Speeding blitz to hit home

By TANIA MARTIN
BELGRAVE has been pinpointed as one of the danger areas for speeding motorists.
This follows a recent Yarra Ranges Traffic Management Unit operation that showed an increase in speeding in the shire.
A threeday campaign from Tuesday, 30 August saw the TMU intercept 178 speeding motorists.
TMU officerincharge, Sergeant John Morgan, said speed was a huge problem in the shire with police noticing that motorists were becoming complacent.
Sgt Morgan said motorists don’t seem to realise the repercussions of their actions.
He said in one case during the operation police clocked one motorist driving at 136 kilometres per hour in a 50 zone in Colby Drive, Belgrave.
The Yarra Ranges TMU will again be out in force next weekend with Operation Visibility and motorists are being warned that they will show no mercy.
“If a motorist is doing something wrong in our area they can expect to be booked,” Sergeant Morgan said.
He said the Yarra Ranges TMU officers will not give out warnings when they pull motorists over as they are tired of going to accidents caused by excessive speed.
He said Yarra Ranges TMU officers were booking speeding drivers far too easily.
“It shouldn’t be that easy. We (TMU) are recording motorists driving excessive speeds and that really worries us,” he said.
Mayor David Hodgett said he was shocked by the latest statistics and has called on shire residents to slow down.
“I challenge all residents to take the lead and reduce your speed,” Cr Hodgett said.
Sgt Morgan said speed seemed to be a factor in most collisions and that motorists always had an excuse.
But, he said at the end of the day it was the motorists’ responsibility to do the right thing.