UPDATE: A shocking new exhibit titled Australia’s Deadliest Predator has just launched in central Melbourne, aiming to confront Australia’s alarming attitudes toward speeding. This urgent initiative from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) seeks to highlight the staggering reality that speeding causes more deaths than feared wildlife.
Speeding is responsible for approximately one-third of road fatalities in Victoria, with 400 lives lost across Australia last year alone and 4,100 deaths over the past decade. In stark contrast, an average of just six deaths per year are attributed to sharks, crocodiles, and snakes combined from 2001 to 2021. Yet a recent TAC survey revealed that a significant majority of Australians view dangerous wildlife as more threatening than speeding—over 74.5% identified venomous snakes as “extremely dangerous.”
The exhibit, located between the Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Centre, replicates a zoo animal enclosure to provoke critical thought about road safety. Behind a foreboding black fence, visitors encounter a powerful reenactment of a car crash caused by speeding, complete with a digital display indicating the vehicle’s speed at the time of the incident.
TAC Chief Executive Tracey Slatter emphasized the necessity of this initiative, stating, “Australia’s Deadliest Predator unapologetically calls out the social acceptance of speeding.” She added that the commission aims to challenge casual attitudes towards speeding, underscoring that “speed kills” and advocating for adherence to speed limits.
Current road toll statistics reveal 186 fatalities in Victoria, a slight increase from 180 at the same time last year, with speeding contributing to about one-third of these tragic incidents. The exhibit is open for public viewing at no cost from 11am to 7pm until August 24, 2023.
This eye-opening event not only aims to alter perceptions but also seeks to prevent future injuries and deaths on Australian roads. “We will continue to use thought-provoking initiatives such as Australia’s Deadliest Predator to drive home the dangers of speeding until we realize a future where no one dies or is injured on our roads,” Slatter concluded.
For those looking to engage with this impactful exhibit, further details can be found on the TAC’s official website. Don’t miss the chance to reflect on road safety—lives depend on it.
