Liam McNally
A new police campaign targeting driver awareness around schools has been launched in Melton and Brimbank to coincide with Walk Safely to School Day on May 19.
The operation, which was formed in consultation with councils and schools, involves an increased police presence around nominated schools during pick-up and drop off times to encourage better driver behaviour.
Police have nominated eight schools they believe will benefit from the operation, which will run until June 17.
In Melton police will increase their presence around Melton Secondary College, Wedge Park Primary, Melton South Primary and Springside Primary.
In Brimbank police will be visible at Kings Park Primary, Keilor Downs College, Taylors Lakes Secondary and St Albans Secondary.
Highway Patrol officer in charge, Senior Sergeant Jason Dolman, said the operation follows a period of “significant problems for pedestrians” over the last 18 months, which have resulted in multiple deaths.
“We are aware that there have been a number of pedestrian related fatalities, they are related to pedestrian and driver awareness risk,” he said.
“The roads unfortunately are a risky place and the only thing that can keep people safe is a high level of awareness. We will be out there actively ensuring the community drive safely in high-risk areas.”
Senior Sergeant Dolman said police are also stepping up other patrols, including a targeted operation at Woodgrove Shopping Centre following a high number of low-level collisions, and increasing the number of locations of road traffic cameras to capture “extreme driver behaviour”.
“The really extreme drivers should expect us to arrive at their doorstep to follow up and the likely outcome of that is that we impound their vehicles,” he said.
“It’s an unfortunate consequence of really bad driver behaviour that we have to do that, but those people are the most dangerous people on the road.”
