Sergeant Jason Van Doren is urging drivers to slow down for safety. 83705 Picture:
By XAVIER SMERDON
POLICE, councils and a Western Suburbs advocacy group are working together to urge residents to slow down in order to save lives.
Hobsons Bay Highway Patrol chief, Sergeant Jason Van Doren, who is also a member of the RoadSafe Westgae Community Road Safety Council, said a change in driver’s attitudes to speeding was needed.
“Engaging a changing community will assist in the community taking on the responsibility of understanding the effects of consequences of speeding and drivers who speed,” Sgt Van Doren said.
“With 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.”
Sgt Van Doren said over the last 12 months each of the municipalities represented by RoadSafe Westgate, Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Melton Shire, had identified five speeding locations that were a concern to the community.
“Priority target list of locations were submitted to Victoria Police for their assessment. Council Officers were advised to commence using their Speed Trailers at these identified locations for a period of two weeks and then this was followed up with enforcement by the police,” he said.
“This process was repeated for each nominated speeding location.
“As a direct result of this and other actions there has been an increase in monthly average Police Enforcement and Penalty Notices issued for speeding in all council areas. “
Sgt Van Doren said speeding drivers would continue to be targeted by police.
“Speeding and inappropriate travel speeds directly contribute to at least 30 per cent of deaths on Victoria’s roads each year,” he said.
