ROAD deaths in the south-west have increased dramatically in the past 12 months.
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The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) says the number of fatalities on the region’s roads leapt from just four deaths in 2013 to 17 in the 12 months to August this year.
The figure covering the Warrnambool Police Service Area (PSA), taking in the city, Moyne and Corangamite shires, is the second highest increase in Victoria behind the Central Goldfields region.
Acute hospitalisation claims (more than 14 days) dropped to 12 this year from 19 in 2012.
The news is better in the Southern Grampians PSA, which covers Portland and Hamilton, where road deaths have dropped from eight in 2012 to three in 2014.
“While progress has been made in reducing the number of people seriously injured on Warrnambool roads, this is overshadowed by the tragic fact that an additional 13 people died as a result of transport accidents,” Transport Accident Commission acting chief executive officer Joe Calafiore said.
“Any death or serious injury has an enormous impact on local communities and there are 17 families who will be grieving for a loved one lost on Warrnambool roads this year.”
Warrnambool Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Sean Halley said speed, fatigue and driver distraction were leading causes of fatal accidents.
He said most deaths occurred on paved highways in 100 kilometre-an-hour zones.
“A lot of our speed collisions are when people are 10 kilometres over the limit,” Acting Senior Sergeant Halley said.
“Don’t set your cruise control to 110, set it to 100 because police will pick you up.
“We’re also trying to change people’s behaviour around fatigue. It’s OK to take a break without trying to fit in too much.”
Police are organising a Warrnambool forum on driver fatigue to take place later this month.