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Latrobe Road Toll Skyrockets in 2002The Latrobe Valley has recorded its highest road fatality toll in years By Abby Dinham - 29th January 2003 - Back to News A report by the Victorian police has revealed that in 2002 the Latrobe Valley experienced a 1000 per cent increase in road accident fatalities, (source).
The region’s road casualty tally had remained at one in the previous two years, but escalated to 11 in 2002 count; recording one of the highest totals of loss in its division.
Senior Sargent David Watson for the Latrobe Traffic Unit (LTU) described the increase as ‘uncharacteristic’ of the area; adding the majority of these fatalities were caused by drivers veering off the road.
"Its reasonable to assume that fatigue was the cause of a lot of these accidents. Country drivers generally cover a large distance on straight roads, leaving them to drive automatically", he said.
Rural traffic fatalities accounted for 47 per cent (168) of the State’s total, an increase of 5 per cent from 2001; the highest number of fatalities recorded in the 100-km zones.
"Country drivers may not pass another car for over ten minutes. They can get tired and drowsy and the next thing they’re running off the road", said Snr Sgt Watson.
The Victorian Traffic Management Unit (TMU) plans to initiate further public education in a bid to prevent a high casualty count for 2003.
The TMU will also be continuing with an ‘Adopt a Highway’ scheme, which assigns officers to monitor defined sections of the rural highways.
"The majority of accidents in the Latrobe Valley are outside the towns boundaries on the rural roads", said Snr Sgt Watson.
The TMU plans to increase the presence of the police force on country roads, a strategy aimed at speed prevention rather than reprisal.
"Instead of hiding, we want to make sure the police are seen", explains Snr Sgt Watson.
The Latrobe Valley has yet to record a traffic fatality for 2003, a substantial improvement from the 2002 tally that began in the first week of January.
"We’ve had a great start this year and hopefully by the end we’ll be down to statistics closer to that of the 2001", said Snr Sgt Watson.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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