Victoria’s Top 20 Programme targeting lane departure crash risk has slashed fatalities by 77% and hospital bed days by 74% on 1,800 kilometres of high-risk regional roads – findings shared by AusRAP this week at the Australasian Road Safety Conference in Perth.

The case study was showcased by Austroads on behalf of Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), as part of the new AusRAP National Dashboard.

Before the Top 20 Programme, a person in the state of Victoria was 4-5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash on a regional road, compared to a metropolitan road. The majority of crashes were high-energy head-on collisions or run-off-road crashes resulting in significant road trauma.

The programme prioritised road safety investment in roadside and median flexible safety barriers, wide centrelines, rumble strips and roundabouts.

Analysis by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and DTP shows the striking road safety impact of the initiative. Post-programme:

• 97% of traffic movements are now on 3-Star or better roads (up 30%)
• 77% fewer police reported fatalities
• 94% fewer MAIS 3+ claims cases
• 74% fewer hospital bed days from TAC claims
• Severe cases (fatality or MAIS 3+) accounted for 22% of fatalities and hospitalisation claims before and 3% after treatments were completed

Over the anticipated barrier lifespan of 17 years, the treatments are expected to save:

• 141 people from death
• 272 people from serious injury or death (Maximum Abbreviated Injury Score (MAIS) 3+)
• 174 people from moderate injuries (MAIS 2+).
• Over 12,600 hospital bed days of resources

Speaking from the conference, iRAP’s Global Programme and Communications Manager Judy Williams said, “Victoria’s Top 20 Case Study shows the impressive road safety outcomes that can be achieved through prioritised evidence-based investment. The programme is not only reducing road trauma, it’s freeing important health and financial resources for State-wide benefit.

To see the case study, treatment locations and the programme’s contribution to Victoria’s AusRAP results, click here.

About the AusRAP National Dashboard

AusRAP’s new National Dashboard is sharing road safety Star Ratings for major roads across five Australian states and territories. It provides road safety information to decision-makers and enables drivers to check the safety scores for roads before they use them. The dashboard maps the safety of over 71,000km of motorways, freeways and highways across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including Star Ratings, traffic estimates and Fatal and Serious Injury (FSI) Crash History.

Images credit: AusRAP Dashboard