This is my final week after relieving as Commander for the past two months. I have enjoyed the challenge immensely. Andrew Koutsoufis will return to continue his relief as commander from next week. But this week, I must address a serious issue that was highlighted by two separate incidents.
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Last Sunday a 23-year-old man was caught by Highway Patrol travelling at 185km/h on the Federal Highway at Collector. He was a P1 driver and had his licence suspended automatically for six months. He left the area after being collected by a friend. The same fellow was stopped in the same vehicle about an hour later driving along the Hume Highway near Goulburn. Given he was a suspended driver, he was arrested and charged. Unbelievable behaviour.
Also of huge concern was a 26-year-old man travelling south on the Hume Highway near Goulburn, in the early hours of Monday, October 23. This guy was caught driving at 215km/h. His licence was also immediately suspended. One of the high risks for our command concerns the injury and fatal collisions. We have had two fatal accidents on the Hume Highway in the past month. I cannot believe that drivers are still not getting the message or are simply ignoring this message.
Your police will continue to be out and about, not only patrolling the main arterial roads but the back and rural roads as well. Operation Chrome has been designed to target speeding, alcohol and drugs on our local roads. I want to reiterate to people, that the vast majority of serious collisions occur due to driver error.
If you still speed, drive under the influence and generally run the gauntlet, I ask you to please hear the message before you become a statistic or you kill or injure some innocent party.
Attending a fatal car accident remains one of the worst jobs for emergency service workers to attend. This is followed by having to deliver the tragic news to loved ones.
Most accidents can be avoided but it starts and stops with driver behaviour. The police and other road safety advocates can only educate so much. Remember, it can happen to you or someone you know.
Until next time, stay safe.