118 lives lost on Victorian roads this year—this choice could save you
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Road safety remains a critical issue, with recent findings revealing worrying trends among drivers in some parts of Australia.
What might seem like minor lapses behind the wheel are adding up to significant consequences on the roads.
The latest data sheds light on risky behaviours that could be costing more than just fines.
Victorian motorists received a stern warning after authorities handed out more than $3.3 million in fines for failing to wear seatbelts between 1 July and 30 September.
Over 8,500 drivers were caught not buckling up during this period, with each offence attracting a $395 fine and three demerit points.
RACV Head of Policy James Williams emphasised the deadly consequences of this behaviour, reminding drivers that seatbelts save lives.
‘Seatbelts save lives. Choosing not to wear one puts you, your passengers, and other road users at risk,’ Williams said.
He also pointed to a worrying rise in road fatalities, with 118 deaths recorded so far this year in Victoria—a jump of more than eight per cent.
‘Crashes can happen anytime, anywhere – and the consequences of not being restrained can be fatal,’ Williams added.
In addition to seatbelt infringements, new data revealed troubling trends in mobile phone use while driving across Australian states.
Victoria and Western Australia ranked among the worst offenders for reaching for phones behind the wheel, with drivers using their mobiles once every six trips on average.
This analysis came from car insurance company ROLLiN, which reviewed more than 18 million kilometres of driving data collected via its Safe ‘n Save app.
In contrast, South Australian drivers were the most disciplined, with fewer incidents of phone use detected.
ROLLiN’s executive manager Brendan Griffiths attributed this to factors such as less congested traffic and more predictable driving conditions in Adelaide.
‘Drivers in Adelaide tend to use their phones less while driving, which may be for a range of reasons, including less congested or more predictable traffic, which could make it easier to stay focused and to keep their hands on the wheel and not on their phones,’ Griffiths told social media.
Queensland, despite having the harshest penalties for mobile phone offences—a $1,209 fine and four demerit points—ranked joint second with New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory for phone use while driving.
For comparison, NSW drivers faced fines of $410, Victoria $593, and South Australia $556 for mobile phone use on the road.
Cities with the worst phone use behind the wheel included Cairns and the NSW Central Coast, followed by Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Geelong, and Melbourne.
Wollongong was identified as the city where drivers were least likely to use their phones while driving.
Griffiths noted that although over 50 per cent of Safe ‘n Save app users achieved safe driving scores, distracted driving remained a significant problem.
‘Unfortunately, the unsafe driver behaviour we consistently detect through our Safe ‘n Save app is phone use, which ultimately results in distracted driving and the risk of an accident,’ he said.
He added that many drivers mistakenly believe using their phone on quiet roads or during long trips is safe, without realising the danger or distance travelled while distracted.
Griffiths stressed the importance of understanding these patterns to motivate drivers toward safer behaviours.
‘Seeing these patterns can be a real eye-opener and help to motivate drivers to improve their driving behaviours. By sharing these insights clearly, we’re trying to help make the roads safer for all Australians.’
In a previous story, we shared an Aussie’s clever way to avoid a hefty $410 seatbelt fine.
It’s a surprising tip that many drivers might find useful.
Take a look to see how it could help you stay on the right side of the law.
With distracted driving and seatbelt fines on the rise, how do you think we can encourage safer habits on our roads? Share your thoughts in the comments.
What might seem like minor lapses behind the wheel are adding up to significant consequences on the roads.
The latest data sheds light on risky behaviours that could be costing more than just fines.
Victorian motorists received a stern warning after authorities handed out more than $3.3 million in fines for failing to wear seatbelts between 1 July and 30 September.
Over 8,500 drivers were caught not buckling up during this period, with each offence attracting a $395 fine and three demerit points.
RACV Head of Policy James Williams emphasised the deadly consequences of this behaviour, reminding drivers that seatbelts save lives.
Authorities issue heavy fines for seatbelt breaches. Image source: The NRMA
‘Seatbelts save lives. Choosing not to wear one puts you, your passengers, and other road users at risk,’ Williams said.
He also pointed to a worrying rise in road fatalities, with 118 deaths recorded so far this year in Victoria—a jump of more than eight per cent.
‘Crashes can happen anytime, anywhere – and the consequences of not being restrained can be fatal,’ Williams added.
In addition to seatbelt infringements, new data revealed troubling trends in mobile phone use while driving across Australian states.
Victoria and Western Australia ranked among the worst offenders for reaching for phones behind the wheel, with drivers using their mobiles once every six trips on average.
This analysis came from car insurance company ROLLiN, which reviewed more than 18 million kilometres of driving data collected via its Safe ‘n Save app.
In contrast, South Australian drivers were the most disciplined, with fewer incidents of phone use detected.
ROLLiN’s executive manager Brendan Griffiths attributed this to factors such as less congested traffic and more predictable driving conditions in Adelaide.
‘Drivers in Adelaide tend to use their phones less while driving, which may be for a range of reasons, including less congested or more predictable traffic, which could make it easier to stay focused and to keep their hands on the wheel and not on their phones,’ Griffiths told social media.
Queensland, despite having the harshest penalties for mobile phone offences—a $1,209 fine and four demerit points—ranked joint second with New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory for phone use while driving.
For comparison, NSW drivers faced fines of $410, Victoria $593, and South Australia $556 for mobile phone use on the road.
Cities with the worst phone use behind the wheel included Cairns and the NSW Central Coast, followed by Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Geelong, and Melbourne.
Wollongong was identified as the city where drivers were least likely to use their phones while driving.
Griffiths noted that although over 50 per cent of Safe ‘n Save app users achieved safe driving scores, distracted driving remained a significant problem.
‘Unfortunately, the unsafe driver behaviour we consistently detect through our Safe ‘n Save app is phone use, which ultimately results in distracted driving and the risk of an accident,’ he said.
He added that many drivers mistakenly believe using their phone on quiet roads or during long trips is safe, without realising the danger or distance travelled while distracted.
Griffiths stressed the importance of understanding these patterns to motivate drivers toward safer behaviours.
‘Seeing these patterns can be a real eye-opener and help to motivate drivers to improve their driving behaviours. By sharing these insights clearly, we’re trying to help make the roads safer for all Australians.’
In a previous story, we shared an Aussie’s clever way to avoid a hefty $410 seatbelt fine.
It’s a surprising tip that many drivers might find useful.
Take a look to see how it could help you stay on the right side of the law.
With distracted driving and seatbelt fines on the rise, how do you think we can encourage safer habits on our roads? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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