Police to tackle road toll

TWELVE people have died on regional roads since New Years, prompting police to urge Victorians to drive with caution.
Region five acting traffic inspector Ron Perrett said it was the failure to comply with basic road rules that cost drivers their lives.
“What’s shocking is that police have already removed large numbers of drunk, drug-affected, speeding and distracted motorists from the roads thanks to operation Aegis 111 and RAID in December and January,” he said.
“While we know we’ve helped save lives, unfortunately there’s an element of motorists that continues to believe that it is invincible on the road, and that it can disobey road rules that have been established with everyone’s safety in mind.”
Police believe that people were not wearing seatbelts in at least two of the 12 fatalities.
Act Inst Perrett warned motorists that police would continue to be vigilant on the road, particularly between now and in the lead up to Easter.
“Police have a number of initiatives to be put in place between now and Easter to remove impaired and dangerous drivers from out region’s roads,” he said.
“Twelve lives lost is 12 too many.”