By Jessica Micallef
Police are imploring drivers to take care – and take care of their loved ones – on the roads this Easter.
Macedon Ranges Police Inspector Chris Large said police would be out in full force during the four-day weekend and Anzac Day public holiday.
Inspector Large said he was alarmed about the number of accidents that had already occurred in the Macedon Ranges this year.
“We’ve seen this year we’ve already had a number of serious collisions,” he said.
“So we are certainly imploring people to be safe on our roads and to not speed. Also at this time of the year, we are still finding a number of kangaroo strikes with cars.
“The main thing is to drive to the road conditions and to not get distracted by mobile phones or other things that may be in your car.
“We want people to get to their holiday destination.”
Earlier this month, Victoria Police launched Operation Kinetic – a 10-week operation that will add 300 additional road policing shifts across Victoria, with a particular focus on regional roads.
More than 30 lives have been lost on regional roads in 2019.
Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said the operation was aimed at cutting fatalities on Victoria’s regional roads.
“We are deeply concerned about the heartbreaking start to the year on our roads and one of our biggest concerns is the disproportionate number of deaths in regional areas,” she said.
“We’re urging all Victorians to look out for each other on the roads, plan ahead, be patient and make safe choices.”
Transport Accident Commission chief executive Joe Calafiore said drivers needed to avoid “simple mistakes”.
“Ease up and make safe decisions when they’re using the roads – avoid fatigue, avoid drink and drug driving, avoid distractions and slow down,” he said.
