By YASEMIN TALAT
AN EASTER holiday road traffic campaign is due to launch across Brimbank and Melton roads next week as police gear up to reduce road trauma.
Brimbank and Melton Police squads are heading a major two-week operation including the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends.
They want to ensure motorists are doing the right thing on the roads during this high-risk period.
The 13-day enforcement campaign will run from Tuesday 15 April to Sunday 27 April.
Road Policing Senior Sergeant Ross Burbidge said motorists could expect to see both marked and unmarked police vehicles targeting all the major arterial roads over the coming weeks.
“Road trauma isn’t just about people who die,” Sen Sgt Burbidge said.
“It’s about the enormous impact on the community, from the family members, to the emergency services workers who had to deal with these tragedies on a daily basis – to the police who have to deliver the devastating news to loved ones,”
He said police will implement a co-ordinated tactics targeting the key contributing factors to road trauma.
“These are speed, alcohol and drug impairment, driver distraction, fatigue and seatbelts,” Sen Sgt Burbidge said.
“Last year 5500 people were seriously injured in crashes,” he said.
“This is an epidemic but one we believe can be avoided.”
Sen Sgt Burbidge urged all drivers to plan ahead these holidays by properly preparing for trips and having frequent breaks.
“Police intelligence over the past three months shows that speed and careless driving were among the leading cause of road trauma in this state,” he said.
“All of the community has a responsibility and a role to play in reducing road trauma.”
He said the campaign works in synch with the current Operation Horizon headed by Victoria Police across all major freeways and highways.
These cover the Western Ring Road, Calder Freeway, Princess Freeway, Tullamarine Freeway, Hume Freeway, Eastlink, Monash Freeway, Eastern Freeway and the Geelong Ring Road.
“Remember, travel safely so that you arrive at your destination safely and enjoy your Easter,” Sen Sgt Burbidge said.
