‘So many deaths on rural roads are rural people’

By Monique Preston

May 15, 2023

Lives lost: A roadside memorial at the site where five people died in a crash near Strathmerton. Photo by Gabriel Garcia

Country people need to be careful on country roads.

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That is the message from RoadSafe Goulburn Valley chairperson Des Callaghan, as the number of deaths on roads this year skyrockets.

As of midnight on Wednesday, May 17, 121 people had died on Victoria’s roads this year.

Not included in those official figures yet was yet another local fatality that occurred at 8am on Thursday, May 18.

A man died in a crash between a van and a car on the corner of McEwen Rd and Winter Rd just east of Girgarre.

Many of those others to have lost their lives on Victorian roads this year have been in the Goulburn Valley.

This is up 31.5 per cent on the same time last year, where 92 lives had been lost.

It is also well above the five-year average of 94 deaths by this time of year.

Of those deaths, 71 have occurred on rural Victorian roads.

This is up by 32 per cent on the same time year last year, where there were 56 deaths.

The five-year average for rural road deaths is 53.

“So many deaths on rural roads are rural people,” Mr Callaghan said.

“I think a lot are people not far from home.”

Mr Callaghan urged people to pay attention when they were driving, and to drive to the road conditions.

“On a narrower road, slow down,” he said.

“Just because it says (the speed limit is) 80 or 90, don’t drive at that if it is not safe.

“It’s heartbreaking to think people are losing their lives.”

He also pointed out it was not only those who died, but also those who had their lives irrevocably changed when they were injured in car crashes that needed to be focused on.

“Some don’t get over it and don’t have any quality of life. It’s heartbreaking,” Mr Callaghan said.

He also urged people to obey road rules and stay off their phones while driving.

According to Mr Callaghan, most crashes are avoidable.

“They are avoidable if they drive to the condition of the road, keep to the speed limit, keep your eyes on the road, have your hands on the wheel, look out for signs and keep an eye out for wildlife,” he said.

He especially urged people to be careful on roads in their local area.

“Use the road to the conditions. You’re local. You should know it,” Mr Callaghan said.

“It’s too late if you’ve had an accident and killed yourself or someone else.”