By CASEY NEILL
CYCLISTS will draw extra attention from the Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol this month – but not necessarily for the wrong reasons.
Senior Sergeant Scott Roberts said his officers would join others around the state in Safe Cycle Month, throughout October.
“We’re looking not just at enforcing poor rider behaviour, but we’re also looking to encourage safe cycling practices,” he said.
“We seem to have had an issue with our vulnerable road users,” he said.
“It’s a big concern of mine, being in charge of traffic for the area.”
He said this included bicycle riders, motorcycle riders and pedestrians and the main trouble spots are strip shops like central Springvale and the Dandenong Market precinct.
Sen Sgt Roberts said police would stop “people doing everything right” to have a chat and hand out prizes.
Victoria Police’s Safe Cycle Month is in its 30th year, making it the longest-running safety initiative in Australia.
It aims to raise awareness of bicycle safety and reduce bike-related road trauma, and this year’s theme is Safe Cycling Starts With You.
State bicycle operations co-ordinator Sergeant Arty Lavos said about one million people rode a bike every week in Victoria – the highest rate of cycling in Australia.
“We’re encouraging cyclists to prepare for their journeys,” Sgt Lavos said.
“Ensure their bike is in good, roadworthy condition, fitted with bright lights, their helmets are well-fitted and that they are planning their trips on the safest routes.
“We encourage all motorists to ensure they are always looking for bikes on the road and making sure they are allowing them enough space to ride safely.”
Cycling won’t be Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol’s only focus.
Sen Sgt Roberst said it would join forces with the Casey and Cardinia patrols for “saturation operations”.
“We co-ordinate on days and times we see a major risk to our road users,” he said.
The three crews then deploy their resources into one Police Service Area (PSA).
“A real risk time for us is Thursday afternoons,” Sen Sgt Roberts said.
“It’s hard to put a handle as to why that is.
“Those large-type operations will generally roll out on those days.”
He urged drivers to pay more attention on the roads.
“We’ve got some real risk roads, Heatherton Road in particular,” he said.
“It’s used as a corridor to get down to the freeway.
“It crops up regularly in collision statistics.”
He said police would speak with City of Greater Dandenong about potential infrastructure improvements to curb collisions.
“But 99 per cent of it comes down to people just paying more attention,” he said.
The crew conducts regular automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) operations and Sen Sgt Roberts said there were more on the way.
They nab unregistered cars, disqualified drivers and unlicensed drivers.
“That always seems to be a problem in this area,” he said.
“They’re told by the courts not to drive anymore. So many of them just continue to keep driving.”
But ANPR technology is making these drivers pay.
“Anyone who’s driving unlicensed or disqualified will be caught,” Sen Sgt Roberts said.
“The chances of being caught are increasing by the day.”
