Crime Stoppers Victoria and Victoria Police are calling on the community to share footage of high-risk driving in a new campaign titled ‘See It. Share It.’
This road safety initiative uses de-identified footage of drivers behaving badly, to demonstrate dangerous driving behaviour and encourage Victorians to submit their own footage to Crime Stoppers and help keep our roads safe.
Data published by the Transport Accident Commission shows that over 1200 lives have been lost on Victorian roads over the past five years, with 295 recorded in 2023 – the highest number of lives lost on Victorian roads in 15 years.
There have been 242 lives lost to date on Victorian roads in 2024.
With more people installing dash cams or carrying recording devices, Crime Stoppers Victoria chief executive Stella Smith said that everyone can play a role in road safety.
“Each one of us has the power to make a difference. By reporting what you see, you can help prevent tragic incidents before they occur. Even one life lost on our roads is one too many,” Ms Smith said.
Crime Stoppers encourages people to share footage through their online platform, which provides the option to remain anonymous and reports can be completed on mobile or computer.
Publicly sharing footage remains a rare and significant step for Crime Stoppers, Ms Smith said.
“We do not take the decision to release footage lightly, but we believe showing real examples of high-risk driving allows the community to see the type of footage that can assist in investigations,” she said.
Victoria Police Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said that high-risk drivers are being recorded and reported by others with dash cams.
“If you engage in risk taking behaviours on our roads, even if the police don’t always see you, be aware that other people may report you. The community is watching, and it is only a matter of time before you face the consequences,” Mr Weir said.
The penalties for high-risk driving in Victoria can be severe, particularly when drugs or alcohol are involved, with potential consequences including loss of licence, vehicle impoundment, significant fines – or even imprisonment.
For dangerous driving specifically, you can face a fine of up to $47,520, have your vehicle impounded for 30 days, or face up to two years imprisonment.
This initiative does not encourage filming while driving, however, if you witness dangerous driving and it is captured on a dashcam or recorded safely, you can upload your footage at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
For emergencies or life-threatening situations, always call 000 immediately.
