By XAVIER SMERDON
MARIBYRNONG is the only suburb in the western suburbs that has not seen a decrease in the number of fatalities and serious injuries as a result of road collisions, according to the latest statistics.
Figures released by RoadSafe Westgate Community Road Safety Council for January to September this year show that Maribyrnong had a 44 per cent increase in serious injuries.
Hobsons Bay, Melton and Wyndham each had a decrease in the number of serious injuries by 4.3 per cent, 7.7 per cent and 13.3 per cent respectively.
The number of fatalities on Maribyrnong and Melton’s roads were equal to last year, with three each, while Hobsons Bay increased by one fatality to have a total of two.
Wyndham saw a decrease in fatalities of 16.7 per cent, with five people being killed in the area so far this year.
Chair of RoadSafe, Jim Giddings, told Star he believed more needed to be done to help educate parts of the community who might not speak English as a first language.
“The stats are encouraging with both crashes and fatalities on the decrease in the West but we obviously still have a long way to go to have a zero road toll,” Mr Giddings said.
“We need to continue to educate the public to report dangerous driving because if the community is educated and informed that will deliver good outcomes.
“Other forms of education are also needed to get through to people, especially areas with a higher migrant population.”
To report dangerous driving call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
