By XAVIER SMERDON
WESTERN suburbs residents are being urged to slow down on the roads this Easter long weekend.
Chairman of the RoadSafe Westgate Community Road Safety Council, Jim Giddings, said that the public holiday would bring extra challenges for road users.
“Drivers need to adapt to the conditions of the road, the onus is always on the driver to suit the conditions they are facing, and that includes the quality of the road,” Mr Giddings said.
“If you plan on having a drink then plan not to drive. Taking a big risk like drink driving is just not worth endangering your life or other road users.”
Mr Giddings said while the holiday period and the arrival of wet weather would create more risks, speeding drivers were still the number one danger on Victoria’s roads.
“It has been demonstrated time after time that speed is a contributing factor in most road crashes. Therefore stay within the speed limit and drive to suit the conditions you face,” he said.
“Speeding affects both the risk of a crash happening and the severity of injuries sustained when a crash does happen.”
Mr Giddings said it was up to the community to make a stand against dangerous driving.
“Engaging a changing community will assist in the community taking on the responsibility of understanding the effects and consequences of speeding and rivers that speed,” he said.
“The community being involved through awareness of issues in their local area will encourage community policing and reporting so that compliance with speed limits improves.”
Anyone that witnesses dangerous driving should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
