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Police lament driver quality

A major analysis of police infringement notices has highlighted that a lack of attention to basic road rules is leading to serious safety consequences.

New Victoria Police analysis shows more than 24,000 infringements were issued in a single year for some of the simplest of road rules.

Police are urging people to focus on the foundations of good driving, warning even minor mistakes or inattention can have catastrophic consequences.

Such single acts of non-compliance typically account for more than half of road deaths each year.

The analysis - covering the latest financial year - shows almost 8000 infringements were issued for motorists failing to obey traffic lights alone.

This includes running red lights, ignoring amber lights and disobeying traffic lane signals.

A further 3000 drivers failed to obey stop signs. 

Behaviour at intersections was of particular concern. There were 2000 infringements for failing to give way at intersections and 1300 for ignoring give way signs.

Police said roundabouts appeared a mystery to many who entered them from the wrong lane, ignored traffic arrows and didn’t give way when they were supposed to.

Around 2200 drivers were caught tailgating and 1700 didn’t have their headlights and taillights on at night.

More than 800 motorists failing to use their indicator while others entered a blocked intersection, overtook on the left or at an unsafe distance and ignored keep left or keep right signs.

To the continued astonishment of police, 4300 fines were issued for people not wearing a seatbelt or not wearing one properly.

Victoria Police hopes releasing the figures will prompt road users to think about their behaviour and how it affects the safety of others – especially people walking, riding bikes and on motorcycles.

Infringements: 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023

  • Fail to obey traffic lights - includes running red lights, ignoring amber lights and ignoring traffic lane signals: 7984
  • Fail to wear seatbelt or not wearing one properly: 4284
  • Fail to obey stop sign: 2935
  • Fail to drive sufficient distance behind vehicle: 2177
  • Fail to give way at intersection: 2023
  • Fail to have headlights and taillights on at night: 1718
  • Fail to obey give way sign: 1306
  • Fail to indicate: 833
  • Fail to give way at roundabout: 511
  • Enter blocked intersection or one likely to become blocked: 106
  • Overtake vehicle on left or at unsafe distance: 100
    Enter roundabout from wrong marked lane/line or disobey traffic lane arrows in roundabout: 91
  • Fail to keep left of oncoming vehicle: 60
  • Fail to indicate at roundabout: 45
  • Fail to obey keep left or keep right sign: 11

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