Victoria's shockingly high road toll, the worst in more than a decade, has prompted an emergency summit as one of the state's top cops wonders if drivers are suffering "collective brain fade".
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So far in 2019, 114 people have died on Victorian roads compared to 74 at the same time last year, marking the worst start to a year since 2008.
There have been 11 deaths on north central Victorian roads this year.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said the state's reputation as one of the safest places in the world to drive was being challenged.
"We're having a shocking year this year. I just wonder whether as a community we're having a collective brain fade and we all just need to think about it," he told 3AW radio on Wednesday morning.
The Victorian state government announced the emergency road safety summit for May 31.
It will include experts from the Transport Accident Commission, VicRoads, Victoria Police, Monash University Accident Research Centre, RACV, Road Trauma Support Services Victoria and motorcycle and cycling advocates.
There will also be community discussions across regional Victoria after the summit. The exact locations for the forums have not been decided yet.
"Almost one person a day has died on Victorian roads this year - this is heartbreaking and unacceptable," Road Safety Minister Jaala Pulford said.
There have been 72 deaths in the regions this year, compared with 41 in Melbourne.
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