Deaths prompt road safety focus

By Elizabeth Lillis
LOCAL police will continue to zero in on drivers and road safety as motorists return from holidays and after four fatal crashes in the southeast over the holiday period.
The fatality on Thursday in Upper Beaconsfield was the first road death in Cardinia in 2007 and was the last of four holiday crashes in the southeast.
Fatal crashes also occurred at Nar Nar Goon, Berwick and Cannons Creek.
This was a quarter of the state’s 16 fatalities.
Assistant Commissioner of Traffic Noel Ashby said the ChristmasNew Year period was tragic for many family and friends.
“At this time of year people are often stressed, under pressure to drive long distances, fatigued, and some are under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” he said.
The fatal crash on Thursday in Upper Beaconsfield was the first in Cardinia for the year.
In 2006, Cardinia remained fatality free until July.
Cardinia had a total of five fatalities in 2006 and eight in 2005.
Mr Ashby said despite the conclusion of the operation police would continue to be out on the roads urging drivers to behave responsibility every time they’re behind the wheel.
Pakenham police are continuing Operation Filter, targeting drink driving until the end of January. A Dandenong family had a lucky escape when they were involved a crash while travelling west on the Princes Highway at Tynong on Monday evening.
The crash happened at approximately 5.50pm.
A male driver, 48 and his wife, also 48 were taken to Dandenong Hospital with minor injuries after their Falcon station wagon rolled over between Snell Road and Fogarty Road in Tynong.
Their 20yearold daughter who was travelling on the back left seat of the car, sustained injuries to her abdomen and lacerations to her face and upper body.
She was flown by air ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition on Monday evening.
Sergeant Ray de Reus of Bunyip Police said it appeared the car had hit a culvert on the right side of the road while travelling in the right lane and then rolled before hitting a signpost on the left side of the road.
The station wagon landed upside down.
The family was returning from a holiday at Wilsons Promontory and was travelling with another car of friends.
Friends assisted the three from the wreck before emergency services reached the scene.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.