By Jed Lanyon
The Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) is imploring regional Victorian drivers to choose road safety, with admissions of risky road behaviour significantly higher amongst rural road users compared to city drivers.
New research has put the spotlight on the dangerous behaviours of regional drivers and the need for further education.
Released by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) in the lead up to Fatality Free Friday on 31 May, the research reveals that having children in the car is still not a deterrent for the region’s drivers taking risks on the road.
45 per cent of regional Victorian parents admitted to breaking road laws or undertaking risky behaviour when their own children are in the car, compared to just 26 per cent of Melbourne drivers.
One third of regional Victorian drivers admitted to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, while one in four admit to speeding on a regular basis.
ARSF founder and CEO Russell White urged rural road users to reconsider their behaviour when driving.
“While parents are most guilty of bad behaviour with children in the car, the majority of rural drivers seem to believe it is acceptable to take even greater risks if it’s just themselves in the car,” Mr White said.
“The research shows that when we’re driving alone, the likelihood of taking a risk increases by roughly 20 per cent, with men more likely than women to take risks on the road.
Road users can #ChooseRoadSafety and demonstrate their commitment to reducing the nation’s road toll by taking the pledge by visiting https://arsf.com.au/take-the-pledge/
