Cops open up about the deadliest time of year on Geelong roads
The torrid trend of Geelong road tragedies during December has been revealed, as police prepare to face the grim reality of delivering dreadful news that can change so many lives — including their own.
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Every December police officers across Geelong inevitably have to do the thing they dread the most.
Geelong Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Craig Stevens never wants to tell a family their loved one won’t be coming home.
The gravity of the situation is exacerbated at Christmas and the region has so far failed to record a fatality free December for the past 10 years.
Transport Accident Commission data shows more fatalities have been recorded on Geelong roads during the past 10 Decembers than in any other month.
Of the 96 fatalities recorded on the City of Greater Geelong’s roads since 2011, 14 have occurred in December making it the deadliest period for road users in the region.
Sergeant Stevens is hopeful this year can be different.
“One death on our roads has a devastating impact on many people’s lives including police officers – it never gets easier delivering the horrible news that a family member or loved one has been killed in yet another road tragedy,” he said.
But the challenge for authorities is greater than ever, with coronavirus lockdowns resulting in deteriorated driving skills and border closures driving more people to the Geelong and Surf Coast than ever before.
“The Christmas and new year period is one of the busiest times on our roads, and we are expecting even bigger numbers of holiday-makers to the Geelong and Surf Coast regions this year as many Victorians are predicted to stay in their home state due to travel restrictions,” he said.
Sergeant Stevens said police regularly witnesses “irresponsible and dangerous driving behaviour on our roads, particularly in the lead up to Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve”. “This includes excessive speed, drink and drug driving, driver distraction, fatigue and seatbelt offences,” he said.
“This driving behaviour, combined with an influx of drivers on our roads, is a major contributing factor behind the unacceptable number of fatalities that we have seen during the month of December over the past decade.”
Transport Accident Commission chief executive officer Joe Calafiore has urged people to ensure they are well rested before driving long distances, with data showing fatigue is a contributing factor in up to 20 per cent of road fatalities.
“We know that driving skills can deteriorate after long periods off the road, so we’re asking everyone to take their time and focus on the basics that we know keep us and our passengers safe,” he said.
Road safety minister Ben Carroll has echoed this plea by urging all Victorians to drive safely to arrive home safely this festive season.
“We are urging all Victorians to play their part and arrive safe this Christmas – your presence is the greatest present you can give your family and friends,” he said.
Sergeant Stevens said police would be maintaining a highly visible presence on roads in the
Geelong region throughout the summer holiday period to detect any dangerous driving behaviour that threatens the safety of all road users.
He urged drivers to take simple steps to ensure they were not a statistic.
“We implore all drivers to think about the consequences of reckless risks before they take them,” he said.
“If you choose to take drugs, separate the behaviour from the road and don’t get behind the wheel.
“ Don’t speed, don’t drive if you plan to drink and put your mobile phone out of reach and switch to the ‘do not disturb’ mode.”
Originally published as Cops open up about the deadliest time of year on Geelong roads
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