TAC report shows more Victorian drivers think low-level speeding is acceptable
THE number of Victorian motorists who see no issue with low-level speeding is increasing, despite shocking data which shows that up to 95 deaths could be prevented each year if leadfoots reduced their average speed by just 5kmh.
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MOTORISTS are blatantly ignoring the message to slow down, despite shocking data which shows that speeding even slightly over the limit can be the difference between life and death.
A new Transport Accident Commission study reveals that a third of drivers admit to speeding or using mobile phones illegally.
The annual survey of 1700 drivers found that the number who see no issue with low-level speeding is increasing, despite constant pleas from authorities to slow down and save lives.
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Of those surveyed, 35 per cent said they should not be booked for doing 105kmh in a 100kmh zone, and 13 per cent had no issue with driving 65kmh in a 60kmh zone.
About 29 per cent of Victoria’s road fatalities are believed to be speed related. Research shows that if leadfoots reduced their average speed by just 5kmh, up to 95 deaths and 1300 serious injuries could be prevented each year.
TAC chief Joe Calafiore said speed was still one of the biggest factors behind road deaths and injuries.
“While our research shows the majority of people don’t speed at all, an increasing proportion of motorists still see low-level speeding as acceptable,” he said.
“We understand that some in the community would like to drive faster, but we can never value a couple of minutes in reduced travel time ahead of our lives and the lives of others.
“While speed is not always the cause of a crash, the speed of a vehicle at impact will always determine the extent of the injuries that result. Imagine if someone you cared about never came home because someone wanted to get home a little sooner.”
Mobile phone use continues to be a major problem, with 33 per cent of motorists surveyed confessing they had recently handled their phone while driving. Alarmingly, more than 10 per cent admitted to writing and reading text messages while at the wheel.
Victoria Police road policing spokeswoman Sergeant Julie-Anne Newman said speeding limited a driver’s reaction times and ability to control a car.
“Serious injury collisions can and do result from low-level speeding,” she said. “When travelling in a 60kmh zone, for every 5kmh over the limit your risk of being involved in a collision doubles.
“Victoria Police will continue its focus on all levels of speeding, and call on motorists themselves to consider the possible ramifications of their choices behind the wheel and the harm that ‘just that little bit over’ could do.”
Murrumbeena resident Jasmin Tymms has been out of work for eight weeks after a collision with a driver believed to be travelling just over the speed limit.
“Careless and reckless driving can actually affect people’s lives,” she said.
“It is not a harmless crime and it has impacted me in every way from my physical and mental state.
“It takes such little effort to be a bit more careful … getting home that little bit sooner isn’t worth it.”
She lodged a claim with the TAC as a result of the smash.
Stuart Le Grand, from Le Grand Margalit injury lawyers, said his office had received a surge in low-range speeding cases linked to serious injuries.
“There are still significant forces involved with modest speeding,” he said. “For offending motorists, the punishment is often a fine. But for the victims, the result is often lifelong injuries.”
REPORT FINDINGS
■ 33 per cent of drivers had used their mobile phone illegally
■ 12 per cent had written and read text messages while behind the wheel
■ 35 per cent believed they should be able to drive 105kmh in a 100kmh zone, up from 24 per cent in 2013
■ 13 per cent believed they should be able to drive 65kmh in a 60kmh zone, up from eight per cent in 2013
■ 36 per cent have intentionally sped in a 60kmh zone
■ 42 per cent of drivers have intentionally sped in a 100kmh zone
■ 6 per cent drove when they thought they were over the legal blood alcohol limit