Police are warning motorists in Paynesville to be mindful of obeying road traffic signs in the streets.
The message comes as police are continuing to book motorists who are failing to come to a full stop at intersections bearing stop signs.
Police have recently had a field day in Paynesville’s hotspots bolstering the state government’s coffers.
The Advertiser observed police in action on King Street last week, in which motorists repeatedly failed to stop their vehicles at clearly marked stop signs that intersected with the street.
Most of the offenders were drivers traversing Wellington Street.
On the approach to King Street, they are required to come to a complete stop before turning left or right.
Leading Senior Constable, Russell Hodge, said most drivers tended to do “a bunny hop” or simply “roll straight through” the intersection.
“The level of compliance is really quite low,” Snr Constable Hodge said.
“Motorists tend to treat it like a give way sign.” Police revealed that when motorists are pulled over and told they haven’t stopped, they usually respond that they have.
“So it’s interesting this perception that they think they have stopped.”
Police have started recording the intersections in question so they can show motorists that they in fact haven’t come to a complete stop as required by law.
Leading Senior Constable, Roni Forai, said she observed four cars within the space of 15 minutes, on one day recently, which had travelled through the intersection without stopping.
“When I inquired why, most of the responses where ‘what stop sign?’, Snr Constable Forai said.
She attributes the blatant rule breaking to road complacency, but remains frustrated that a major cause of road accidents happen at intersections.
“There’s a solid white line there and a big ‘STOP’ written in capital letters but still they travel through it,” she said.
“We frankly don’t want to go to anymore collisions.”
Police have also warned they will be monitoring speed as drivers enter Paynesville.
The speed coming into Paynesville is 60kph, but many drivers are being detected travelling in the mid to high 80kph range.
“At the end of the day, we just want everyone to get home safely,” Snr Constable Forai, said.
IMAGE: Police in Paynesville pull over motorists in King Street for failing to properly stop at clearly marked stop signs. K314-6387
