Bicycle Network Victoria: Behaviour

The HALO net is set

9 Februaruy 2012. Operation HALO has been going a week and is already netting large numbers of offenders.

More than 1800 offenders have already been booked for behaviours that put bike riders and pedestrians at risk on the roads.

Almost 230 of those have been bike riders.

But the majority have been car and truck drivers with almost 1240 being grabbed by the Police.

One hundred and fifty motorcyle riders have also been snared in HALO's net.

And 258 pedestrians have been nabbed, although it is understood from police that this is just the tip of the iceberg as pedestrians continue to throng across intersections against the red light.

HALO is rolling

1 February 2012. Operation HALO, the Victoria Police month-long operation targeting road trauma involving bike riders and pedestrians across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, started rolling today.

Operation HALO will see about 100 police a day working across the Melbourne, Port Phillip, Yarra, Boroondara and Stonnington Police Service Areas (PSAs) targeting issues that contribute to vulnerable road user collisions, according to the Head of Road Policing, Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe.

“Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders are our most vulnerable road users and we have been particularly concerned about the 26 per cent rise in pedestrian fatalities last year,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean that we will just be targeting pedestrians, cyclist and motorcycle riders who breach the road rules. We will also be targeting offences committed by drivers of motorcycles, cars and heavy vehicles who contribute to this road trauma.

“This includes driving in marked bicycle lanes, driving whilst distracted, speeding or failing to give way at intersections.”

There were 287 deaths on Victorian roads in 2011, of which 106 (37 per cent) deaths involved vulnerable road users, including pedestrians (49), cyclists (8) and motorcycle riders and passengers (49).

Of the eight bike riders who died, four (50 per cent) were not wearing helmets.

Mr Walshe said the operation aimed to raise awareness amongst all road users.

“We need pedestrians to look up from their smart phone, pull out the earphones and be aware of their surroundings at all times and comply with pedestrian signals. We need motorcyclists to ride with care in heavy traffic and be aware of the dangers of lane splitting or riding in bicycle lanes.

“We need cyclists to obey traffic lights and signs and ride with caution in built up traffic. And we need drivers to always look for cyclists, motorbikes and pedestrians, particularly at busy intersections and when opening car doors.

“If we all work together we can make an impact.”

The five inner-Melbourne councils have been selected for the operation due to high rates of road trauma involving vulnerable road users in each area.

Police from State Highway Patrol, Operations Response Unit, Bicycle Patrol Unit and local uniform members will be working in road trauma hotspots and focusing on morning and afternoon peak periods when most collisions occur.

The operation will run for 14 days throughout February with the help of a TAC promotional team campaigning for pedestrian safety today in the CBD.

The TAC Green Team will be drawing attention to the importance of pedestrians using designated crossings, and rewarding those who cross safely with high fives and give-aways.

Road toll

Meanwhile, the final road toll results show that in 2011 (data compared with 2010):
• There were 129 deaths in metropolitan Melbourne, up from 125 in 2010.
• There were 158 deaths in country Victoria, down from 163 in 2010.
• Victoria recorded 5.1 deaths per 100,000 population compared to 5.91 in the rest of Australia in 2011.
• There were 49 pedestrian deaths, an increase of 26 per cent.
• People aged over 70 accounted for 16 pedestrian fatalities (32 per cent), 12 people killed were aged 80 or above (24 per cent).
• Forty-nine fatalities (17 per cent) were motorcyclists, equal to 2010 but an increase of four on the five year average.
• Five of the motorcyclists (13 per cent) were not wearing a helmet.
• Of the eight fatalities involving cyclists, 50 per cent (four) were not wearing a helmet.
• Heavy vehicles were involved in 38 fatal collisions (15 per cent), a decrease of 21 per cent.
• Thirty-six (26 per cent) of drivers and passengers killed were not wearing a seatbelt.

Mr Walshe said speed, alcohol and drugs and vulnerable road users would be the major focus areas of police in 2012.

