Victoria Police has said it will continue to prioritise road safety in 2026 after lives lost on Victorian roads increased last year.
There were 288 lives lost in 2025 compared with 284 in 2024.
While the provisional number of lives lost is higher than 2024 it came in slightly below 2023 when 295 lives lost were recorded.
Police said while single vehicle fatal collisions decreased slightly in 2025, the number of multiple fatality collisions increased.
Last year there were 14 double fatalities, three triple fatalities and one quadruple fatality resulting in the deaths of 41 people, compared to 13 double fatalities in 2024 resulting in 26 deaths.
Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, motorcyclists, pillion passengers, bicyclists and e-riders made up more than 40 per cent of all lives lost on Victorian roads in 2025.
There were 52 pedestrians killed, which is the highest number of pedestrian deaths in 17-years since 59 in 2008.
The number of motorcyclists killed decreased from 66 in 2024 to 59 in 2025.
Driver fatalities made up 42 per cent of all lives lost during 2025, with 121 driver deaths compared to 127 in 2024.
Around half of lives lost occurred on regional roads with 147 fatalities recorded while 141 lives were lost on metropolitan roads, slightly up from 138 in 2024.
May was the deadliest month on Victoria’s roads with 38 lives lost, followed closely by 36 in January.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said it’s been another challenging year on Victoria’s roads.
“The numbers are devastating, but let’s not forget that behind every number is a human life,” Mr Weir said.
“Again in 2025, we have seen so many examples of the most simple and avoidable mistakes that have resulted in catastrophic road trauma.
“As we head into a New Year, it’s a chance for everyone to reflect on our behaviour behind that wheel and consider what we can all do to contribute to making the roads a safer place.”
Police have identified single acts of non-compliance or people making basic driving errors contributed to more than half of fatalities in 2025.
These are behaviours such as low-range speeding, lower-level drink driving, failing to obey road signs and distractions like using a mobile phone while driving.
There has been an increase in lives lost as a result of head-on collisions with another vehicle, with failing to keep left the most common factor in head-on fatalities.
Police said this indicates that drivers are drifting out of their lane into oncoming traffic, most likely due to inattention, distraction, or fatigue.
At least 10 per cent of people killed in vehicle collisions weren’t wearing a seatbelt.
Speed has been a factor in at least 30 per cent of fatal collisions in 2025 and remains the highest contributing factor in road trauma.
Police said roadside alcohol and drug testing will be a major focus with motorists warned to expect to be tested anywhere, any time.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility – whether that be slowing down and travelling at the speed limit, not driving after consuming alcohol or drugs, avoiding distractions like mobile phones and ensuring everyone is wearing a properly fitted seatbelt,” Mr Weir said.
“In 2026, Victoria Police will continue to work with our road safety partners to drive down road trauma, and our focus will be on remaining highly visible across the state’s roads to detect and deter offending.
“It’s up to all of us to prioritise road safety and ensure it remains a focus in the year ahead.”
The 2025 figures released on 1 January are provisional only, according to police.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
