Geelong region marks three-year high for fatal crashes, 154 in decade
The region’s road toll has crept to a three year high, bringing the number of lives lost over the past decade to a jaw-dropping figure the TAC’s chief says “screams out for us to do more”.
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The region’s road toll has crept to a three-year high, bringing the number of lives lost over the past decade to a “jaw-dropping” 154.
And more than 85 per cent of people killed on Greater Geelong, Queenscliff, Surf Coast and Colac Otway roads from 2010-19 were men.
Fifteen people died on the region’s roads in 2019 — the highest number since 2016, but well down from the decade’s peak of 28 deaths in 2011.
Statewide, 51 more people died on Victorian roads over the past 12 months than the year prior — bringing the annual road toll to 264.
The majority of fatal crashes in the region in 2019 occurred in Greater Geelong, with a single stretch of road claiming six lives.
Thompson Rd, a 60km/h stretch along the city’s north, recorded six fatalities — with another life lost on its southern extension Shannon Ave.
Transport Accident Commission chief executive officer Joe Calafiore said the number of lives lost in the region over the past 10 years was “heartbreaking”.
“I think that number is jaw-dropping, 154 lives lost in a relatively short space of time,” Mr Calafiore said.
“(The road toll) has sprung back up in regional Victoria, so communities like Geelong and the broader areas are reflecting what we are seeing statewide.
“It screams out for us to do more.”
Mr Calafiore said the sheer number of fatalities along Thompson Rd — which had been fatality-free for five years before 2019 – had come “out of the blue”.
“We are having a look it at and have altered some of the lane configurations but what you’re seeing on Thompson Rd is big population growth,” he said.
“The fatality numbers on that road have been absolutely shocking and it is under review at the moment.
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“This symbolises one of the challenges over the next stage — areas like Lovely Banks and Bannockburn that were traditionally quieter areas will have big population growth.
“In road safety that makes reducing trauma an additional challenge.”
Mr Calafiore said TAC data showed that 31 people killed on the state’s roads were not wearing a seatbelt.
Data from Victoria Police also shows more drug-affected motorists are being caught on Geelong’s roads than drink-drivers.
Geelong police Superintendent Craig Gillard said: “Surely our target must be to have a zero road toll — one death or serious injury is one too many.”
FATALITIES 2010-2019
2010: 18
2011: 28
2012: 20
2013: 7
2014: 13
2015: 11
2016: 17
2017: 14
2018: 11
2019: 15
Total: 154
WHO
Males: 131
Women: 23
Drivers: 72
Motorcyclists: 22
Passengers: 27
Pedestrians: 23
Cyclists/Other: 10
WHERE
Colac-Otway: 34
Greater Geelong 88
Queenscliff 1
Surf Coast 30
Source: TAC
Originally published as Geelong region marks three-year high for fatal crashes, 154 in decade