General News
9 December, 2023
Christmas Tree acknowledged lives lost
Instead of celebrating the festive season with their dearest, a bauble will hang on the Victoria Police Christmas Tree - one for each life lost - with their name and age as a reminder of a future cut short.
Usually, the construction and decoration of a Christmas Tree is a joyous occasion, but not in this case.
Police erected the Lives Lost tree to honour those who have lost their lives on Victorian roads this year.
Among more than 275 baubles on the tree are the names and ages of individuals from Western Region Division Four - encompassing Horsham and the Northern Grampians - who will not be celebrating Christmas with their families this year.
Fatal collisions include Halls Gap (three, in three collisions), Langkoop, Murtoa (two, double fatality), Serviceton and Speed (two, double fatality).
These figures are double the local road toll from a year prior.
In Victoria, this year's figures are the highest since 2008.
There were 35 lives lost recorded in November, marking it the worst month on our roads so far this year.
Victoria Police is appealing to motorists to take extra care on the roads over the festive period.
A number of road operations will be conducted throughout December, in an effort to reduce further road trauma - with the first under way only last weekend.
Police clamped down on drivers targeting dangerous and reckless drivers travelling between Victoria and South Australia.
Hundreds of vehicles were intercepted during Operation United, a two-day blitz, with 59 offences recorded.
The operation involved numerous roving police patrols and roadside checkpoints on the Western and Princess Highways, as well as country backroads.
Police nabbed 37 drivers for speeding and caught 31 travelling 10-25km/h over the speed limit.
Horsham Superintendent Sharon McCrory said speeding was never justified and the temptation to rush to a destination should never outweigh the value of a human life.
“The reality is that no one is exempt from the potential dangers of road trauma – it can impact anyone, and is vital that we all recognise this fact," she said.
“Be aware that we will continue to conduct alcohol and drug testing at every available opportunity, meaning that if you are impaired behind the wheel, we may be just around the corner."
Road Policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir asked families to speak with their drivers.
“I’m really appealing to everyone between now and the end of the year to take care," he said.
"Have conversations with your loved ones as they’re going out on the roads.
“We want every Victorian to remember Christmas this year for a good reason, not for one of tragedy."