Hundreds of lives lost in 2024 on Victorian roads

While the number of lives lost was slightly below 2023, there was an overall increase in the number of fatal collisions.

There was a six per cent rise in single fatal collisions, with 256 in 2024 compared with 241 in 2023.

However, there was a significant decrease in the number of multiple fatality collisions, with 13 double fatalities in 2024 compared with 2023, which saw 14 double fatalities, four quadruple fatalities and two quintuple fatalities.

Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists and e-scooter riders, made up 45 per cent of all lives lost on Victorian roads in 2024.

There were 66 motorcyclists killed, compared with 53 in 2023.

Pedestrians accounted for 47 deaths compared with 44 in the previous year.

Driver fatalities made up 45 per cent of all lives lost during 2024, with 126 driver deaths compared with 128 in 2023.

There were 133 lives lost on metropolitan roads, up from 123 in 2023. A total of 149 lives were lost on regional roads, down from 172 in 2023.

November was the deadliest month on Victoria’s roads, with 35 lives lost during the month.

Police have identified that single acts of non-compliance or people making basic driving errors contributed to more than half of fatalities in 2024.

These are behaviours such as low-range speeding, lower-level drink-driving, failing to obey road signs and distraction, such as using a mobile phone while driving.

More than 20 people killed in vehicle collisions weren’t wearing a seatbelt.

Extreme behaviours such as driving without a licence, travelling at extreme speeds, high-range drink-driving, illicit drug driving or often a combination of these behaviours contributed to about a quarter of fatal collisions in 2024.

Police are determined to drive down road trauma in 2025 and are urging all road users to consider their actions and behaviours when getting behind the wheel.

“It’s been another challenging year on Victoria’s roads – not only is the sheer number of lives lost devastating, but the increase in fatal collisions overall has been particularly concerning to us,” Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said.

“Let’s not forget, these are not just numbers we are talking about, but human lives: these are people who will be mourned by their loved ones for many years to come.”

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website: police.vic.gov.au/road-safety