WHAT a tragedy Saturday morning’s crash was for Hepburn Shire.
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The loss of a Swan Hill couple to black ice on the Midland Highway has left the Daylesford community reeling.
Even one death is too many.
The Transport Accident Commission has launched an ambitious goal – Towards Zero – to reduce Victoria’s road carnage to nought.
Unfortunately, we’re yet to see results. The road toll for Victoria now sits at 145 for the year, compared to 126 for the same time last year.
Saturday’s freak accident came about as a result of inclement weather and treacherous driving conditions.
Bacchus Marsh Sergeant Robert Pama said black ice could catch motorists unaware as it was hard to see and at times, there is so much around.
Emergency braking won’t help as cars will slide on the ice, and even sticking well under the speed limit may not help avoid an accident.
The car will simply lose traction. If there are trees on the side of the road, this can lead to disaster.
In Hepburn Shire, motorists need to pay extra attention to safety. The region presents many challenges for drivers – long, winding country roads and icy, elevated conditions.
During wind and storm, bark and other bush fragments can thrash about windscreens, obscuring visibility.
Sergeant Pama said conditions like we experienced on Saturday morning can take a large car off the road easily, even with a safe car and sensible driving.
VicRoads Regional Director Ewen Nevett advised motorists to slow down to 40 km/h in freezing conditions.
That can be tough when you’re driving highways with a row of eager motorists backed up behind you.
But the results of going any faster than this can be disastrous, with police noting the “astounding” behaviour of drivers overtaking others is hazardous, slippery conditions.
VicRoads have also said they will investigate the area to see if any upgrades or safety changes can be made.
While black ice can be hard to see, police have said if you encounter it while driving, pull over and stop.
We’ve only just started the cold season, with several months of harrowing conditions before us. Please drive to the conditions and stay safe this winter.