Victoria Police are to stage a statewide day of action this weekend, targeting speeding drivers as part of National Road Safety Week (running until 21 May).
Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing, Glenn Weir said the day of action on Saturday (20 May) would see highway patrol and general duties police across the State, with support of specialist road policing units, specifically tasked to detect speeding motorists during a 24-hour road safety blitz.
“Speeding continues to be overrepresented in fatal and serious injury collisions, which is why we’re making speeding drivers our focus during National Road Safety Week,” Assistant Commissioner Weir said.
“Excessive or inappropriate speed has been a suspected factor in at least 31 per cent of fatal collisions on Victorian roads this year,” he said.
“We ask all motorists to slow down and drive so others survive – it’s so simple yet could help prevent another tragedy.”
Assistant Commissioner Weir urged motorists to slow down and pay attention to signed speed limits, particularly around built-up areas and roadworks zones.
He said 116 people had already lost their lives on the State’s roads this year – 30 more than the same time last year. Of the fatalities, 70 have occurred on regional roads and 46 in metro areas.
“We make no apologies for enforcing speed limits and penalising motorists who put themselves and other road users at risk,” Assistant Commissioner Weir said.
“Sticking to the speed limit is something we can all do to help reduce trauma on our roads.”
Throwing her support behind National Road Safety Week, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne said iconic landmarks across Victoria had been illuminated in yellow in memory and support of those who have been impacted by road trauma.
Ms Horne said this included the Bolte Bridge, the CityLink Sound Tube and Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, while across regional Victoria the Mooroopna Water Tower, Monash Park Tree in Shepparton, Malop Street and Moorabool Street in central Geelong and the Archie Graham Building in Warrnambool were also illuminated.
“Everyone has a right to get home safe to their loved ones, every day, no exceptions,” Ms Horne said.