“An analysis of road toll figures show that speed is believed to be a major contributing factor in about 20 per cent of collisions which resulted in fatalities,” he said.

“Research shows that if all drivers dropped just 1km/h off their average speed we could save about 15 lives every year and avoid up to 300 serious injuries.

“Make no mistake, speed is a killer and we will continue to strictly enforce speed limits in all areas of the state.

“Analysis also shows that alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in 36 collisions which resulted in fatalities (14 per cent). While this shows a decrease on our five year average (19 per cent) it is still concerning to see alcohol having such an impact in road trauma.

“Police will be out in force breath testing motorists at all times of day and night throughout the year. Don’t take the risk and you won’t be caught.”

New push on bike safety

25 January 2012. The State Government is about to launch two major campaigns aimed at reducing the risks of riding on the road.

In development for months by Victoria Police and VicRoads, the projects are a response to the massive growth and popularity of bike riding in Victoria, and the resulting need for better understanding among road users, and less conflict and road trauma.

Both campaigns will be high profile and will be welcomed by riders. Bicycle Network Victoria was consulted during the development of the campaigns.

The Victoria Police activity will be launched first, and will comprise of an intense 14 days of operations during February, with about 80 police a day working across inner Melbourne in the Melbourne, Port Phillip, Yarra, Boroondara and Stonnington local government areas.

These areas are being targeted due to high rates of road trauma with vulnerable road users. Analysis shows the targeted local governement areas are high risk for this road trauma throughout February.

It will involve local police as well as members from the State Highway Patrol, Operations Response Unit and Regional Bicycle Patrols.

It will focus on reducing vulnerable road user trauma involving pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

The Police insist the operation is not about solely targeting these road users - it's about the behaviour of all road users.

Police will be enforcing all road rules related to increasing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders.

Police have stated that a key part of the operation will be educational and awareness messaging, and they are working with the TAC to support the operation with creative media communications.

More details on these plans will be available closer to the launch.

VicRoads' bike safety project is expected to roll out the week after the Police operation is launched.

Details have not yet been made public but an outline was contained in VicRoads evidence before the Coroners Inquest into the death of bike rider, James Cross.

VicRoads' campaign will be directed at increasing mutual respect among road users, and promoting the legitimacy of bike riders as road users with the same rights and responsibilities as drivers.

There will be an attempt to enlighten road users about important road rules which are often not understood, resulting in hostility towards bike riders.

The project is expected to make extensive use of social media and public participation, and will run through most of February into March.

Police change crash reports

14 July 2011. A change in the way Victoria Police report crashes may disadvantage bike riders, according to legal experts.

Bicycle Network Victoria is asking riders to be vigilant and thorough in obtaining details from other parties, and in assessing and documenting juries, in order to ensure that their rights are protected.

The police have announced that from July, they will no longer record collisions where there are no injuries and the owners of damaged vehicles and property can be notified.

The change aims to reduce time spent by police on administration and paperwork, and streamline processes.

Non-injury collisions with all parties present make up about 70 per cent of crashes reported to police. However, police only use data on injury and fatality collisions to inform decisions around operations and focus areas.

According to law firm Maurice Blackburn, the changes are concerning as bike crash injuries sometimes do not present until a day or more later, and also police crash reports are often essential in claiming damage costs from the motorists insurer.

"The biggest concern will be for people who suffer injuries that do not manifest until a day or so later (which is often the case with whiplash type injuries which can tend to progress to more serious spinal injuries), Maurice Blackburn said.

"If there is no police report, arguing liability may be difficult.

"There is also the problem of parties giving false information when exchanging details. From a cyclist's perspective, if they get the registration details of the car, they should be ok.

"However, it will be more difficult getting the contact details of the registered owner of the vehicle if such details can no longer be obtained through the collision report.

"We stress to riders the importance of getting the registration details of the vehicle involved in the accident."

