Police and emergency services are keen to ensure the number of lives lost on the state's roads during 2020 remains as low as possible, although few would argue that one life lost isn't one too many.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That's why the state's annual Christmas road safety campaign will once again ramp up this week, to remind us of our obligations on the road and to encourage everyone to take care.
So far in 2020, 203 lives have ended on Victorian roads, with males make up more than 75 per cent of the toll.
This time last year, 251 lives had been lost, and while the pandemic has undoubtedly contributed to the decline in the number of deaths on our roads, the numbers show we still have a lot of work to do.
The number of deaths this year in every category identified by the Transport Accident Commission has fallen - except for cyclists. So far, 13 bicycle riders have died on the state's roads, up from nine at the same time in 2019, while the five year average for cyclist fatalities is also nine.
The number do not lie - they tell the incredibly sad story of so many lives lost and countless others changed forever as a result of road trauma, a trauma that extends beyond the survivors, their families and friends to the emergency services personnel who attend so many of these situations.
And the worry for those emergency services is that as the holiday season beckons after a year most would like to forget, there will undoubtedly be a lot of people keen to party and to celebrate the end of the year, at a time when the roads will be far busier.
No one wants to say don't enjoy yourself, but everyone does want you to take care and to remain as safe as you possibly can.
That same safety first advice extends to activities on and around water - another circumstance where too many Victorians have lost their lives, even in a year such as 2020, where holidays by the water have been few and far between.
Peter Kennedy
Peter has worked in a variety of senior leadership roles within the local media industry across more than three decades, and enjoys being part of a team committed to keeping Bendigo up to date with the latest news and sport.
Peter has worked in a variety of senior leadership roles within the local media industry across more than three decades, and enjoys being part of a team committed to keeping Bendigo up to date with the latest news and sport.
