MOTORISTS in the Mitchell Shire are being warned to take care while driving, with new statistics showing an increase in fatal crashes in country areas.
Deaths on country roads spiked by 13 per cent last financial year, while fatalities in metropolitan Victoria fell by 15 per cent.
Mitchell Police Service Area traffic advisor Senior Sergeant Ralph Willingham said eight of the crashes happened in the region.
“There have been eight fatalities in the Mitchell Police Service Area in the 2010/2011 financial year,” he said.
“Three of these were on the Hume Freeway, one on the Goulburn Valley Highway and four on other country roads, of those on the other country roads, all four were country residents, with three local to the area.”
Victoria Police this week launched a campaign in response to the statistics, which will see an increase in the use of speed detection devices, more roadside drug testing and drink driving patrols.
Recent changes to legislation mean vehicles can now be impounded for much longer.
Posters and information brochures will also be displayed in prominent areas as part of the campaign.
“To reduce the road toll on country roads we all need to take action,” Snr Sergeant Willingham said.
“It is not just up to the police, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the road rules are obeyed and that drivers remain alert at all times.
“The fatalities on the freeways did not involve country residents, but again fatigue or a lack of concentration are believed to be attributable to the collisions,” he said.
Victoria’s road toll stands at 170, ten more than the same time last year.
