More than half of Victorian drivers admit speeding on state’s roads

Thought you were a leadfoot? More than half of Victorian motorists admit to driving 10kmh over the limit.

More than half of Victorian motorists admit to being leadfoots who drive more than 10kmh over the limit.

More than half of Victorian motorists admit to being leadfoots who drive more than 10kmh over the limit.

In a survey, 55.8 per cent of motorists questioned, confessed to having broken the limit by at least 10kmh at least once in the past six months.

While Victorians were less likely to speed than drivers in other states, the Productivity Commission report, released last week, revealed more drivers were breaking the limit than at any time in the past five years.

THOUSANDS OF MOTORISTS AVOID SPEEDING FINES

VICTORIANS TEMPT FATE BY SPEEDING ON LOCAL ROADS

DRIVERS FACE TOUGH NEW PENALTIES

Speed is a major factor in a third of all fatal crashes and Victoria Police urged motorists to remember that even driving “just that little bit over” could lead to tragedy.

“When travelling in a 60kmh zone, for every 5kmh over the limit your risk of being involved in a collision doubles,” police spokesman Martin Kay said.

“Speeding increases both the likelihood of a collision and the severity of the crash. Speeding reduces the time drivers have to avoid crashes, their ability to control the vehicle and lengthens stopping distances.”

Operation Roadwise, Victoria Police’s summer road blitz, resulted in 8620 drivers being charged with having driven between 10kmh and 25kmh over the speed limit.

Almost 1500 were caught under 10kmh over the limit, while 1196 motorists were busted driving at more than 25kmh over the speed limit.

Transport Accident Commission lead road safety director Samantha Cockfield said research showed many motorists ignored the dangers of speeding.

A TAC survey of 1742 Victorians in 2017 found 9 per cent admitted to speeding at least half the time in 100kmh zones, while 13 per cent believed it was acceptable to drive at 65kmh in a 60kmh zone. “We can never value a couple of minutes in reduced travel time ahead of our safety and the safety of others,” Ms Cockfield said.

Mr Kay said the minimum penalty for speeding was a $201 fine and the loss of a demerit fine. The punishment rose the more motorists went above the speed limit.

The Productivity Commission report, based on a survey of 7457 Victorians, also revealed 7.6 per cent said they had possibly driven while over the blood alcohol limit in the past six months.

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