victorian road toll 2023 Page 6

Victoria’s 2023 road toll ended at 299 fatalities, the state’s worst result in about 15 years.

It rose sharply on 2022, with regional roads, older cars, and vulnerable users (motorcyclists and pedestrians) over-represented.

The villains are familiar: speed, distraction, fatigue and slack seatbelt use, with winter and holiday peaks doing their grim work.

Bleak? Yes — but fixable: slow down, look up, belt up, and keep your tyres and headspace in shape; every boring good habit helps.