FIVE people died across Victoria as a result of road trauma over The Queen’s Birthday long weekend (9-11 June).
A cyclist, motorcyclist, pedestrian and two drivers were killed with three deaths occurring within two hours of one another on Monday.
Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said we now have five families trying somehow to come to grips with the reality of road trauma.
“Our police have had to knock on five doors this weekend and deliver an unimaginable message,” he said. “I feel for the families, friends and extended community impacted and also our police officers; attending collisions at all times of the day and night.” The fatalities were:
- The death of a 70-year-old woman in a driveway on Saturday 9 June when she was struck by a car in Parkdale just before 10am.
- A 52-year-old man killed in Stawell on Sunday 10 June, when his car rolled and struck a tree just before 7.30pm.
- A 61-year-old male cyclist in Moorooduc, on Monday 11 June following a collision with a garbage truck about 10.40am.
- A motorcyclist, aged in his 50s, who was killed on Monday when he collided with a car at Heathcote about 11.15am.
- The death of a 28-year-old man when his 4WD rolled backward on a steep incline striking him while off-road, in Hopetoun Park about midday on Monday.
Police conducted more than 137,400 preliminary breath tests and 2051 roadside drugs tests over the long weekend; detecting 227 drink drivers and 148 drug test offences.
“I’m concerned by the number of drink and drug drivers and unauthorised road users taking to our roads,” Assistant Commissioner Fryer said.
“One in every 605 drivers was over the limit and one in every 14 motorists tested for drugs returned a positive result.
“We’ve seen the impact drugs and alcohol have on our roads so to get behind the wheel impaired, I just don’t get it.
“Over 540 motorists were also picked up for being disqualified, suspended or unlicensed. That is over 130 people each day trying to get away with driving when they shouldn’t be on our roads.”
More than 8500 offences were detected during Operation Regal including:
- 227 disqualified/suspended drivers
- 347 unlicensed drivers
- 817 unregistered vehicles
- 3124 speeding offences
- 341 mobile phone offences
- 670 disobey signs/signals
- 63 vehicle impounds
- 256 seat belt offences
Operation Regal ran from midnight on Friday 8 June until midnight on Monday 11 June.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 13 June 2018