YARRA RANGES HEADS UP
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:56 pm
Police have caught more than 130 speeding motorcyclists and impounded nine bikes in the Yarra Ranges over recent months as part of two operations targeting road trauma in the high-risk area.
As part of Operations Goad and Surreptitious, the Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol have utilised both covert and overt tactics to ensure motorists, who flock to the area which has some of the state's most scenic roads, do so safely.
On 13 March, a 48-year-old Wantirna South man had his Ducati motorcycle impounded by police after being caught travelling at 137km/h also on the Black Spur in an 80km/h zone.
Similarly, the weekend prior on 6 March police impounded a Kawasaki ZX10 motorcycle after the 38-year-old Nunawading rider was detected travelling at 130km/h in an 80km/h zone also on the Black Spur.
Sergeant John Morgan from the Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol said the TAC-funded operations are having an impact with a decrease in road trauma in the area.
"Motorcycle trauma is a serious problem for the Yarra Ranges. Over warmer months areas such as the Black Spur attract motorcyclists from across the state - it is certainly one of Victoria's most popular riding areas," Sgt Morgan said.
"Sadly, with this, for a number of years we have had an issue with motorcycle-related collisions and fatalities.
"To combat this, we have been running two distinct operations over summer months in recent years.
"Operation Goad is a high-visibility police operation, in which we actively patrol across the area in large numbers targeting speeding and dangerous drivers and riders.
"We have also been conducting Operation Surreptitious, this is a covert style operation in which our members conceal themselves within local roads to catch dangerous motorists in the act.
"Since we have been running this style of operations in 2008, there has been a strong decrease in the number of vehicles we are impounding, as well as the speeds we are detecting these riders and drivers travelling at.
"We have also seen a continuing decrease in motorcycle-related road trauma in the area."
Sgt Morgan said that as well as enforcement of the road laws, police also have a focus on educating drivers and riders regarding safe rider behaviour.
"Motorcycle safety is certainly a strong focus for Victoria Police. State-wide there have been 14 motorcycle deaths this year two more than this time last year.*
"All motorists, not just riders, need to keep motorcycle safety in the forefront of their minds. Riders need to keep within the speed limit and ensure they are riding responsibly.
"Other road users must ensure they are driving safely around motorcycles, and recognise riders don't have the protective shell of a vehicle."
The Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol is working across the weekend in the Black Spur area.
*Statistics to midnight, 24 March, 2011.
As part of Operations Goad and Surreptitious, the Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol have utilised both covert and overt tactics to ensure motorists, who flock to the area which has some of the state's most scenic roads, do so safely.
On 13 March, a 48-year-old Wantirna South man had his Ducati motorcycle impounded by police after being caught travelling at 137km/h also on the Black Spur in an 80km/h zone.
Similarly, the weekend prior on 6 March police impounded a Kawasaki ZX10 motorcycle after the 38-year-old Nunawading rider was detected travelling at 130km/h in an 80km/h zone also on the Black Spur.
Sergeant John Morgan from the Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol said the TAC-funded operations are having an impact with a decrease in road trauma in the area.
"Motorcycle trauma is a serious problem for the Yarra Ranges. Over warmer months areas such as the Black Spur attract motorcyclists from across the state - it is certainly one of Victoria's most popular riding areas," Sgt Morgan said.
"Sadly, with this, for a number of years we have had an issue with motorcycle-related collisions and fatalities.
"To combat this, we have been running two distinct operations over summer months in recent years.
"Operation Goad is a high-visibility police operation, in which we actively patrol across the area in large numbers targeting speeding and dangerous drivers and riders.
"We have also been conducting Operation Surreptitious, this is a covert style operation in which our members conceal themselves within local roads to catch dangerous motorists in the act.
"Since we have been running this style of operations in 2008, there has been a strong decrease in the number of vehicles we are impounding, as well as the speeds we are detecting these riders and drivers travelling at.
"We have also seen a continuing decrease in motorcycle-related road trauma in the area."
Sgt Morgan said that as well as enforcement of the road laws, police also have a focus on educating drivers and riders regarding safe rider behaviour.
"Motorcycle safety is certainly a strong focus for Victoria Police. State-wide there have been 14 motorcycle deaths this year two more than this time last year.*
"All motorists, not just riders, need to keep motorcycle safety in the forefront of their minds. Riders need to keep within the speed limit and ensure they are riding responsibly.
"Other road users must ensure they are driving safely around motorcycles, and recognise riders don't have the protective shell of a vehicle."
The Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol is working across the weekend in the Black Spur area.
*Statistics to midnight, 24 March, 2011.