The police state they will continue to investigate and deal with any offences detected, and that this change will not impact on when police attend collisions.

“However, it means that if there are no injuries, all parties involved in the collision are there and able to exchange details, and there is no traffic hazard, police do not need to attend or take an official report, police said.

• If people are involved in a collision, they only need to report to police where:
• Any person involved in the crash is injured (call Triple Zero (000) immediately).
• The collision is causing a traffic hazard (call Triple Zero (000) immediately).
• There is any ongoing danger to people or property (call Triple Zero (000) immediately).
• A driver appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs (call Triple Zero (000) immediately).
• Damage was caused to property other than your vehicle (such as another car, fence) and it is not possible to contact the owner.
• There has been a hit and run incident where damage was caused and details were not exchanged.

Full details need to be exchanged between the parties, including name, contact address and vehicle registration.

Police have acknowledged that sometimes an injury is not immediately apparent. "If an injury arises at a later time, this must be reported to police and a Collision Report will be created", they said.

Trucks cop scrutiny

5 May 2011. Police have launching a month-long action directed at heavy vehicle road activity following the death of 56 people in truck related collisions last year.

Five of the deaths were bike riders, a significant proportion of the eight riders who lost their lives on the road last year.

Police emphasised that their message isn't directed solely at truck drivers: an investigation of all the fatal collisions last year found 65 per cent were not the fault of the heavy vehicle operator.

This has led police to call on all road users, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians and car drivers to change their behaviour when sharing the road with heavy vehicles.

Road Policing Superintendent Neville Taylor said: "We know that when a heavy vehicle is involved in a road collision, chances are the outcome is not going to be good.

"Our research shows that other road users are not being vigilant enough around heavy vehicles.

"Never cut in front of a truck—they simply don't have the same braking ability as cars; don't linger alongside a heavy vehicle to ensure you are visible to the driver and not in a blind spot; and check the truck's mirrors—if you can't see the driver they can't see you," Supt Taylor said.

For more information on how to ride around heavy vehicles see this recent article from RideOn Magazine.

"This operation will target fatigue, speeding, drug use and unroadworthy vehicle offences within the heavy vehicle industry as a way of making the state's highways safer for all road users," Supt Taylor said.

"Police from the State Highway Patrol, including all members of the Heavy Vehicle Unit, and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section will all take part in the operation - as well as highway patrol units across regional Victoria.Also taking part in the operation will be VicRoads TSS officers and Worksafe Victoria.

"Police will be out for the entire month checking work diaries and drug testing drivers to ensure our roads are safe for all road users.

"The majority of heavy vehicle operators are doing the right thing. However, there are still a number of operators who aren't managing this—and it's those operators we are targeting."

Bike blitz reveals car phone hazard

21 February 2011. A two-day Police blitz focusing on bike crash black spots in the city has bagged an alarming 59 drivers illegally using mobile phones in the CBD's hectic streets.

Using a mobile phone while driving causes driver impairment equal to being drunk behind the wheel, greatly increasing the risk of collision with bike rider.

Despite heavy penalties, huge numbers of drivers seem determined to continue to phone and drive.

Police detected 417 people breaking road rules during Operation Nora, with pedestrians being the worst offenders—147 being caught flouting red lights.

There were 76 bike riders caught for the same offense. Another 16 bike riders were nabbed for riding on the footpath.

Police members heavily patrolled cyclist black-spot areas in Melbourne's CDB, Carlton, Southbank and the Docklands with bicycles, on foot and in vehicles during the two day blitz.

Major intersections were targeted, with the corners of Swanston and Flinders streets and the Harbour Esplanade and Collins Street, being of particular interest to police.

The blitz revealed one major positive: fewer motorcycle rider are riding in the bike lane because there are now so many bikes in city bike lanes that motorcyclists often don't get any advantage riding in them. So they have switched to riding in the tram lane. Guess what? There is a fine for that too.

