Speedsters putting themselves and others at risk

A THIRD of adult Australians have confessed to getting fast and furious within the last 12 months, admitting they go beyond the speed limit.

According to a recent Compare the Market survey, the age group with the lead foot was Baby Boomers (38%), Gen X (32%), Millennials (28%) then Gen Z (27%). Men (36%) were more likely to speed than women (28%).

National Road Safety week runs from May 14 - 21 and comes as statistics show Australia recorded a 10.8% increase in road fatalities this January compared to January 2022.

Sergeant Garth Campbell from Bass Coast Highway Patrol said these statistics weren’t surprising, and that complacency has a tendency to creep in with drivers. 

Another factor Sgt Campbell noted is that locals aren’t always registering new changes in speed zones in and between towns in the Bass Coast and South Gippsland areas.  

“Speed and distraction are still biggest issues on the road. Throughout the year, we do our own operations to try and target speeding and distracted driving and also drunk driving and drug driving as well.”

Highway patrols are doing what they can to keep roads safe, including applying for and implementing a number of additional operations.

“On top of that we have completed earlier this year, a TAC funded series of shifts, that one was focused on rural roads and high speed. We’ve just applied for another one, which if we get, we’ll be running from the end of July right through to October… again, this one is going to be focused on rural roads and high speed.” 

Sgt Campbell said that technology, such as the automatic number plate recognition device (ANPR) has been a game changer during operations, as it helps the police to detect a lot more offences on the spot.

“We’ve got the automatic number plate recognition that is fitted to both the highway patrol cars. Its instrumental for us, in regards to it draws from the database and anyone who’s unlicensed, suspended, cars unregistered, or if they’re subject to a brief alcohol interlock (and quite a few other things that elude us), then we can go and intercept the car and see what offences we’ve got. So that’s a very good tool for us.”

Sgt Campbell commented that speeding is a serious offence with serious consequences and asks that drivers do the right thing to keep everybody safe on the roads. 

“I have noted that this year for us our serious injury collisions have been extremely high. Probably another 50% on the same time last year.”

“Concentrate on the roads, don’t get distracted, don’t be complacent. Obey the speed signs, keep off your phones and wear your seatbelts. Speed zones are put in for a reason, so the biggest thing is just don’t speed. At the end of the end of the day, we want everyone to go home to their family.”