By LYNN ELDER and EMMA OLIVER
The Mansfield Highway Patrol was out in force last Saturday in the heart of Merrijig as part of the Early Bird operation.
Running from 6am to early afternoon, police were urging drivers to the snow to slow down and get there safely.
Officer in charge Sgt Paul Barker said it had been a busy morning for the five uniform members based outside the CFA building.
"Up to midday we had detected 35 motorists speeding, one unrestrained child and two licence losses," said Sgt Barker.
"It is disappointing how many we catch but not unexpected.
"There is no rush, the snow will still be there.
"Slow down, if you choose to do the wrong thing you will get caught."
For those who do get caught it is $407 fine and three demerit points off your licence if driving 10 to 25kms over the speed limit.
"Beyond that it is instant cancellation of your licence," he said.
The previous Early Bird operation also in Merrijig a month ago issued 28 infringements on a Saturday with the airwing in attendance.
The operation will continue throughout the snow season targeting the weekends when there is a lot of traffic.
"There is future scope to involve a drone," said Sgt Barker.
"All the way from Merrijig to Mansfield we have markings 500 metres apart which we use to measure speed."
He described it as similar to the point-to-point system used in other states which can be detected from the air.
The operation is not only about keeping visitors safe on the road but also our local drivers who can be impacted.
"We are also really lucky with the CFA who allow us to use their facilities and thank them for that," said Sgt Barker.
This recent operation adds to what has been a busy couple of months on our roads for local law enforcement.
A previous two-day road safety operation in Yarck involved our local highway patrol working in collaboration with Murrindindi officers, the Alexandra Crime Investigation Unit, Dog Squad members, and members from the Sheriff’s Office Victoria.
As part of the operation, police performed vehicle inspections, roadside breath testing, and educated motorists on ensuring their vehicle is alpine ready on the Maroondah Highway – a popular route during the snow season.
926 motorists were tested for drug or alcohol, and all bar one driver returned a negative result.
The one driver who allegedly returned a positive preliminary oral fluid test will be summonsed to appear in court.
Four people were arrested after they were detected to be in possession of drugs of dependence.
More than $35,000 in outstanding fines was also recovered.
Mansfield's Senior Sergeant Steve Carden when discussing the success of such operations, pointed to the high number of offences recently detected during Operation Eastern Snow as a positive.
"The statistics are showing that police are in the right places at the right time," he said.
Proactive policing, Snr Sgt Carden said the core of the strategy is intelligence-based, with police employing data including heat maps and various charts to pinpoint where and when offences are occurring.
Operations are then staffed based on this historical data, analysing trends from the last three, six and 12 months to be as effective as possible.
"Another important part of these operations that we run every year is police visibility which serves as a deterrent," he said.
Bringing state-level and multi-shire resources in provides that highly visible police presence, with Snr Sgt Carden explaining police enact a "very low threshold of discretion during these operations".
Targeting everything from minor infractions to higher levels of non-compliance the overall goal is to deter all unsafe driving behaviour.
According to Snr Sgt Carden these efforts are showing positive results, thanks to a combination of high-visibility operations, embracing a data-driven approach and collaboration across multiple agencies and the community.
The Senior Sergeant confirmed the recent operation in Yarck and Saturday's Early Bird were both policing hotspots, with the Maroondah Highway from Mansfield to Yea and the Midland Link from Mansfield to Benalla some of the most heavily policed roads in the region and state.
During the snow season, Mt Buller Road also becomes a major thoroughfare with police concentrating efforts on the 30 kilometre stretch.
"This is a direct response to a history of serious injury and fatality collisions on these routes," he said, pointing to sobering statistics that show rural road users are four times more likely to be killed than road users in metropolitan Melbourne.
From Highway Patrol to uniformed police, speed cameras, and all officers - including detectives on Operation Halo who are trained to enforce road rules whenever they see an offence - the policing effort on these key arterials is comprehensive.
Snr Sgt Carden said community involvement also plays a crucial role.
Referring back to a successful campaign led by residents along the Midland Highway who relentlessly lobbied to widen the road, he said the community effort was a key driver in securing funding for the upgrades.
"They presented detailed figures showing the road was physically too narrow for two large trucks to pass without their mirrors colliding," he said.
"So as much as cross-agency collaboration along with a data-driven approach are creating safer roads for everyone, the difference active community members can make and the insight they provide should not be underestimated."