An earlier blitz in Fitzroy and Collingwood, Operation Spoke, aimed at addressing poor cyclist and driver behaviour has also been described as a success by Police.

Operation Spoke was both an enforcement and educational police crack-down which ran for 12 days this month.

The aim of the operation was to ensure cyclists and drivers were riding and driving safely in the City of Yarra.

Among the infringements handed out to drivers were a number for opening car doors into the paths of cyclists

“We are extremely pleased with the success of Operation Spoke as during the blitz, we only had one collision in the City of Yarra involving a cyclist,” Sgt Dean said. “This compares to a normal average of 15 collisions a month involving a cyclist in the area.”

Cops blitz motorcycles in bike lanes

7 February 2011. Melbourne Police were out in the city in force this morning to blitz motorcycles buzzing cyclists in Melbourne's bike lanes.

The law against motorbikes in bike lanes is openly flouted and the Police have moved to stamp out the dangerous practice.

The crackdown is part of operation Nora, which runs today and Thursday.

The operations focuses on bike-related safety issues and involved intensive patrols in black-spot areas.

Police members saturated streets in Melbourne’s CDB, Carlton, Southbank and the Docklands with bicycles, on foot and in vehicles during the two day blitz.

Operation Nora involves police from the Bicycle Patrol Unit, Transit, Divisional Licensing Unit, Melbourne West, Melbourne North, Melbourne East, St Kilda Road and Caulfield.

Major intersections will be targeted, with the corners of Swanston and Flinders streets and the Harbour Esplanade and Collins Street, being of particular interest to police.

Melbourne Senior Sergeant Andrew Falconer said the main aim of Operation Nora was to ensure cyclists and drivers were riding and driving safely around Melbourne.

"Police will focus on drivers and cyclists disobeying traffic signs and lights, cyclists failing to wear a securely fitted bicycle helmet, motorcyclists using bicycle lanes and vehicles stopping or parking illegally,” Sen Sgt Falconer said.

"Police will not only target offences committed by cyclists but also crack down on drivers doing the wrong thing."

“Reducing serious injury collisions is a high priority for police. And Operation Nora is just another way we can communicate the road safety message to the community.”

Falconer warned that cyclists could be fined $299 for failing to obey traffic lights and $149 for not wearing a bicycle helmet or holding onto a moving vehicle.

Collingwood & Fitzroy crashes worry Police

10 January 2011. Police have launched another blitz in Melbourne's inner north in response to the persistently high number of bike crashes in the precinct.

On average there was a bike crash once every two days somewhere in Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond during November and December.

Police have mapped these crashes by location, type and severity will spend the next 12 days intensely focusing on the problem areas with bicycles, on foot and in vehicles during peak cyclist times.

A significant proportion of the crashes were caused by "doorings", mainly in Smith Street.

Major bicycle routes including Brunswick Street, Smith Street, Swan Street and Bridge Road will be patrolled.

As well motorists opening car doors into passing cyclists, police will concentrate on cyclists disobeying traffic signs, not possessing lights at night, riding on footpaths and not wearing helmets.

Sergeant Greg Dean of Yarra Highway Patrol said Operation Spoke was both an enforcement and educational exercise to ensure cyclists and drivers were riding and driving safely in the City of Yarra.

"We want to raise the awareness of road rules and the appropriate bicycle behaviour within the cyclist community," he said.

"Reducing serious injury collisions is a high priority for police, and Operation Spoke is just another way we can communicate the road safety message to the community."

Sgt Dean said Fitzroy and Collingwood had recorded significant increases over the past few months regarding collisions involving cyclists. There were 95 bicycle collisions within the City of Yarra from 1 July to 31 December, 2010.

Operation Spoke involves police from Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond, Yarra Highway Patrol and the North Melbourne West Bicycle Patrol Unit.

The blitz runs from Monday 10 January to Friday 21 January, 2011.

