The way Victorians use the road is changing, according to the Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) latest survey.
Chief Executive Officer of TAC, Joe Calafiore said the annual Road Safety Monitor surveyed more than 2,500 Victorians to identify their 2020 road behaviours and perceptions.
Mr Calafiore said the Survey found an increase in the use of ‘active transport’, with 60 per cent of respondents reporting that they would walk to go somewhere at least once a week, up from 55 per cent in 2019.
“Riding a bike on the roads at least once per week increased from eight per cent in 2019, to 10 per cent last year,” he said.
“Bike riding spiked in the October-December quarter as Victorians emerged from restrictions, with 16 per cent reporting they’d done so weekly as a means of transport.
“However, the increase in people walking to get places was coupled with more than a third of respondents (34 per cent) saying they would cross a road while listening to headphones, while one in three said they’d cross the street distracted by a mobile phone.”
Mr Calafiore said Victorians still predominantly drove but, unsurprisingly, drove fewer kilometres, less at night and were not driving stressed as often when behind the wheel, down from 34 per cent in 2019 to 29 per cent last year.
“It is a busy time on the roads, and we know that the road user profile is changing with more people opting to walk or ride, so we must have safety front of mind,” he said.
“Over the past two years, most Victorians have travelled significantly less, but now that we are travelling more, we need to look out for each other and make safe choices.”
Mr Calafiore said 39 per cent of respondents admitted to intentionally exceeding the speed limit in a 60 km/h zone; 28 per cent of drivers used their phone hand-held while driving; 38 per cent reported driving while feeling very tired; and 41 per cent of people said they drove legally after drinking alcohol.
The TAC’s 106-page Road Safety Monitor 2020 Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
