An elderly woman has become the first driver to die on Victoria's roads this year, after she veered onto the wrong side of a highway and collided head-on with another vehicle.
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The collision took place on the Bass Highway near Wonthaggi about 4:30pm on Monday, police said.
The woman, aged in her 80s, was alone in her car at the time. Emergency services attempted to save the woman, but she died at the scene.
She is the first person to die on Victoria's roads this year. By this time last year, there had also been one death on the state's roads.
The female driver of the second vehicle, who was also alone in her car, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital.
Authorities who had hoped to see a decline in Victoria's road toll have been dismayed at the rise in deaths in recent years.
In 2016, the state's road toll was 292, up from 252 in 2015 and 248 in 2014. That followed a period of nine years, from 2005 to 2013, in which the road toll steadily declined.
In 2016, there was a significant rise in the number of elderly people who were killed on Victoria's roads. Twenty-eight people aged in their 80s were killed in 2016, compared to 15 the previous year – an 87 per cent increase.
Police are urging witnesses of Monday's collision to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
