Unsafe driving habits continue to be significant contributing factors to the road toll in central Victoria.
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Data from Victoria's Department of Transport shows the Northern Region has seen 30 fatalities so far in 2019 - an increase of 12 from 2018 and just one behind 2017's tally of 31.
The Northern Region includes Bendigo, Mount Alexander, Campaspe, Loddon, Buloke, Macedon Ranges, Gannawarra, Mitchell and Swan Hill local government areas.
In Bendigo, six people died on the region's roads in 2017 and 2018 with five fatalities recorded so far this year.
Over the three year period from 2017 to 2019, Bendigo has recorded 17 deaths on the roads, the highest of any area in the Northern Region.
Macedon Ranges (12) and Campaspe (11) shires are the only other areas to have more than 10 deaths on the roads in the same three year period.
Victoria's road toll has seen 253 lives lost (as of December 12) in car crashes so far this year. It is a 25.89 per cent increase on the 2018 total of 201 and the highest number since 2016 when 277 people died on the stat'es roads.
"It's been a horrific year on our roads and while each crash is different there are a number of key factors that are contributing to the road toll this year," Regional Roads Victoria regional director (Northern) Brian Westley said.
"Speeding, drink and drug driving, distraction, fatigue and not wearing seatbelts have been significant problems and we urge everyone to drive to the conditions, don't drive if you have alcohol or drugs in your system, put your phone away and wear your seatbelt."
According to the Department of Transport, as of November 13, more than 28 per cent of those killed in fatal crashes (where seatbelt use was known) were not wearing one.
With fatigue being a major issue related to crashes, Road Safety Victoria and Monash University have begun a trial investigating the ability of new and emerging technologies being able to detect drowsy drivers.
Road projects completed by Regional Roads Victoria in Greater Bendigo have been design to improve road safety.
They include the Napier Street upgrade which increased safety, transport options and traffic flow for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who use the northern entrance into Bendigo; and the Strathfieldsaye Tannery Lane intersection upgrade which built traffic lights, installed street lighting and widened the intersection of Bendigo-Redesdale Road, Tannery Lane and Club Court.
It's been a horrific year on our roads... Speeding, drink and drug driving, distraction, fatigue and not wearing seatbelts have been significant problems
- Brian Westley
Bendigo Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Ian Brooks said the central Victorian police division - made up of Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Mount Alexander, Loddon and Macedon Ranges areas - had seen 15 lives lost on the road in the first six months of the year and eight from July onwards.
He said the positive trend and of slowing of the road toll was a result of messaging from numerous road safety agencies getting through to communities.
"It's the most pleasing trend we have had so far this year," he said. "It means messages are getting through and people are starting to pay attention to what they are doing on the roads."
"The messages getting pushed out have been a consistent and joint approach but the community takes credit for that too.
"I don't think anything we did was more effective than anything else. The efforts all complement each other."
Coming into the holiday period, Senior Sergeant Brooks said it was important the community, drivers and road agencies didn't become complacent following the reduction of the rate of road fatalities.
"We can't be complacent about it just because we have been able to halt the slide," he said. "It is still downhill each time someone dies.
"Through some very good work through with parts of community, we have brought it back but it is nowhere near acceptable. The only acceptable level is zero, which is achievable. People may think that is a pipedream but it's not. If you think about what you're doing and obey road laws. It takes a whole community input to achieve that aim."
Senior Sergeant Brooks said central Victoria had three months this year where no one died on local roads.
"We have proven time and again in central Victoria it is achievable to have zero (road deaths) for a month," he said.
"We put challenge out last year to be the two months of no fatalities and we had three.
"There were still some poor months. The worst month was June with five (road deaths) in central and northern Victoria.
"That's five communities, five families, five different friendship groups who have lost a loved one."
Victoria Police will conduct a number of road operations in December and January to ensure drivers take care on the roads during the holiday period.
"We are currently in middle of Operation Roadwise, which is leading us through to the new year," Senior Sergeant Brooks said. "Specifically, we are targeting various things happening in the community like work break ups as businesses shut down for Christmas
"Have as much fun as you like but if you're taking drugs or having a drink, don't get in car and put your job, family and people's lives at risk.
"Christmas is all about spending with loved ones, so make sure your decision making means you can do it again next year."
Senior Sergeant Brooks hopes to see the community continuing to adopt a better attitude to safe driving.
"It's the community's turn. What are they going to do for road toll and to make sure next year is nothing like this year?" he said.
"I see members of the public rightly protesting about things that are wrong according to them. I'm yet to see people protesting about the road toll.
"So do we accept it happens or stand up and say something? Twenty two community members (died on the road) this year in central and northern Victoria. How can that be acceptable?"
Senior Sergeant Brooks said police hoped agency efforts would ensure the road toll won't spiral out of control next year.
"We won't sit back now. We're not resting on our laurels and saying 'we had a nice end to year'," he said.
"The road toll went ballistic at the start of the year, so we are focused on ensuring we don't get a repeat of that but also (what has been) done in latter half of this year hasn't been done in vein."
We can't be complacent about it just because we have been able to halt the slide,. It is still downhill each time someone dies.
- Senior Sergeant Ian Brooks