PEDESTRIANS are being urged to remain cautious and mindful of other road users as Victoria has recorded 28 pedestrian deaths since the start of the year, the same number recorded for the whole of 2021.

Across the state, there were 10 pedestrian deaths recorded in June alone and three recorded so far this month, with both regional and metropolitan areas experiencing an increase.

The number of pedestrian deaths recorded since the start of the year has doubled the amount recorded at this time in 2021 (14 deaths), highlighting a concerning trend that has prompted a community safety warning from Victoria Police.

Hamilton Highway Patrol sergeant, Darren Smart, said while we have not seen any pedestrian deaths locally, pedestrians and road users need to remain alert as winter is a high-risk period due to it becoming darker earlier and poor weather reducing visibility.

“The way we look at it, drivers of vehicles need to constantly be aware of pedestrians as they are very vulnerable road users,” he said.

“But some responsibility also falls on the pedestrians to make sure they are concentrating and not being distracted by devices and make smart decisions.”

Sgt Smart said all road users needed to be aware of their surroundings and take extra measures to help prevent accidents, such as pedestrians ensuring they are wearing appropriate clothing when walking in the dark and not being distracted.

“(For pedestrians) it’s high visibility for sure, they also need to be very wary of when they wear headphones or ear buds as they maybe can’t hear the traffic,” he said.

“They just need to be conscious of the fact that they are difficult to see because if they get hit, while the fault will be on the driver, they are going to be the ones who come out of it second best.”

The five-year average for pedestrian deaths as at July 18 was 20 lives lost, with Road Policing Command acting assistant commissioner, Justin Goldsmith, saying the current number of pedestrian deaths this year is “truly tragic”.

“This trend is of enormous concern to me and my members and we will be doing all we can to prevent further loss of life,” he said.

“To this end we ask all road users to look out for each other.

“Inattention is a key factor in pedestrian fatalities – motorists need to remain focused behind the wheel and avoid distractions, and pedestrians need to look up, pay attention to the road and ensure it’s safe to cross before doing so.

“One mistake is all it takes for someone to be seriously injured or worse.”

There have been 139 lives lost in total on Victorian roads this year, increasing from 121 lives lost last year.