23 September, 2009

Riders and Drivers
Woods Point
 
   Woods Point Police Station
Division 4
Region 4 (North East)

24 Scott Street
Woods Point 3723
Victoria,  Australia
DX         217330
Telephone   03 57 77 8235
Facsimile   03 57 77 8270
Email   kenneth.dwight@police.vic.gov.au
www.police.vic.gov.au

Reference   Conditions at Woods Point

Hello all Bike Riders and 4Wheel Drivers

Winter is over and the spring wet is here, I have noticed a number of local tracks with tree blockages eg:
•   German Spur Track
•   Snake Edwards Divide track
•   Ryan’s Spur Track
•   Johnson’s Hill Track

Theses are the ones I have seen personally but with more heavy weather this week I expect a lot more. I have advised the local DSE Office of the need for proper clearance of these blockages and they will address them in due course. Remember to have the proper equipment with when you come up here, this is vital.

The closure of Jamieson Licola Rd will ended on 30/09/09 for this year and permits are no longer required, however we have unfortunately had to book a few motorists disobeying the signs up there, a $250 fine is nothing to sneeze at so be aware for next season. Sadly a couple of deer Hunters rolled their Toyota Hi Lux on the same road a few weeks ago killing the driver, a mixture of fatigue, possible substance abuse and a lack of seat belts contributed to this collision and death. I have again recovered several people from Jamieson Licola Rd. this winter in inappropriate vehicles as well a young couple on their way to Mt. Bulla from Ryan’s Spur track. They had driven a brand new Holden Commodore along Cornhill Rd to Ryan’s using rear chains until they could get no further. When I found them they had spent the night, the chains as well as the drive chain of the vehicle were stuffed, and it took me an hour and half to get them back down to Jamieson. The owner of the car, a young girl was navigating by her little GPS navigator, which she had bought especially for the trip. They came from Frankston and took to suggested shortest route. I think the machine cost her $400 or $500 bucks, a Vic Roads Map Book would have cost her $37 bucks and better value I think. The warning is do not rely on these navigators or Google Maps etc, use properly constituted maps of the areas you are going to, showing contours, road types etc.

Another Road safety problem is rearing its head again, Serious Injury Motor Vehicle Accidents. The number of motorcycle collisions recorded so far this year in the Benalla/Mansfield area, this includes Jamieson and Woods Point, that have resulted in serious injuries to riders is 32, 22 of these off the main roads. Driver carelessness contributors are driver error/inexperience, fatigue, alcohol and speed. In total, these driver error causes contribute to 56.4% of all serious injury collisions in the area. Please take care on unfamiliar roads and tracks, even familiar tracks can change very quickly here, have plenty of rest the night before your ride and remember to stop and have a spell during it. Every statistic is a person, someone’s son or daughter, someone’s partner, someone’s father or mother.

Please have a safe one.

K.J. DWIGHT BM
Leading Senior Constable 26884 Woods Point police Station