Road Safety Awareness: A Personal Story

In 2021, 234 people tragically lost their lives on Victorian roads. Of these, 119 were in regional Victoria, and 55 were young male drivers under the age of 30. Among those lives was Mathew O’Dwyer, the youngest son of Shepparton United FNC committee member Sharon O’Dwyer. Mathew became the 28th life lost on Victorian roads that year.

Sharon, alongside Shepparton Police Senior Constable Leigh Johnson, courageously continues to share her family’s story with Shepparton United FNC and communities across the Goulburn Valley. Her hope is to reach even one individual and inspire them to make safer choices on the road.

By sharing this deeply personal experience, Sharon is helping to raise awareness of the importance of road safety, especially among young drivers. Her message is a powerful reminder of the impact that road trauma has on families, friends, and communities.

Together, we stand with Sharon in promoting road safety and encouraging everyone to take care behind the wheel.

Photo credit: Will Adams

Key messages from TAC to stay safe on our roads:

ROAD SAFETY:

1. DISTRACTIONS

  • 284 lives were lost on our roads in 2024! Driver distraction is recognised as a critical road safety issue, with mobile phone use whilst driving being one of the major contributors to driver distraction related road trauma.

  • Drivers are 10 times more at risk of crashing if they are texting, browsing or emailing on their mobile phone.

  • In Victoria, the current penalty for using a mobile phone whilst driving is a fine of $577 and 4 demerit points. For a P-Plater that’s 4 of 5 demerit points gone instantly.

  • New automatic mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras are now operating in Victoria, significantly increasing the likelihood of offenders being caught.

  • New mobile phone laws were introduced in Victoria in early 2023. Make sure you are up to date by checking out the rules here.

· Tips to avoid distracted driving:

  • Install the ‘do not disturb while driving’ function on your phone.

  • Always put your phone out of reach when driving, such as in the glovebox or car boot.

  • Set your GPS or music playlist prior to starting your car and ensure the device is in an approved holder.

  • Turn your phone to silent or turn it off completely when driving.

  • As a passenger, speak up and tell a driver to get off their phone and focus on the road.

2. DRINK DRIVING

  • We don’t want to see any more people killed or hurt because of drink-driving.

  • Why risk being near a 0.05 BAC level and having an impaired driving ability? Impairment actually starts at a BAC of 0.02.

  • Don’t risk it.

  • Separate drinking and driving altogether – if you plan on drinking, don’t drive.

  • Plan ahead and have a designated driver or transport option organised to get home safely.

  • If everyone avoided driving after drinking, the number of road fatalities could be reduced by up to 20%. That’s around 50 lives that could be saved every year.

3. SPEEDING

  • Speed is one of the major factors contributing to accidents on Victoria’s roads and research shows small changes in speed can result in a significant reduction in road trauma.

  • The risk of being involved in a casualty doubles with each 5km/hr increase in travelling speed above 60km/hr.

  • A 5km/hr reduction in the average speed on Victoria’s roads can lead to a 15% decrease in crashes.

  • The faster you go, the harder you hit, the worse the damage will be. So, always stick to the speed limit.

4. VEHICLE SAFETY

  • If everyone upgraded their car to the safest within its class, the number of lives lost would reduce by a third.

  • No matter what your budget is, you can find an affordable and safe new or used car. · Visit howsafeisyourcar.com.au before you buy to make sure your car is 5-star and fitted with all the latest safety features.

5. LEARNER DRIVERS

  • The TAC L2P Program is a community-based program developed to assist eligible young Victorian learner drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 years who do not have access to a supervising driver, or an appropriate vehicle to gain driving experience required for a probationary license.

  • The TAC L2P Program is in need of local volunteer mentors to help young people within their community become safer road users and provide them with access to education and employment opportunities.

  • You can become a mentor to you learner drivers and help make out roads safer for everyone. ·

For more information, visit TAC L2P Program : VicRoads and/or Berry Street, 10 Wyndham Street, Shepparton VIC 3630,

Phone: 03 5822 8100, Fax: 03 5822 8199, Email: shepparton@berrystreet.org.au