State’s highest road toll

By Rebecca Fraser
CASEY has reigned in the New Year with the state’s worst road toll in the state for the second year running, amid police calls for drivers to clean up their act.
Sergeant Pat McGavigan of Casey Traffic Management Unit said he was not happy with the 17 road deaths that had taken place on Casey’s roads in 2005, and urged the public to be more responsible.
He said it was very disappointing that the municipality had scored the highest road deaths in Victoria for the past two years with 13 fatalities recorded in 2004.
He also warned that some people may not get to see next Christmas if they did not start driving to the conditions and acting with more care.
Sgt McGavigan said on a positive note, Casey’s road toll had increased at a much slower rate than other municipalities this year but urgent action was still needed.
“We are not as bad as some other areas in that respect.
“Our road deaths rose by three but in Wellington (council) the road toll has gone up 10, Mornington up by five and Greater Dandenong up from nine to 13.
“I would love to have no road toll in Casey but you need to be realistic with the amount of people moving into the area and the traffic on Casey’s roads.
“It would be good to get back to 2003 figures when we had six fatalities,” he said.
Sgt McGavigan said the Traffic Management Unit and local police had processed 533 offenders in 2005, up from the 319 in 2004.
“This number is the amount of people who have fronted court and this does not even include the number of penalty notices given out.
“These appearances would have been for drink driving, driving when disqualified, driving when suspended or having tickets they have chosen to contest in court,” he said.
Sgt McGavigan said police were trying hard to enforce the law but drivers needed to accept responsibility for their own behaviour.
“We will continue our partnerships with VicRoads and the City of Casey to try and create safer roads but people need to drive responsibly.
“At the moment we have two motorcycles patrolling Casey and we are throwing resources at these road issues but we cannot be everywhere at once,” he said.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford also expressed disappointment at the road figures and urged residents to drive safely and think of other drivers and families on the roads.
“It is very concerning that this is the second year in a row that we have recorded the highest fatality rate in the state.
“This is indicative of the growth in Casey and the constant need of the State and Federal Government to continue to increase road funding in the area,” he said.