Police will be dispelling some of the most common myths about speeding as they engage with motorists over the Anzac Day weekend.
The effort comes as Victoria Police launches Operation Tribute, which runs until Sunday.
With Anzac Day falling on a Thursday and Friday a rostered day off for the industrial sector, the force is expecting traffic volumes akin to a traditional long weekend.
The myth-busting effort will see police state wide hand out 40,000 fact cards countering five of the most common misconceptions about low-level speeding.
These include why going a little bit over the speed limit is in fact a risk and why small increases in speed really do increase the likelihood of a crash.
Police hope the engagement will reinforce the importance of motorists slowing down and taking responsibility of their actions to reduce road trauma.
Enforcement will remain a focus with police targeting speeding, distraction and impaired drivers.
While the number of lives lost on Victoria’s roads is slightly down on last year, police are concerned at current levels of road trauma, especially fatalities involving vulnerable road users.
Both motorcyclist and pedestrian fatalities are higher than at the same time last year.
There have been 22 motorcyclist fatalities compared with 16 at the same time last year, making up almost a quarter of this year’s lives lost.
There have been 12 pedestrian fatalities, double the figure at the same time last year.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said people often associate high-range speeding and reckless driving with fatal and serious injury collisions.
“But the reality is low-range speeding and basic driving errors, even if due to a lapse in concentration, can be just as devastating,” he said.
“… We see these fact cards as an opportunity to proactively engage with motorists and have a conversation about how their speed can lead to trauma.
“We’d always prefer to educate motorists so they can make smarter and safer decisions behind the wheel, but we also won’t hesitate to enforce when road rules are being ignored.”
Operation Tribute runs until 11.59pm on Sunday, April 28.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
