Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia Highway Patrol are stepping up the heat on reckless motorcyclist behaviour following an increase in traffic accidents involving motorcycles in the area.
Since the beginning on the year, five motorcyclists have sadly lost their lives and a further 47 have been seriously injured as a result of avoidable accidents.
This is the highest number of serious and fatal collisions in the past five years.
Launched today, Operation Blackwire will target reckless motorcyclist behaviour, impaired riding, speeding, failure to obey road signs, and failure to wear protective equipment in a bid to reduce road trauma in Greater Dandenong, Casey, and Cardinia.
The ongoing operation will see local Highway Patrol members supported by solo units, conducting intelligence led, proactive patrols in areas where motorcyclists are most at risk and most active.
Fitted with Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology, Highway Patrol members will also be homing in on unregistered riders.
Local police are urging all members of the community to stay alert, make safe decisions when behind the wheel of their vehicle, and keep the safety of vulnerable road users front of mind.
Quotes attributed to Dandenong Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant David Hewett:
"Motorcyclists make up less than 10 percent of road users in the region yet have accounted for 36 percent of lives lost this year. This is a 78 percent increase in motorcyclist lives lost in the region against the five-year average. Sadly, most of these incidents were completely avoidable.
"Driving at excessive speed, failure to give way and unsafe overtaking are some of the reckless and dangerous actions causing serious injury and costing lives on our roads.
"From 27 September, we will have a bolstered presence on our roads targeting reckless motorcyclist behaviour, taking dangerous riders and their bikes off our roads.
"It never gets easier telling someone their loved one will never be coming home or in hospital seriously injured. Don't be careless with your life, and the lives of others."
