Fewer road deaths

By Shaun Inguanzo
GREATER Dandenong roads have had significantly fewer deaths this year than the neighbouring City of Casey.
Since 1 January, Greater Dandenong has had four fatalities on its roads compared with the City of Casey’s 11.
Of the four fatalities, one was in Dandenong and three were in Springvale. The total number is down from six fatalities at this time last year.
Victoria Police Region Five Assistant Commissioner Paul Evans revealed the figures to Star this week in a bid to highlight road safety as people flocked through Cranbourne – where 10 people have died on roads this year – for this weekend’s Moto GP at Phillip Island.
Mr Evans said that this time last year, Cranbourne had three road fatalities. But this year it accounted for a large percentage of not only the City of Casey’s road toll, but of the 54 people killed on Region Five roads, which includes south-east metropolitan and rural areas of the state. Last year Region Five’s toll was 39.
In a bid to reduce the road toll ahead of this weekend’s busy Moto GP run, Mr Evans urged drivers to slow down and obey the road rules.
Mr Evans said he was alarmed that some of the deaths in Region Five involved motorists crossing double lines to overtake vehicles, and drivers or passengers not wearing seatbelts.
He said fatal motor vehicle accidents rarely involved people who stuck to speed limits and obeyed basic road rules, and who were not under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or fatigue.
There was no excuse for frustrated motorists to break the law, he said.
“Cranbourne people need to take a good look at themselves. The way we’re going, some of them may not live to see Christmas,” he said.
Mr Evans attributed Cranbourne’s deaths to a fast-growing population clambering onto old road and in some cases, non-existent rail infrastructure.
The greatest hot spot in Region Five this year has been the intersection of Heatherton Road and Monash Freeway in Endeavour Hills, with six major collisions recorded.
Fifteen of the 54 people who have died on Region Five roads have collided with trees.