By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY Highway Patrol has begun saturating local roads to show drivers the high level of enforcement they can expect this Easter long weekend.
Police have a number of operations planned for a 13-day Easter road policing enforcement campaign in a bid to reduce road trauma.
Operation Soteria, which kicked off on Tuesday, involves a high visibility police presence and over the Easter long weekend, Operation Crossroads will run, targeting travellers throughout the holiday weekend.
The second phase of Operation Soteria will run from 22 to 27 April, addressing motorists returning to school and work and travelling on the Anzac long weekend.
Acting Senior Sergeant Brett Shenton, from Casey Cardinia Highway Patrol, said the operations would target factors of serious injury and fatal collisions — speed, seatbelt compliance, driver distraction, fatigue and drug and alcohol impairment.
“Patrols targeting identified high risk locations will be increased and supplemented with large and visible random testing sites, booze bus sites and the use of Automated Number Plate Recognition technology,” he said.
Acting Sen Sgt Shenton urged people to take care on the roads after four injury collisions were recorded in Casey over the Easter weekend last year.
He said while that was a good result and a testament to the hard work of police, it was still four individuals and their families adversely affected by incidents on the roads.
“This period is an excellent chance for people to catch up with friends and family, for parents to travel with their children and to reflect on what is important,” he said.
“With that in mind, I urge every single motorist to take care, drive within the road laws and to the road and traffic conditions and ensure you, your families and friends enjoy a safe Easter period.”
