Andrews Government to establish Road Safety Victoria in bid to tackle surging road toll

As Victoria’s road toll continues to rise, clocking up 53 more deaths this year than 2018, a new super department aims to stop this alarming trend.

A new office within the Andrews Government will be dedicated to reducing the number of lives lost on our roads after a horror six months in which the state’s road toll has surged.

From August, experts at VicRoads and the Department of Transport will be merged into a new department called Road Safety Victoria focused on stopping fatal crashes and serious injuries.

It will work with Victoria Police and the Transport Accident Commission to develop new strategies aimed at addressing the alarming rise in accidents recorded across 2019.

Roads Minister Jaala Pulford says Victoria has a history of leading the world in safety initiatives. Picture: Chloe Smith

VicRoads’s chief executive, Robyn Seymour, will be named as the head of the new office when it begins work on August 1.

Ms Seymour’s said one of Road Safety Victoria’s first priorities would be stopping the alarming spike in road deaths recorded this year.

“There is an opportunity in bringing the talent we’ve got to take a stronger focus,” Ms Seymour said.

“We’re trying to ensure the second half of this year not as bad as the first half while also developing a long-term strategy moving forward.”

In 2019, there have been 153 lives lost on our roads compared to 100 for the same time last year.

Ms Seymour has worked in road safety for nearly two decades and started her career as a counsellor for victims of road trauma before moving to VicRoads.

One of Road Safety Victoria’s first priorities will be stopping the alarming spike in road deaths recorded this year. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“There are a range of factors that we need to focus on,” she said.

“A lot of it is really people making small mistakes and particularly on our rural roads.

“A significant portion of people who have died or been hurt this year weren’t wearing seat belts … Quite a lot of trauma has from people entering corners at speeds.

“For every one of those people killed there’s a lot more whose lives have been changed by injuries.”

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Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said Victoria had a history of leading the world in safety initiatives.

“Ms Seymour began her career counselling those affected by road trauma, so she knows first-hand the devastating impact it has and why we need to do everything we can to make our roads safer,” she said.

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