Bendigo revealed as Victoria’s dangerous driving capital

Leadfoots, tailgaters and drag races from one Victorian city have given it an unenviable new title as the state’s hooning capital amid a deadly statewide road crisis.

Bendigo has gained the unwanted title of Victoria’s hoon capital amid a statewide surge in reckless behaviour on the roads putting lives at risk.

New data released by the Crime Statistics Agency showed Greater Bendigo recorded the most dangerous driving offences last year in the state with 120 — ahead of Casey, Ballarat, Melton and Hume.

Victoria recorded more than 1800 dangerous driving offences last year — about 300 more than the year before; adding to a statewide road crisis with 285 lives lost in 2024 and 70 in the first three months of 2025.

Claire Cooper, of Maldon, said the actions of a dangerous driver who ran a red light “completely destroyed my life” after she was ploughed into her while riding her bike.

“I’m fairly lucky to be alive, I was as close to death as you can get,” she said.

“I was in a coma for three weeks and in hospital for four months”.

Ms Cooper said the disregard motorists had for their safety and that of others was “extraordinary”.

“People think it can’t happen to them or that they won’t get caught or go through a red light but it happens all the time,” she said.

Claire Cooper suffered traumatic brain injuries after she was knocked off her bike by a driver who ran a red light in 2013. Picture: Supplied

LEAP driving excellence Bendigo owner and instructor Dion Jelbart said reckless driving “ruined lives” and urged hoons to quickly rethink their dangerous driving habits before they killed someone.

“It is everywhere and you see it all the time,” he said.

“When I was 18 to 25 I was that guy who was probably pinned up at the police station as an idiot driver and I’m the exact opposite now. Whenever I see anyone doing anything like using their mobile phones or speeding I’m thinking ‘oh my God’.

“I wished people would learn and listen.”

Dion Jelbart who runs LEAP Driving excellence Bendigo urges dangerous drivers to think about the consequences. Picture: Facebook

Mr Jelbart said reckless behaviour on the roads was “prominent” in Bendigo.

“It could be one of your loved ones injured or killed, it’s just not worth it,” he said.

“It changes your life forever as well as that person you’ve injured or the family of someone you’ve killed.”

In the past 12 months seven people were killed on Bendigo roads.

Of the 2348 people sentenced at Victorian magistrates’ courts charged with dangerous driving in the three years to June 2023, more than 2000 were male.

Dangerous driving included behaviour like drag racing, excessive speeding, tailgating and running red lights.

Nearly 30 per cent of all dangerous drivers who were sentenced at magistrates’ courts were thrown in jail during this period.

In the higher courts prison was the most common sentence for dangerous driving.

Last month the Herald Sun revealed Victorian drivers ran a red light every three minutes and forked out at least $86m in fines for this offence.

Last year Victoria recorded 107 offences for driving causing death for the 284 lives lost on the road.

TAC chief executive Tracey Slatter said dangerous driving was the “most significant threat to safety” on the roads.

“We’re asking Victorians to slow down, take breaks, don’t drink or drug drive, wear a seatbelt and put the phone away – otherwise, being caught by police is a better alternative than causing a tragedy,” she said.

Victoria Police spokeswoman said “extreme driving behaviour” contributed to about a quarter of fatal collisions last year.

“Police are regularly conducting targeted local operations and enforcement to detect and remove dangerous drivers from our roads at every opportunity,” she said.

“We remain committed to making our roads safer and reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries.

“If you think you can engage in this reckless behaviour on our roads and not be caught, think again.

“Not only are the penalties for dangerous driving significant, but the consequences for engaging in dangerous driving can be deadly and life changing.

“This year, similar to the same time last year, more than half of all fatal collisions have occurred on regional roads.”