Driver impatience will lead to devastation.
That’s the Latrobe Highway Patrol’s message to motorists this Easter.
Acting Sergeant Grant Phillips said the unit’s full resources would be deployed this weekend to police all driving-related offences, from speeding and drink-driving, to talking on mobile phones.
The Highway Patrol kicked off the operation on Tuesday, fining 23 drivers in the Traralgon central business district for phone and seatbelt offences.
The Latrobe Valley is in its eighth straight month free of a road fatality, its longest safe run in recent history and Acting Sgt Phillips is urging drivers to do all they can to ensure it continues.
“We hope that we have a fatality-free holiday period and achieve a zero serious injury rate and that will only come by the vigilance of the motorists in our area,” he said.
“Leave plenty of time for extra traffic on the road and be patient so you can arrive to your destination safely and without incident.
“When people become impatient because drivers are sitting on the speed limit, that’s where most of our crashes really occur, (people) thinking ‘I can overtake’.”
Acting Sgt Phillips said with showers and a high-volume of traffic expected over Easter, drivers needed to be extra cautious of slippery roads.
“Give yourself additional hang-back distance, give people plenty of time to stop and once again don’t be impatient,” he said.
He called on motorists to prevent fatigue.
“If you’re going to have a big drive, make sure you have ample sleep the night before,” he said.
State Emergency Service crews from across the state will run Driver Reviver Sites on most major highways this weekend.
Volunteers from the Morwell unit will be at the United Petrol Station along the Princes Highway between Morwell and Traralgon.
“We’re asking drivers to a take a rest every two hours,” Morwell SES unit controller Michael Vanderzalm said.
“There will be tea, coffee, Milo and cordial for the kids.”
