The highest being 97km/h.
“It’s not good enough,” Senior Constable Bren Lodi of Campaspe Highway Patrol said.
While passing emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights, motorists must slow to 40km/h – a new rule that was introduced almost three years ago.
Why?
To protect the emergency services workers attending to incidents on the side of roads and highways.
“Everyone should be able to go to work and make it home to our families safely,” Sen Const Lodi said.
“This is no different for emergency services workers and it is even more relevant to our members who undertake many of their duties on the side of the road.”
The five cars speed checked as they went past were detected travelling at 70, 86, 88, 92 and 97km/h.
“If they are doing 45km/h over (the 40km/h limit), that’s an impoundable offence,” Sen Const Lodi said.
“When we do an intercept, the driver usually doesn’t get out and so if we’re standing next to him and a truck goes past at 110km/h, that’s a pretty dangerous place to be.”
While country towns such as Kyabram do not have the same traffic congestion as big cities, Sen Const Lodi said road rules applied everywhere across the state.
“Some people are aware, some are doing it out of courtesy but most are unaware of the law,” he said.
“I would like to enlighten drivers that the road rule is not only to protect the lives of police officers, but to the driver and the passengers of the intercepted vehicles and to themselves.
“If that ultimately means the only way a motorist heeds the warning is through an infringement, then so be it.
‘‘I’d rather be issuing a $330 fine than knocking on the door of one of our members’ families to tell them their loved one isn’t coming home or has ended up in hospital injured.
“I’d like drivers to do the right thing, not only for themselves but for the police and emergency services who are out here trying to save their lives.”