The Hume region, which includes Rutherglen and Yarrawonga, has witnessed a surge in requests for assistance to VICSES with rescue incidents receiving 227 requests in the past year alone.
With 104 VICSES units accredited as road rescue providers, covering 85 per cent of Victoria's response area, VICSES plays a vital role in Australia's emergency response system working in conjunction with Victoria Police, the Country Fire Authority, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria, and cross border emergency services- adopting an integrated approach to handle emergencies efficiently.
Newly appointed Rutherglen Controller Darren Trevaskis emphasised the need for drivers to adapt their behaviour to the prevailing road conditions.
“We’ve had two seasons of wet weather and flooding and the roads are in bad shape. Basically, my biggest message is drive to the conditions,” he said.
Mr Trevaskis also pointed out the challenges faced by small communities like Rutherglen, where attending road incidents can be difficult due to the possibility of personally knowing the individuals involved.
“I have lived in Rutherglen for 40 years so there’s always a fair chance you’re going to know the individual when there’s a road incident,” he said.
Highlighting the collaborative efforts within the region, Mr Trevaskis mentioned the close coordination between Rutherglen, Chiltern, Wangaratta, Yarrawonga, and local Country Fire Authority (CFA) units during training nights. Such collaborations aim to enhance the capabilities of emergency services and ensure a swift and effective response to emergencies along the Murray River border.
Meanwhile, Corowa Sergeant Stephen Marshall expressed alarm at the rising number of reckless behaviour including drink driving in the Federation Council region.
“Speeding and drink driving have no place on our roads, especially when we consider the staggering number of lives lost on our roads this year,” he said.
“I am shocked that despite the considerable number of deaths on regional roads this year, that individuals continue to engage in such reckless behaviour.”
Sergeant Marshall said local police are working closely with Mulwala Police, Rutherglen Police and police from neighbouring council areas along the Murray.
“A lot of these crashes are happening half an hour outside of a town which for us to target, takes us away from the town. That’s why it’s important for the neighbouring towns to work together,” he said.
“What’s really concerning in this area for us is that a lot of the crashes are alcohol related.”
As the Yarrawonga Chronicle also reported at the beginning of June, locals and visitors to Yarrawonga have been displaying more complacent behaviour with drinking alcohol then driving as of late with Yarrawonga Police catching numerous drivers over the limit.
In the past 12 months from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023, 23 infringements were distributed relating to drink driving offences, 14 offenders processed for drink driving were required to attend court, seven offenders were processed for Drug Driving with infringement notices issued and police performed seven alcohol related vehicle impounds with a total of 22 impounds being performed so far for other varying offences.
Since January, Yarrawonga Police have issued over 200 preliminary notices for drink drivers with around 10 drug drivers also caught. This is a definite increase to the same time last year.
Yarrawonga Police Sergeant Edward Graham said that drink driving is becoming more of an issue recently with more and more people deciding to break the law and drive themselves home after a visit to the pub.
“It’s unfortunate that people want to run the gauntlet. There really is no excuse,” Sgt Graham said.
“A lot of the people we have been getting that are over the limit are locals.”
Statistics released by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) reveal that each year around 25 people, or one in six deaths had a BAC of under 0.05.
With a skyrocketing number of fatalities in Victoria, Victorian Police have had the unfortunate role to attend the scenes of fatalities and let families know their loved one will not be coming home too many times already this year.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said that as of June 22 there had been 118 single vehicle fatalities, eight double fatalities, two quadruple fatalities and one quintuple fatality in 2023 – this is compared to 113 single vehicle fatalities and one double fatality at the same time last year.
“More than half (57 per cent) of lives lost have occurred on rural roads this year,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Police suspect a wide range of contributing factors are involved in this year’s fatal collisions, including excessive or inappropriate speed, impaired driving, seatbelt non-compliance, distraction and disobeying traffic signs, and unauthorised driving (drivers who are suspended, disqualified or unlicenced).
“Road conditions are examined and investigated in all fatal collisions. Police are not seeing the conditions of the road playing out as a major cause in this year’s road trauma.
“Don’t be complacent – nobody is immune from road trauma, and it can happen to anybody, anytime.
“A split second of inattention is all it takes.”
