Drivers on thin ice after hundreds caught flouting laws in alpine region

Police have voiced their concern about road safety in the alpine region, after nearly 500 offences were detected in a weekend blitz on snowy roads. A visible enforcement was seen at Mount Hotham and Falls Creek from 11-14 July, as part of Victoria Police’s Operation Eastern Snow taking place over the snow season. During the weekend, police detected 470 offences, with 277 drivers caught for speeding. Other offences detected included 52 defect notices issued to unsafe vehicles, 40 unregistered vehicles, 28 heavy vehicle offences, 10 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers, eight impaired drink and drug drivers, six mobile phone offences and five vehicle impoundments. Eastern Region Road Policing Inspector Jarrad Dowswell said it was concerning for the force to see the high levels of non-compliance by motorists travelling to the alpine region. “Some of these roads have been significantly impacted by ice and snow in recent weeks, yet we continue to catch people for speeding and engaging in dangerous behaviours that puts all road users at risk,” he said. Insp Dowswell said police were also concerned with the number of motorists detected driving vehicles ill-equipped for snow conditions. Earlier in the month police reported they were turning away up to 80 vehicles each day from Mount Buller for failing to carry required snow chains at alpine resorts. Only three weeks into the snow season, police had recorded 50 rescues on Mount Hotham – mostly consisting of motorists who needed to be extracted due to rapidly changing weather conditions. At the beginning of the snow season, emergency services attended to six vehicles stranded in more than 50cm of snow at Mount Hotham over the official season opening on the King’s Birthday long weekend. Emergency services found many of the 13 people affected were caught out by the heavy snow and did not have snow chains. Failure to carry snow chains may result in a $395 fine, while failing to fit them when required may attract a $988 penalty. Insp Dowswell said police are reminding motorists travelling to the snowfields to drive to the conditions – slow down, remain alert on unfamiliar roads and allow plenty of extra travel time, especially during busy periods. “Operation Eastern Snow will continue throughout the snow season, and we’ll continue to have a major presence on roads heading to and from Victorian snowfields, and be on the lookout for any noncompliance,” he said. Buses and heavy vehicles are a major focus during the operation, with police working alongside Safe Transport Victoria and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to intercept vehicles at designated checkpoints and conducting safety compliance checks. Police are also asking motorists to check and remove snow from their vehicles before departing the snowfields, to avoid it being dislodged while moving and creating dangerous driving conditions for other road users or potentially impacting driver’s visibility. Operation Eastern Snow will continue throughout the Mount Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Falls Creek and Mount Hotham areas during July and August.

Drivers on thin ice after hundreds caught flouting laws in alpine region

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