They also impact on those connected to the long term rehabilitation of the injured, and the grief of those left behind.

A proposed road trauma hub to be run by La Trobe University at Bendigo aims to look at some of the key issues that are killing and maiming rural road users  –  a group which makes up a disproportionate number of each year’s fatalities and injuries.

Some of the areas the hub would focus on are already in the public eye. The often rancorous relationship between drivers and cyclists. The propensity, in this day of being constantly online, to be distracted by your phone while driving. Drink-driving remain an ever-present danger

Read more

Distraction, frustration and impairment are a deadly trio when you are behind the wheel. Your car can, too easily, become a lethal weapon.

The fourth of the horseman is over familiarity. With roads, with your car. Many accidents happen close to the driver’s home. They may have been on a long trip and relax concentration for the last few kilometres. It may be a case of “I’ve driven this road a hundred times and there’s never anybody on it”. And so give-way signs, stop signs and paying attention become casualties.

Driving your Mini like it’s a Ferrari means the car probably won’t respond the way you want it to. But, nevertheless,  too little room is left to overtake at speed, or stop for the unexpected, or avoid a kangaroo.

The trauma hub has plans to look at all these, and the messages needed to get people to take more care on the roads.

But it still needs to be funded. 

And even if cause and effects are found – and a campaign crafted –  and it’s going to be an uphill battle to change long entrenched behaviours. 

We’ve had a century or more to do just that - since cars first appeared - with only moderate success. There’s a long road ahead. We should help by each of us being on the right side of road safety. 

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.