Police nationwide joined forces to highlight the impacts of speeding on road trauma with a 24 hour road safety blitz called operation Safe Speeds.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, who is also Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, launched the inaugural Safe Speeds campaign with Victoria Police Assistant Commissioners Doug Fryer.
Speed remains one of the major contributing factors in serious injury collisions and numbers of lives lost.
“1300 people died on Australian roads last year and 290 of those fatalities were in Victoria,” Mr Chester said.
“Governments at all levels needs to work together to improve the quality of roads and driver conditions, but motorists also need to be vigilant and purchase the safest car they can afford.
“Together, we can do better to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries.”
Mr Chester road safety statistics from the five-day police blitz over the Melbourne Cup long weekend caught almost 160 motorists speeding in East Gippsland.
East Gippsland recorded the highest number of speeding offences of all police service areas in the Eastern Region, which comprises the eastern half of Victoria and parts of the metropolitan area.
Mr Chester said the figures were an alarming reminder for motorists across Gippsland.
“Speed doesn’t always cause the crash, but an increase in speed increases the risk of collision, decreases reaction time and increases the severity of injury,” Mr Chester said.
