NEW figures reveal Brimbank recorded a 500 per cent increase in road fatalities in the past year – the highest rise in the state.
A report released by the Transport Accident Commission last week showed there were 12 deaths on Brimbank roads in the year to April, up from two between April 2010 and April 2011.
Brimbank had the second-highest number of fatalities statewide, equal with Cardinia, Moorabool and Wangaratta. Geelong had the most road deaths (14).
Brimbank’s Sergeant Rodney Stein said while the figures appeared alarming, there had been only one local fatality since January 1 this year.
On March 13, a woman in her 60s was struck by a car while crossing Taylors Road in Kings Park.
Sergeant Stein said fatalities in the past year included pedestrian, truck, car and motorcycle incidents.
In July last year, three fatalities occurred in Brimbank within two weeks.
“Those three accidents were all separate incidents that occurred in a very short period of time in different areas of Brimbank,” Sergeant Stein said.
“There was no direct link to any of the incidents except that they involved what we call our vulnerable road users – motorcyclists and pedestrians.”
Sergeant Stein said police would undertake road blitzes in coming weeks, targeting drink-driving, speeding and unregistered vehicles.
He urged road users to be extra cautious during the colder months.
TAC spokeswoman Emily Bogue said speeding remained the leading cause of road deaths, followed by drink-driving and fatigue.
“The TAC encourages all road users in Brimbank to commit to reducing local road trauma,” she said.
