New Campaign to Hit the Road
Police will use tougher and more targeted enforcement methods as part of a new strategy to cut road trauma in regional and rural Victoria.
Acting Premier and Minister for Police, Peter Ryan launched the three-year Regional Victoria Road Trauma Reduction Strategy with Deputy Commissioner of Victoria Police, Kieran Walshe.
Mr Ryan said the strategy would seek to address the over-representation of country Victorians in the annual road toll figures.
Last year 163 people died in road accidents across regional Victoria, an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year.
"Research indicates that country drivers often have a more relaxed attitude in relation to seatbelts, drink and drug driving and obeying the speed limit, which is a significant part of the problem and something that must change." Mr Ryan said.
Police enforcement in country areas would vary, including increased undercover drink-driving tests, expanded road-side drug testing and increased use of speed detection devices.
"Police will target over-represented groups such as heavy vehicles and motorcycles and clamp down on people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
The strategy would focus on changing attitudes and raising awareness of the damaging effects of speeding, drink-driving and hoon behaviour.