More than 150 police from across Victoria will come together in a landmark road safety event aimed at finding new ways to tackle the high number of lives lost this year.
The Victoria Police: Driving Road Safety forum – an initiative of the Chief Commissioner – will see top traffic police from interstate and New Zealand join the effort.
It will also include keynote speakers and presentations from leading road safety experts combined with the latest police intelligence to better understand when, where and why road trauma is increasing in Victoria.
Initiatives identified will be implemented immediately where possible with long-term ideas used to shape Victoria Police’s Road Safety Strategy, due for release in July next year.
Ways police can better deter offending on our roads, help change poor road user behaviour and engage with the community will be a focus.
The number of lives lost on Victoria’s roads is at a seven year high, with 186 deaths recorded since January.
More than half of this year’s fatal collisions have been on rural roads.
Driver fatalities are up 31 per cent compared with the same time last year while passenger deaths have risen 117 per cent.
Victoria Police’s Executive Command and key road safety champions from across the force, including frontline and highway patrol police, will take part in the 14 September forum.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton will open the event, to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Quotes attributable to Acting Deputy Commissioner, Glenn Weir:
“The number of lives lost on the roads this year is of significant concern to police and we’re determined to leave no stone unturned in finding ways to reduce this.
“This event will bring together police from across the state in a way we’ve never done before.
“We’ve also recruited top traffic police from interstate and New Zealand as well as some of the country’s leading road safety experts.
“This event will focus on meaningful, tangible action to put a stop to the tragic loss of life occurring on our roads.
“Police see the devastation road trauma causes first-hand which is why we’re so invested in turning the tide of loss witnessed this year.”
