By Jessica Micallef
As the silly seasons approaches after a long year adhering to harsh COVID-19 lockdown measures, Macedon Ranges Highway Patrol Sergeant Mark Stephenson understands residents have an “urgent motivation” to leave the house and travel to country Victoria.
But he is urging motorists to drive cautiously and to the road conditions during the busy Christmas and new year period.
“We understand the pressures of being locked down for a period of time, but we also acknowledge that driving skills can deteriorate over a period of time,” he said.
“As the Christmas holiday period and end of work and school seasons comes up, we do tend to see more social movements with functions and work break ups.
“People don’t have that working commitment immediately after so [we] tend to see more drink and drug drivers and speed on the road.”
Sergeant Stephenson said since lockdown restrictions had eased, road trauma across the state had remained relatively the same as it was during lockdown.
Victoria Police launched Operation Compass last month, a statewide 15-day police operation targeting driving offences.
“I am pleased to say we didn’t have any fatals in that period in the Macedon Ranges but there were four serious injury collisions,” Sergeant Stephenson said.
“There was serious offending that was detected… we’ve got one of the busiest arterial roads in the state – the Calder Freeway.”
Police will be out in full force over the Christmas and new year period as part of the statewide Operation Roadwise campaign, to be launched later this month.
“Lockdown restrictions have been eased on motorists, so too they have been eased on police… we are back to make sure people follow the road rules and help people get home or to their destination safely,” Sergeant Stephenson said.
“There will be a heavier police presence on the road and we will be using a number of different tactics like marked and unmarked vehicles and sometimes police will be in plain clothes.”
