Victoria Considers SUV Levy to Curb Rising Road Deaths Amid Pandemic
Victoria, Australia is considering the implementation of a levy on people driving large SUVs in an effort to combat the escalating number of road fatalities during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Road safety experts have highlighted the significant increase in fatal accidents due to the profound changes in road travel behavior caused by the pandemic.
According to the Traffic Accident Commission of Victoria, there have been 186 road fatalities this year, marking a 23.2% increase compared to the figures from 2022. Pedestrian deaths on roads have also risen by 8%, and similar trends have been observed in other states as well.
The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) has brought this issue to the attention of the Victorian government’s road safety inquiry. Ingrid Johnston, representing the ACRS, revealed that trauma rates have continued to rise despite traffic volume decreases since the pandemic began. The ACRS submission to the committee states that the decrease in kilometers traveled in Victoria was 14% greater than the decrease in road trauma.
To address this issue, the ACRS has proposed several strategies, including financial disincentives for the use of large SUVs known to have a detrimental impact on vulnerable road users such as cyclists. One suggestion is to increase import tax on these vehicles to discourage their purchase. Additionally, a levy could be imposed on bringing certain-sized vehicles into city centers, along with an increase in registration fees.
The growing popularity of SUVs in Australia is also a concern. More than 50% of new vehicles sold in the country last year were SUVs, and the combined sales of SUVs and light commercial vehicles have risen from 45.3% in 2012 to 76.8% in 2022. Large SUVs pose a significantly higher risk of causing serious injuries to other road users compared to medium-sized SUVs, as highlighted by Prof Stuart Newstead of Monash University’s Accident Research Centre.
Following the example set by Paris, which recently increased parking fees for SUV drivers to combat pollution and auto-besity, road safety experts emphasize the necessity of removing incentives that encourage the purchase of large SUVs in Australia. Marion Terrill, an expert at the Grattan Institute, suggests that charging a fee or levy on drivers of these vehicles for safety reasons would be an effective reform.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to various changes in road behavior that may have contributed to the rise in road fatalities. These changes include a decrease in public transport usage, an increase in bicycles and e-scooters on roads, and a surge in mental health issues that could affect driving behavior. Furthermore, the reliance on food delivery drivers has increased during the pandemic, prompting calls for regulations to protect their safety. Tragically, two food delivery drivers have lost their lives in road accidents in Sydney in the past month, and 13 workers in the transport gig industry in Australia have died since 2017.
As discussions on road safety measures continue, it is crucial to strike a balance between implementing effective reforms and considering the perspectives of different stakeholders. Experts believe that prioritizing safety and reducing incentives for larger vehicles can contribute to curbing the rising number of road deaths in Victoria and across Australia.
