Police launch road safety blitz after deadly week for Victorian drivers
A spate of deadly and “completely avoidable” crashes on Victorian roads has sparked a major safety blitz, with cops strengthening the ring of steel over the next fortnight.
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A fatal spate on Victoria’s roads has spurred a two-week crackdown over the Grand Final and Melbourne Cup holidays.
Melbourne’s “ring of steel” will also be strengthened with mobile checkpoints to catch out city drivers trying to watch the footy or holiday in the country.
They’ll be set up on smaller “feeder roads” without warning.
Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Libby Murphy said Melbourne’s expanded 25km travel limit and relaxed restrictions in the country had police going all-out to avert a surge in road crashes.
Already seven people had died in as many days.
They include Mooroolbark couple Marion and William ‘Bill’ Williams whose car was hit by a truck at Montrose on Monday.
“It’s really concerning,’’ Ms Murphy said.
“Every one of these deaths on our roads is absolutely, completely avoidable.”
Police intelligence shows despite lockdown Victoria has recorded an increase in the rate of crashes causing death or serious injury compared with last year, while there’s been a spike in drivers nabbed at speeds of more than 145km.
One dad was allegedly clocked 53kmh over the limit while “going to the park” with his four-year-old daughter.
Ms Murphy said there was concern increased alcohol consumption at home coupled with Grand Final and Melbourne Cup celebrations could carry through to drink driving, with police to ramp up drug and booze testing.
“It’s concerning for me as we come out of coronavirus and the restrictions slowly lift that people haven’t been on the roads for a long time,’’ Ms Murphy said.
“That’s even more reason they should be paying greater attention and adhering to the rules. People need to wake up to themselves.”
The mobile checkpoints, following the success of a unit on Peninsula Link, will be set up from Friday to detect anyone trying to unlawfully escape the city during the long weekend periods.
“People normally head to the Bellarine Peninsula or Mornington Peninsula but what we don’t want to see is people going outside that 25km radius,’’ Ms Murphy said.
“While people want to celebrate and they want to be near Geelong if Geelong are in the grand final and winning they absolutely still have to comply with the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
“We’ll be making sure that happens. Footy is very emotive for people across Victoria and people would like to be where it is but we’ve been quite clear that you cannot breach the Chief Health Officer’s directions and you particularly can’t breach it for the purpose of footy celebrations.
“If you think you’re going to get through on a feeder road you won’t. We will be monitoring traffic, we will be monitoring movements and we will have marked and unmarked cars out ready to get you.”
Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll said: “The gradual and safe easing of restrictions means there could be slightly more movement on our roads and it’s vital that everyone is safe behind the wheel.”
“Police will be out in force, so drivers need to do the right thing to make sure everyone can safely enjoy the next few weeks,’’ he said
The road police operation runs from Thursday until November 8.
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