Police to blitz bike HQ

13 October 2010. Australia's busiest bike suburbs—Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond—will come under the glare of the Victoria Police spotlight this month during a campaign to improve bike rider behaviour.

The boys in blue will be checking on the fixies in black, issuing warnings for breaches of the road rules, but where necessary, stinging with a fine.

The blitz will be friendly, but firm, and local police will give a priority to education and behaviour change tactics. Police will be undertaking intercept surveys on behalf of Bicycle Network Victoria and the City, and behaviour incentives and information will offered.

The City of Yarra has a booming bike rider population, and the City and the local Police want to encourage the trend.

But night riding without lights is common, and red lights are often ignored, resulting in increased risk of injury.

Bike cops nab phone culprits

12 October 2010. Bikes have proved the ideal vehicle for police to pounce on drivers using mobile phones.

Members of the Melbourne Bike Patrol, because of their vantage point in the bike lane, have been detecting large numbers of drivers each day breaking the law pertaining to phone use in cars.

Leading Senior Constable Shane Davies said Police were seeing evidence that the use of a handheld mobile phone while driving significantly increased the risk of a crash.

"It is believed that a driver who uses a mobile phone is four times more likely to be involved in a crash," he said

"Victoria Police recognises mobile phone use as one of the most dangerous activities a driver can partake in and so long as drivers continue to break this law, police will continue to change their tactics to catch these people and protect the community," LSC Davies said.

In 1988, the Victorian Government enacted legislation prohibiting the use of handheld mobile phones by motor vehicle drivers.

This regulation was updated in 2009 to include rules relating to the use of audio/music and GPS with a mobile phone. Despite this regulation, there were 39,899 infringements reported by Victoria Police between November 2009 and July 2010.

Currently the fine for use hand held mobile phone while driving is $239 and three demerit points.

Driving while using a mobile phone can significantly impair a driver's:
• Reaction time
• Visual search patterns
• Ability to maintain speed and position on road
• Ability to judge safe gaps in the traffic; and
• General awareness of other traffic

Learner permit and P1 license drivers are banned from using any mobile phone function while driving.

For fully licensed drivers whilst driving, it is illegal to:
• Talk on a handheld mobile phone
• Send or receive text messages
• Play phone-based games
• Take photos.
• Hold a phone in any way. Holding includes resting the mobile on the driver's lap.

It is also illegal to perform these activities when your vehicle is stopped but not parked, such as when waiting at traffic lights. If your phone rings or you need to send a message while driving, pull over and park safely and legally before answering it.

People may only legally use a mobile phone while driving to make or receive a phone call or to use its audio/music functions provided the phone:
• Is secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the vehicle, or
• Can be operated by the driver without touching any part of the body of the phone and is not resting on any part of the driver's body.

A driver can use a navigation device but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design, or secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle. Using a phone as a GPS while driving is prohibited unless it is secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the vehicle.

Peds pinged, drivers dinged, in CBD blitz

7 July 2010. The recent Victoria Police and TAC blitz in central Melbourne, which focused on reducing bike rider risks, nabbed 700 offenders.

Only 92 were bike riders.

A total of 421 pedestrians and 188 drivers were fined for various infringements.

Police feedback was positive on rider behaviour.

The police were particularly concentrating on motorists driving in bike lanes, and those who illegally park or stop in heavily-used bike paths and lanes.

Police also enforced the reserved area for cyclists at some controlled intersections, commonly known as a ‘bicycle box’, and were on the watch for pedestrians wandering into the path of riders at intersections.
 

Road users in CBD under scrutiny

22 June 2010.  In a major step forward Victoria Police and the TAC are blitzing the city this week focusing primarily on motorists driving in bike lanes, and those who illegally park or stop in heavily-used bike paths and lanes.

The police activity signals increasing commitment to lowering the risks of bike riding as bike commuting becomes a much bigger share of traffic.

