By LAURA WAKELY
BRIMBANK has some of the highest road fatalities in the state according to new TAC data.
The TAC released its road safety summary last week which revealed 12 people were killed on Brimbank roads in the 12 months to April this year.
The figure places Brimbank behind Geelong, which had 14, and on par with Cardinia, Moorabool and Wangaratta.
The TAC also revealed 157 people were admitted to hospital with serious injuries as a result of a road accident in Brimbank in the 12 months to October, the ninth highest toll in the state.
On a five-year average, six people die on Brimbank roads each year and 134 are admitted to hospital with serious injuries.
The TAC’s Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore said there has been an increase in serious injuries across the state, particularly in the 21-25 year old age group, which reported a 16 per cent increase, and 60-69 year olds, in which there was a 14 per cent increase.
Among those in their early 20s, 738 people suffered serious injuries as a result of road collisions, while 503 people aged 60-69 were seriously injured.
“These latest figures are a reminder that the road toll is not only about the tragic deaths, but
also the thousands of people who are seriously injured on our roads each year,” Ms Dore said.
“All of us in the community need to take responsibility for helping reduce the road toll.”
Victoria Police have been driving the road safety message home with their ‘We are the toll’ campaign.
Brimbank Highway Patrol Sergeant Rod Stein said there had been one road fatality in 2012 and nine in 2011, but figures differed to the TAC because of the time frames they used to compile their data.
“Our figures show we are catching as many people as we were before,” Sgt Stein said.
But he said it was a small number of drivers who broke the road rules and was confident police would help reduce the collision rate with a number of special operations and enforcement.
Sgt Stein said drivers should take note of the recent cold conditions and adjust their driving.
“It’s a matter of drivers driving safely to the conditions, it doesn’t matter whether it’s foggy, icy or wet,” he said.
“Drivers need to slow down, it’s as simple as that, and be aware of other drivers on the road.”
