Lowest toll in decades

VICTORIA has recorded the lowest road toll since records began in 1952, with 295 people losing their lives on the state’s roads during 2009.
Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas said while the result was encouraging, the government’s efforts to drive the road toll even lower would continue this year.
“Every life lost on our roads is one too many,” Mr Pallas said.
During last year, further measures to tackle the road toll were introduced including an increase in penalties for offences such as not wearing seatbelts and use of mobiles, additional drug testing, new targeted and highly visible enforcement measures and community policing and enforcement program to improve motorcycle safety.