By Sumeyya Ilanbey
Local police will be cracking down on traffic offences near Melton and Caroline Springs schools.
School crossings on Bulmans Road, Melton West and Wilson Road, Melton South will be targeted on August 22 and 28. Police will extend their operation to Community Hub, Hillside and Hume Drive, Caroline Springs on August 15 and August 21.
The roads have been identified by Melton council as being “of particular concern” where there have been several near-misses.
Caroline Springs Sergeant Dave Sanders is urging all drivers to be extra vigilant near schools and to heed traffic laws.
Police will focus on speeding, mobile phone use, and seatbelt and parking offences.
“People are just parking wherever they want,” Sergeant Sanders said. “They’re just pulling up in the middle of the road, double-parking, in no-standing zones. Just lots of general parking issues.”
But of particular concern to police is drivers speeding in school zones, where the speed limit is 40km/h.
Sergeant Sanders said there were lots of vulnerable people, including young children and parents with prams, crossing the road, and urged drivers to be more cautious and heed the speed limits.
“We want to protect these young people that might not have good road awareness as older people; we’re trying to look after them.”
Once the operation is finished, police will speak with Melton council about its effectiveness with possible plans to expand to more locations.
Drivers can be fined hundreds of dollars, and lose several demerit points, depending on the offence.
Sergeant Sanders said using phones while driving can incur a $484 fine and four demerit points, while speeding less than 10km/h over the limit can cost $200 and one demerit point.
