit by a passing truck in 2012.
It encourages Australians to pledge to drive safely. It has a daily theme for drivers to act on, including getting car safety checks, remaining distraction-free, and remembering those who have lost their lives on our roads.
“National Road Safety Week is a timely reminder not only of the devastating impacts of road trauma but also that road safety remains everyone’s responsibility,” Assistant Commissioner Weir said.
“We ask all road users to prioritise safety and take extra care, particularly as we head into the winter months with reduced visibility and inclement weather.
“We’ve already experienced a significant increase in trauma involving motorcyclists and pedestrians this year and we’re now entering a particularly high-risk period for these vulnerable road users.
“It’s up to all of us to help make the roads a safer place, and police will continue to unapologetically target those who put themselves and other road users at risk.”
Walk Safely to School Day, a 25-year-long initiative encouraging primary school students to walk or commute safely to school, is held during National Road Safety Week.
It is on Friday, May 10 at primary schools nationwide to promote children’s health and safety.
Road safety remains a top priority for police, with focused efforts during public holidays and long weekends to curb dangerous driving behaviours.
The Road Safety Week website has seen more than 63,000 people pledge to drive so others survive.
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