Victorians are more accepting of speeding than they are of people playing loud music through headphones on public transport, according to new research.
The Transport Accident Commission study has shown an increase in the social acceptability of all speeding behaviours, in particular driving 5km/h over in a 50 or 60 zone, and 10km/h over in a 100 zone.
The study, which surveyed more than 1,900 Victorian road users on their attitudes, behaviours, perceptions and concerns on road safety issues, asked respondents to draw comparisons between road use and social behaviours.
More respondents deemed driving 10km/h over in a 100 zone as acceptable (16 per cent), when compared to scanning groceries as cheaper items at the self-checkout (12 per cent).
Similarly, 22 per cent of respondents considered going 5km/h over in a 50 zone as acceptable, compared with 14 per cent for playing music too loudly from headphones on public transport.
TAC Chief Executive Officer Joe Calafiore said the findings were particularly concerning when considering the implications of someone’s music being too loud, versus the well-known risks associated with speeding on the roads.
“We need people to understand the impact that speed can have on a crash outcome,” he said. “Even small increases in speed can have a big impact on our risk of being involved in a crash and how badly we’re injured.”
The findings come as Victoria records its worst start to the year on state roads in more than two decades, with 75 people having lost their lives, compared with 51 at the same time in 2022.
Speed remains a key factor in road trauma, contributing to more than a quarter of the 240 fatalities on Victorian roads last year.