Senior Sergeant Andrew Falconer from Melbourne West police said along with pedestrians, cyclists are our most vulnerable road users.

“In the city area, cyclists are mainly hospitalised due to the opening of car doors in their path,” Sen Sgt Falconer said.

“Motorists and passengers need to be aware of the large number of cyclists sharing our roads and be more careful when getting in and out of vehicles.”

Motorists who drive in bike lanes face an on-the-spot fine of $175.

Sen Sgt Falconer said police will also be enforcing the reserved area for cyclists at some controlled intersections, commonly known as a ‘bicycle box’.

“Drivers need to ensure they stop at the first white line so that cyclists are able to stop in front of the traffic at the second white line so they are more easily seen.

Pedestrians failing to keep a lookout for cyclists will also be under the spot light with police patrolling black-spot intersections throughout the city area as part of the operation.

Intersections targeted include the busy Collins and Spring Street area which is heavily used by cyclists in morning and afternoon peak hours.

Sen Sgt Falconer said cyclists also need to adhere to the road rules including keeping left of tram safety zones which incurs a $292 on-the-spot fine, and stopping behind stationary trams while their doors remain open.

The operation began 21 June and will run through until 23 June.
 

Police focus on Yarra City

18 March 2010. The City of Yarra, home to Australia's keenest commuting cyclist community, will be the focus of a police blitz for the next week.

According to Acting Senior Sergeant Andrew Atkinson from Collingwood police station the volume of cyclists in the area has increased by 111 per cent since 2004, with the busiest bike locations being Canning Street in Carlton, Queens Parade in Clifton Hill, and Johnston and Wellington Streets in Collingwood.

“It is great to see such a big increase in bike users across Melbourne and in the City of Yarra,” A/Sen Sgt Atkinson said. “However, as the number of cyclists increase, it is important to ensure that everyone, drivers and cyclists alike, are complying with the law.

“The majority of cyclists do the right thing, but a small minority are putting themselves and others at risk.

“Police are sick of seeing risky behaviour by cyclists such as riding through red lights, it is this sort of behaviour that puts riders at risk of injury.”

A/Sen Sgt Atkinson acknowledged the need for motorists to be aware of cyclists.

“While we will be targeting cyclists who are breaking road laws, it is imperative that motorist learn to share the roads with bike riders,” he said.

“All Yarra residents should be aware that we have a high number of cyclists using local roads and they need be aware of where bikes are when driving and also look before they open their car doors after parking.

“It’s up to all of us to reduce the number of serious injuries and death on our roads.”

Riders face a $234 fine for riding through a red light and a $136 fine for being caught without a helmet.

Picture: Visible in the background Police are booking motorcycle riders for motoring in the bike lane in Wellington Street, Collingwood.

Blitz on bike box bullies

18 November 2009. Police will start cracking down on vehicles that intrude on the reserved area for bikes at intersections from next week.

The bicycle box at intersections is now protected by law following the introduction of new Road Rules on November 9.

Car and motorcycle drivers have previously treated the reserved areas (called bicycle boxes) with impunity, threatening the welfare of bike riders.

As the law change is recent, Police will initially issue warnings to offending drivers.

The enforcement kicks off with a three day blitz starting Tuesday, 24 November.

Another welcome focus of the blitz will be motorbikes and scooters travelling in bicycle lanes, as well as taxis using bike lanes as parking spots and thus forcing bikes out in front of trams.

Drivers using mobile phones will be targeted. Bike riders and pedestrians running red lights at city intersections will also come under scrutiny.

Police are expected to bring more attention to bike related issues in the future, in recognition of the much greater numbers of riders on the road.

The Melbourne West Bicycle Squad, which covers the inner Melbourne area, will be expanded from early next year with additional staff in leadership and operational positions.

In addition, a pool of specially trained officers from elsewhere in the force will be created to be drawn upon to supplement the bike squad when required.

For more on the new road rules.