Figures show the war is slowly being won but Victoria's road toll stillremains unacceptably high. Victoria's road toll this year is 321, down onthe 333 lives that were lost at the same time last year.
Victoria's lowest road toll on record was recorded in 1997 when 377 liveswere lost. Last year's final figure was 390.
In the lead up to the high-risk festive season the TAC has launched itslatest campaign, targeting those drivers who speed in suburban streets. Thelatest campaign will be backed by an aggressive police blitz on speedingfor the remainder of 1999.
Speed is the number one killer on Victoria's roads and the TAC and theBombers are urging people to slow down in the hope of Victoria achievingits lowest road toll on record.
Data from the State and local government authorities show that theprevalence of speeding behaviour is relatively high with up to 90 per centof drivers exceeding the speed limit in 60km/h zones.
The latest anti-speeding campaign aims to dispel the misconception that itis okay to travel a few kilometres above the speed limit, TAC generalmanager for Communications and Road Safety Anton Staindl said.
"Research shows that for every five kilometres increase in vehicle speedover 60km/h the risk of crashing doubles," Mr Staindl said." A drivertravelling at 70km/h is at four times the risk."
"A graphic new television advertisement highlights that speeding driversare unable to take appropriate evasive action when an unexpected situationarises and reinforces that no speed above the legal limit is safe."
According to police statistics, speed has been a contributing factor in 37per cent of road deaths and almost 30 per cent of serious injuries so farthis year.
"Victoria is currently on track to achieving its lowest road toll onrecord. If all motorists make a concerted effort to slow down, a record lowtoll is possible," Mr Staindl said.
Victoria Police assistant commissioner Mr Ray Shuey endorsed the TAC'smessage adding that the entire State would be targeted in a road safetyblitz from now until the end of the year.
"Victoria Police will do everything within its power to reduce the roadtoll in the final two months of 1999 with the aim of bringing the road tollto fewer than one per day or 365," Mr Shuey said.
Last year November was a disastrous month on our roads with 49 fatalities.History shows that December averages the highest number of deaths of anymonth.
