By CASEY NEILL
A PEDESTRIAN safety sting in Springvale and Dandenong detected almost 50 offences late last month.
Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Brendan Michael said officers in plain clothes and uniform targeted pedestrian and motorist activity that placed pedestrians in danger.
It focused on Springvale Road and Springvale railway station in Springvale and Lonsdale Street and Dandenong Plaza in Dandenong.
“We’ve had quite a few collisions involving pedestrians,” Acting Sen Sgt Michael said.
“Unfortunately, a few have been fatal.”
He said police detected 31 pedestrian offences during the operation, including disobeying pedestrian lights and crossing the railway line at Springvale Road against signals.
“Pedestrians have been identified as a vulnerable group within the Greater Dandenong area,” he said.
“The focus is to try and curb risky behaviour, make pedestrians more aware of their vulnerability and help them avoid unnecessary accidents, harm or injury.
“We need pedestrians to be mindful when they’re using crossings that drivers don’t always see them.”
He said the potential for driver distraction, particularly with mobile phones, meant pedestrians needed to be cautious, even on crossings.
“There’s every chance that they might still get collected,” he said.
“Even though the pedestrian’s in the right, they’re the ones that are going to end up in hospital.”
Acting Sen Sgt Michael said officers also issued penalty notices to 15 drivers, for exceeding the speed limit in 40km/h zones, using mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts.
“We need to make drivers aware as well,” he said.
“I don’t think any driver wants to be responsible for collecting a pedestrian.”
The operation came alongside a warning in the latest Greater Dandenong Neighbourhood Watch newsletter, urging pedestrians to avoid distractions like headphones.
“The number of pedestrians who have been killed, badly injured or assaulted while wearing headphones has increased dramatically,” the newsletter said.
“Whenever you’re running or walking around listening to music you’re allocating some of your brain to listening to that music and the other part to the activity you are doing.
“The pedestrian’s ability to hear an oncoming train, car or persons is masked by the sounds produced by the headphones.”
The group suggested people use only one headphone and check behind them frequently.
Last July, Dandenong police conducted an operation designed to change pedestrian behaviour and stop serious injuries following an increase in collisions involving pedestrians.
“In the majority of these collisions, the pedestrians are at fault,” Senior Sergeant Scott Brennan said.
“Common causes are pedestrians not using pedestrian crossings.”
Fines for flouting pedestrian laws are more than $70.
“It sounds like a low-level offence,” Sen Sgt Brennan said.
“But when you look at the impact it can have, it’s something we take seriously.”
