By NATALIE GALLENTI
THE City of Melton continues to meet its road safety targets with recent statistics revealing the municipality is on track to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in serious and fatal crashes in the past four years.
At last week’s council meeting, Cr Sophie Ramsey released figures that showed the council’s Road 2 Zero campaign is keeping motorists safer on the roads.
Cr Ramsey said that from 1 January to 31 August this year there have been two fatalities, 72 impounds, 43 serious injuries and 80 minor injuries on local roads.
Of the 72 impounds, 35 of the drivers were disqualified or suspended, 10 drivers reached speeds of 45 km over the speed limit and two motorists were clocked at in excess of 70km above the limit.
Cr Ramsey said while the figures revealed a slight decline in fatalities and injuries, there was still a lot of improvement to be made.
“There has been a lot of hard work and community forums to get people to realise their license is a privilege not a right,” she told Star.
“We want everybody to be safe on our roads.
And she warned drivers not to become complacent.
“Today we can think our stats are fantastic… but somebody can be driving stupidly and kill someone… and a group of kids can be killed.
“We want people behind the wheel to strive with council and police to get stats down.”
She also warned motorists to be even more vigilant with the commencement of the school holidays.
“We’re just asking people to be a bit more aware on the holidays, be a bit more patient.”
Melton City Council Road Safety and Active Transport Officer Jan Webb said the issue of road safety is a shared responsibility between council and the wider community.
Ms Webb told Star that while significant changes in driver behaviour had been achieved since the Road 2 Zero campaign was launched in 2009, the council would continue to develop strategies in the hope of achieving zero fatalities on the roads.
