Geraldton police watch for speeding in school zones and rural roads with marked bikes over Christmas

Two marked police motorcycles have arrived in Geraldton as part of a Christmas road safety campaign after the recent death of two men in separate car accidents on Indian Ocean Drive. The motorcycles will be based in Geraldton and around the Mid West over the holiday season to encourage safe and responsible driving. They have been stationed at school zones, targeting people who aren’t sticking to the 40km/h speed limit during pick up and drop off times. The bikes will also be seen along Indian Ocean Drive and Brand Highway keeping an eye on rural roads. The safety campaign comes after at least five people have died on Indian Ocean Drive this year and at least one on Brand Highway. Supt Steve Post said the motorcycles provided officers with highly visible and agile ability to police the roads, targeting speeding, mobile use and not wearing seat belts. “It is really important to us that everyone gets where they need to go safely and to spend Christmas with their loved ones,” he said. “Whatever we can do to make that happen, we will do. If that means patrolling our highways and streets with marked motorcycles or unmarked vehicles, just to mix it up, then we will do it. “This is about letting the community know we are out and about, trying to keep the roads safe so everyone gets to enjoy time with their loved ones this festive season.” Supt Post reminded the community not to drink alcohol or use illicit substances before getting behind the wheel and to slow down during the holiday season. DEATHS ON OUR ROADS IN 2023 March: A 42-year-old motorcyclist riding along Indian Ocean Drive near Green Head hit the rear of a grader travelling the same direction and died at the scene. June: Jacopo Martini, a 23-year-old backpacker, died while on his way to his own farewell party when the Mitsuibishi Lancer coupe he was the front seat passenger in and a Toyota Hilux crashed at the intersection of Indian Ocean Drive and Lancelin Road. June: 20-year-old Jurien Bay local Dash Normington died when his Ford Falcon left the road and hit with a tree on Indian Ocean Drive in Green Head. October: A 63-year-old woman died after her Mitsubishi Lancer hatchback crashed with a Toyota LandCruiser at the intersection of Brand Highway and Gingin Brook Road. November: Jordan Culley, 17, was killed when the Toyota LandCruiser he was driving with three passengers veered off Indian Ocean Drive south of Leeman and rolled several times. December: A 47-year-old driver of a Nissan Navara utility veered off the road and hit a tree in Gabbadah near the intersection of Tuart Rise and died at the scene.