Police act to stem pedestrian deaths
POLICE are issuing an urgent safety plea to all road users amid an alarming rise in pedestrian deaths and injuries.
Statewide, 15 pedestrians have died on Victoria’s roads this year compared with six at the same time last year.
In 2021, five pedestrians were killed on Greater Geelong and Surf Coast roads, with a further 52 injured.
Geelong highway patrol Sergeant Peter Radford said police would stage a statewide day of action on Wednesday, targeting pedestrian safety and distraction to coincide with National Road Safety Week.
Sergeant Radford said police were concerned the spike in pedestrian deaths would continue heading into the winter months as it was darker earlier and visibility was reduced.
He said police were also particularly concerned pedestrians playing loud music through headphones or using their mobile phones may not be alert to hazards.
Motorists are being urged to slow down and pay attention, especially in built-up areas.
“Distraction is a major factor in pedestrian deaths – you see it too often, people aren’t aware of their soundings and they have their headphones on and are looking at their mobile phones,” Sergeant Radford said.
But he warned motorists must also be on the lookout for pedestrians.
“We ask motorists to pay more attention and be aware of pedestrians,” he said.
On Wednesday, road users should expect to see highway patrol and general duties police focusing on pedestrian safety and distraction, which has been a factor in pedestrian deaths this year.
Police will ensure pedestrians are obeying traffic signals and speak with them about good road safety practices. They will also be checking motorists are adhering to speed limits, obeying road rules around pedestrian crossings and refraining from using mobile phones.
Geelong hospital emergency department director Belinda Hibble said road trauma was a leading cause of presentations to emergency departments across the state.
Dr Hibble said patients presented at Barwon Health with a range of serious and life-threatening injuries after being involved in collisions.
“In addition to frequent presentations with broken bones, bruising and concussion, patients also present with serious head injuries, broken ribs, punctured lungs and injuries to internal organs,” she said.
“These injuries often have a lifelong impact, resulting in the need for major surgery, prolonged rehabilitation and recovery, and long-term psychological impacts following such a distressing event.
“As the eased Covid restrictions see more cars on our roads, we urge our community to stay safe while driving and work towards reducing the number of people killed on our roads to zero – because one is too many.”
Last year, the Geelong Advertiser reported the city had recorded only two pedestrian fatality-free years (2013 and 2004) since TAC records started in 1987.