Hi everyone,.
Hope you are all looking forward to our new freedoms after today.
With great excitement and a need to make up for lost time and celebrate...coupled with warming weather...many more will be coming from far and wide to enjoy our great community and beaches.
I continue to see speeding on a daily basis from morning to night by cars and motorbikes. Speed zones are not acknowledged and they tend to have an attitude of wanting to be 'seen', 'heard' or to outrun other vehicles.
We obviously have families and children wanting to enjoy some time at the beach. Traffic lights are sparse (only around the main intersections) so many have no choice but to cross without the assistance of lights.
My fear is that, at the rate these vehicles fly, we continue to have an accident waiting to happen. I have been trying to tackle this for the past 3 years as I don't want to get to the stage where we act after we have a fatality on our hands. That could be your loved one. I've lived in Port for 18 years and find that each year is incrementally worse than the previous year.
Discussions continue to be conducted with Council, Government levels, EPA, Police etc. Regardless, change is slow to occur.
In the meantime, I remind you of what we have been advised:
- If you see speeding activity, it should be reported immediately to Victoria Police on 000.
While felt to be a waste of resources, we have been told this is the correct process. That way, they capture data on the situation so have more reason to respond and address. Calling the local station would be tying up resources unnecessarily and we have been advised against that.
- To report hoons 'after the fact', please contact Crime Stoppers Hoon Hotline on 1800 333 000 or report it online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
- Noisy vehicles can be reported to the EPA here: https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/noise-pollution
Where you can, you should provide as much information as possible:
- Identity of a hoon driver
- Description of vehicles involved (make, model, colour, registration number)
- Time and place of incident
- Photos or videos
If desired, you can remain anonymous when reporting.
Hoping it is a safe and fun summer for everyone.
Regards,
Louisa