Victorian 20-somethings admit to regular speeding behind the wheel

Road safety advocates are alarmed after a shocking amount of young Victorian drivers have admitted to regularly speeding.

Twice as many young Victorian drivers admit to regularly speeding compared to older drivers in a shock finding that has alarmed road safety advocates.

Latest TAC research found that one in three drivers aged between 21 and 25 owned up to routinely going 5km/h or more over the limit – more than double the statewide average of all motorists.

The high rate of social acceptability of dangerous driving behaviour was revealed in the Community Engagement and Social Acceptability Research study, which surveyed 1892 licenced drivers.

Concerns over the safety of self-driving cars also emerged in the research. Only a quarter of Victorians would feel comfortable sharing the road with the automated vehicles.

Experts are concerned about the social acceptability of speeding motorists.

TAC chief executive Tracey Slatter said growing complacency towards speeding among young drivers was concerning.

“Speeding, even at a low level, is dangerous – it increases both the likelihood of crashing and the severity of the crash outcome,’’ Ms Slatter said.

“Young drivers are by definition less experienced, so taking risks with speeding can have tragic consequences,” she said.

The latest findings come as data showed that speeding was the biggest contributing factor to road trauma in Victoria.

Speeding was found to be a key element in almost one in three deaths across Victoria over the past five years.

Also, about 80 per cent of speed-related casualty crashes involved motorists who were travelling up to 9km/h above the legal speed limit.

A common excuse from motorists for too-high speed was they were running late and hoped to make up time.

“We’re calling on all Victorians to slow down and drive to the conditions,” Ms Slatter said.

The study also found that acceptability towards drink-driving behaviour continued to decline – 38 per cent of Victorians would not consider driving after drinking booze.

Drink-driving continues to be socially unacceptable.

About two-thirds of survey respondents supported Passive Alcohol Sensor technology – using in-car sensors to automatically detect alcohol on a driver’s breath – being introduced as standard on new vehicles.

Crash data for Victoria in 2024 revealed that speed, fatigue and failing to wear a seatbelt were common factors.

This year’s state’s road toll has reached 120 lives lost – nine more than at the same time last year.

It comes as a woman was killed and three others, including a seven year old girl, were injured in a major collision in Victoria’s north east on Saturday.

Originally published as Victorian 20-somethings admit to regular speeding behind the wheel