Wednesday, 21 January, 2015
DISTRACTIONS A DANGER TO PEDESTRIANS The Andrews Labor Government has called on Victorians to be alert around roads, after new figures show pedestrian fatalities rose by 22 per cent last year. In 2014, 44 pedestrians lost their lives on Victorian roads, up from 36 the previous year. The overall road toll was up two per cent, to 249. Minister for Roads & Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, today joined representatives of Victoria Police and the TAC to call on pedestrians to stay alert and on the ball at all times. In an effort to reduce pedestrian road trauma, the TAC is broadening its public safety campaigns to target people on foot, focusing on lapses in concentration caused by mobile phones and music players. The TAC has formed a major new partnership with the Australian Open – an event expected to draw in 700,000 pedestrians over two weeks. Police today conducted an operation encouraging safe pedestrian behavior and enforcing pedestrian road laws in Melbourne’s CBD, coinciding with one of the busiest times of the year on Victoria’s calendar. Road safety is a priority for the Labor Government. The new Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund will provide $100 million for new paths and intersections to separate cars from foot traffic and make our roads safer. Quotes attributable to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan: “If you’re on foot, be safe around roads. Every passing car is potentially lethal and no text message is worth your life.” “Whether you’re embarking on a long country drive, or just walking up to the shop on a Sunday morning, distractions lead to disaster.” “The Andrews Labor Government will work hard to fix dangerous roads, paths and intersections, because safety matters more than anything.” Key facts: Of the 44 pedestrian deaths in 2014: 73 per cent were male 29 per cent were aged 70 or over 68 per cent occurred in the Melbourne metropolitan area 25 per cent occurred on a Sunday 20 per cent occurred between 6pm and 8pm
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