A drop in cars on the road may be encouraging some motorists to drive at higher speeds and panic-buying of alcohol could be leading to increased drink-driving, a leading road safety expert has warned.

Victoria's road toll has been higher than for the same period last year despite a drop in traffic due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Peak-hour traffic on the Tullamarine Freeway on March 26. Credit:Justin McManus

Since businesses started enforcing working-from-home arrangements one month ago, there have been 18 road deaths – one more than during the same stretch last year.

As we enter the typically dangerous Easter period on Victoria's roads, the state's road toll sits at 75, only three deaths below 2019 levels, which was the worst year for fatalities since 2016.