Shaun to shave speed

By Melissa Grant
A POLICE air wing will be used as part of a crackdown on motorists who speed along the Healesville-Kooweerup Road.
Operation Shaun the Sheep was launched on Friday, almost a month after two serious smashes on the 16km stretch of road.
The highly-visible operation begins on Monday and will run for eight weeks.
Acting Sergeant Bob Merlino said police would use every resource at their disposal.
“We’ll use a helicopter, we’ll use a Hummer and we’ll use marked police cars as part of a high visibility patrol, but we’ll also use unmarked cars,” he said.
Act Sgt David Smith said routine police patrols along Healesville-Kooweerup Road had revealed that motorists had failed to adjust their driving after exiting the Pakenham Bypass and South Gippsland Highway.
Act Sgt Merlino said: “It’s only a two lane road and we need people to slow down.”
The police crackdown aims to reduce road trauma and encourage good driving to accommodate for the increase in traffic.
Six people escaped injury after a two-car collision at the Soldiers Road and Healesville-Kooweerup Road intersection on Wednesday 25 February.
Four days later, two young people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after the car they were travelling in ended up in a deep drainage ditch.
Acting Sgt Merlino warned drivers to think twice before putting their pedal to the metal. “If people are pulled over for doing the wrong thing they will be penalised,” he said. “Hopefully people will heed the message.”
Speeding offences carry penalties up to $488, 12-month licence suspension and loss of eight demerit points.
Act Sgt Smith said police would also be on the look out for other misdemeanours.
“An on-the-spot fine for using a handheld mobile phone while driving carries a fine of $153 and loss of three demerit points,” he said.
“Not to mention there are anti-hoon laws under which cars can be impounded and hoons will book themselves a court appearance.”