- Minister for Road Safety and the TAC
- Minister for Roads
Regional Victorians will have the opportunity to share and hear ideas on how to improve road safety in their area at a series of community forums to be held across the state in the coming months.
It has been a shocking first half of the year on Victoria's roads, with 152 deaths, compared with 98 at the same time last year – an increase of 55%.
Much of the increase has happened on regional Victoria roads, where 92 people have been killed, compared with 51 at the same time last year.
Tragically, it is country people dying on country roads – more than two thirds of people killed on regional roads this year, have died within 30 kilometres of their home.
Eight road safety forums will be held during July, August and September, with forums to be held in Ballarat, Marysville, Shepparton, Sale, Geelong, Portland, Bendigo and Mildura. The first forum will be in Ballarat on 10 July.
The forums will be attended by road safety experts, local government and community leaders who will look at the reasons behind the disproportionate number of country road deaths and how to prevent this senseless loss of life.
In addition to looking at local and regional road safety issues raised by attendees, the forums will touch on enforcement, speed factors, technology and infrastructure.
The forums follow the Melbourne Road Safety Summit in May, where road safety experts and community leaders gathered to discuss what more could be done to address the horror start to the year on Victoria's roads.
The Andrews Labor Government will consider the ideas from the summit and forums as part of the development of the next Victorian road safety strategy.
Attendees are asked to arrive at 5.45pm for a 6pm start for all forums, which will finish at 7.30pm.
For more information, including dates and locations of forums, visit tac.vic.gov.au/regional-road-safety-forum
As stated by Minister for Roads, Road Safety and TAC Jaala Pulford
"Close-knit regional communities are often the hardest hit by the devastating and long-lasting impacts of road trauma. Similarly, they are incredibly effective at rallying for a common cause."
"We're asking regional Victorians to spare a couple of hours to speak with experts and fellow community members about what more can be done to stop people dying or being seriously injured on the roads they drive every day."
As stated by Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville
"We know regional Victorians are overrepresented in the road toll – that's why it's crucial we hear from them when it comes to tackling road trauma in their communities."
