PEOPLE are being asked to take action as Victoria's road toll climbs higher.
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A 95-year-old man has died after his mobility scooter and a car collided in Maryborough this afternoon.
He is the 153rd person to die on Victoria's roads this year.
The state government has announced a swathe of regional forums, including in Bendigo, asking the community for ideas to stem the number of deaths on roads after a 55 per cent spike in deaths compared to 2018.
The state government has targeted less than 200 deaths a year by 2020 as part of its five year Towards Zero campaign.
Last year saw a dramatic drop in deaths on the state's roads to 213, the lowest since 243 in 2014.
Three of this year's deaths have occurred in the Bendigo region.
Campaspe has seen three deaths, Central Goldfields two, Loddon three and Macedon Ranges six.
Close-knit regional communities are often the hardest hit by the devastating and long-lasting impacts of road trauma, minister for roads, road safety and TAC Jaala Pulford said.
"Similarly, they are incredibly effective at rallying for a common cause," she said.
"We're asking regional Victorians to spare a couple of hours to speak with experts and fellow community members about what more can be done to stop people dying or being seriously injured on the roads they drive every day."
Ideas from the forum will go towards the next Victorian road safety strategy.
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The announcement comes as Deakin University prepares to spearhead a campaign to cut the number of young people who have accidents or die when driving near heavy vehicles.
The pilot program will target drivers aged 16 to 25, City of Greater Bendigo mayor Margaret O'Rourke said.
The council selected Deakin to create the virtual reality program in association with the Bendigo Tech School, which will help with content and gain perspectives from school students, she said.
"We very much wanted virtual reality and 360 degree videos to be central to this campaign, as they are a powerful way to engage with young people, help them understand the importance of driving safely near heavy vehicles, and to build empathy towards heavy vehicle drivers and the daily challenges they face on the road," Cr O'Rourke said.
"Deakin will design components for a roadshow and an online educational hub using sound, 360 degree videos, virtual reality headsets and heart monitors to measure reactions and to see how young drivers react to what's happening around them.
The 'hub' will be accessible at a national level once the pilot campaign has been completed."
The government's Bendigo regional forum will take place on September third at the Bendigo District RSL.
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