VICTORIA police has issued a critical road safety alert following concerns over this year’s high road toll and winter driving conditions.
On Friday, police issued the plea for drivers to slow down and take care on Sunraysia and Victorian roads, as the state enters an especially high-risk period for death and serious injury from June 19 to July 4.
Winter weather reduces visibility and creates hazardous driving conditions, and school holidays also fall in this danger period.
The alert came as four people died on Victorian roads across the 48 hours to Friday, bringing the state’s road toll to 113, which is 18 higher than at the same time last year.
Police said distraction and speed were last year cited as the most common underlying factors in fatal crashes during the high risk period.
Winter weather reduces visibility and creates hazardous driving conditions, and school holidays also fall within the high-risk period.
A quarter of fatalities involved pedestrians, with poor visibility the major contributor while distraction and fatigue were also suspected in several of the fatalities, with some drivers drifting on to the wrong side of the road and colliding with other vehicles.
The plea follows the Queen’s Birthday operation where more than 5000 traffic offences were detected.
Road policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said police would remain highly visible on the state’s roads as school holidays kick off next week.
“Slowing down, remaining alert and being extra cautious when roads are wet or visibility is affected are simple, but life-saving measures all motorists can take to protect themselves and other road users,” he said.
“Police will remain highly visible and on the lookout for any risky driver behaviour. We are determined to do everything we can to ensure this period does not become synonymous with road trauma”
