By ALESHA CAPONE
Brimbank has logged the highest number of TAC claims requiring acute hospitalisation among municipalities in the West, according to new figures.
Last week the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) released a report showing more than 140 claims in Brimbank which required acute hospitalisation in the 12 months to June 2013.
Wyndham recorded more than 130 claims, followed by Moonee Valley with more than 105, Melton at less than 70, Maribyrnong on 65 and Hobsons Bay with 50.
However, although Brimbank recorded the largest number of claims, the data showed an improvement when compared to the previous 12 months.
In the year to June 2012, there were more than 190 TAC claims in Brimbank resulting in acute hospitalisation – almost 25 per cent higher than the 2013 claim rate.
The TAC statistics also revealed five people died on Brimbank’s roads in the 12 months to June 2013, compared to nine during 2012 and 10 throughout 2011.
All the victims who died in Brimbank during the latest period were males aged between five and 15, including two motorcyclists and two pedestrians.
Among those injured on the area’s roads during the first six months of 2013, more than 30 were drivers.
Another seven people were passengers, six motorcyclists, five pedestrians and one cyclist.
The most common age bracket in Brimbank for road injuries was the 40 to 59 group, accounting for 19 of the 53 victims.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said officers would focus on speeding, drink and drug driving, using mobile phones and not wearing seat belts.
“Everyone has the right to travel on the roads safely, and those drivers who believe that it’s acceptable to break speed limits in order to get where they want to go just a few minutes sooner,” he said.
