By SBLT Tim Slater

Naval Police Coxswains Shannon Power (foreground) and Mark Cox, come to grips with the speeding problem at HMAS Stirling.

Photo: ABPH Kade Rogers

Slow down, enjoy the magnificent view of the Cockburn Sound and avoid a speeding fine or worse the loss of life.

That’s the stark message from HMAS Stirling’s Commanding Officer, Commander Phil Orchard to commuters who traverse the causeway from Garden Island to Rockingham following a spate of minor crashes in recent times.

CMDR Orchard said he was trying to get the message across that people need to slow down and obey the rules of the road.

To enforce the issue, CMDR Orchard invites WA Police traffic division officers onto the base to clamp down on offenders.

In recent months personnel have been caught speeding, not using seatbelts and using mobile phones while driving.

In two particular cases, drivers were caught breaking all three rules. CMDR Orchard has given the police an open invitation to visit the base.

“They come whenever they want, they don’t even tell me,” CMDR Orchard said. “Stirling and WA Police have a strong relationship and mutual support is offered in a number of ways, traffic support is just one.

“While there have been no serious accidents on the Island, there have been some near misses and some minor prangs.

“These have been the result of carelessness and more importantly excessive speed.” Statistics, taken since 2002, show a marked increase in accidents and traffic offences including 88 accidents, 46 speeding infringements, 36 vehicles banned from the Island and 324 parking infringements.

“It’s the innocent people that get killed, maimed or injured and it is hoped that this ongoing awareness will spread to more careful driving around the general community on and off the Island,” CMDR Orchard said.

Additionally, speeding between the hours of dusk and dawn brings with it road kill of the Tammar Wallabies that are indigenous to Garden Island.

“We are simply endorsing the message of Police Services countrywide – speed kills. “The simple message is if you don’t want the fines, loss of points or your vehicle banned from the Island, then obey the rules.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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