By PAUL MILLAR
POLICE will blitz Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula in a bid to prevent road carnage over the Australia Day long weekend.
Road Policing Command’s Robert Hill told the Independent Geelong was one of several ‘’hotspots” where police would concentrate their efforts as part of Operation Amity.
The assistant commissioner said the Australia Day weekend was one of the busiest times for motorists, with many heading to beachside destinations for short breaks and others returning home after summer holidays.
“We have had significant road trauma during this period over the past five years,” Assistant Commissioner Hill said.
“We’ll be very strong on speed enforcement, both low and high, as both can be deadly.”
Operation Amity is the first major police blitz of the year. Police have highlighted Geelong, central Melbourne, Ballarat, Benalla and the Mornington areas as hotspots.
Local police, along with officers from the State Highway Patrol and Operations Response Unit, will be out in force in high-risk areas of the state, which traditionally record high levels of road trauma during holiday periods.
Over the past five years Victoria has recorded 14 fatalities and 352 serious injury collisions during the Australia Day weekend.
“Independent research shows that if every driver dropped just one kilometre per hour off their average speed we could save 15 lives every year,” Assistant Commissioner Hill said.
“That’s 15 families who would be spared the heartache of losing a loved one.’’
Major roads packed with traffic, combined with alcohol and fatigue, could create a deadly set of circumstances, he warned.
“This weekend we will be focusing our attention on areas that are expected to attract high volumes of traffic, such as the Mornington Peninsula and Geelong,” he said.
“Don’t spoil the weekend by making stupid decisions and getting behind the wheel.
“Speed limits exist for a reason and they will be enforced.”
