Almost 70 per cent of all car impoundments in the west over the past six months have occurred in Wyndham and Melton, the latest figures reveal.
Statistics released by the RoadSafe Westgate Community Road Safety Council show that from January 1 to May 31, 197 vehicles in Wyndham, Melton, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong were impounded under hoon legislation.
Melton and Wyndham had the same number of cars impounded – 68 – with most owners being disqualified from driving.
Seventy-five per cent of those drivers were booked in the municipality in which they
lived. Maribyrnong drivers had the lowest number of cars impounded – just 18.
Chairman of RoadSafe Westgate Jim Giddings said it was time that all members of the community worked to stamp out hoon behaviour.
“Driving is not a game and hoon drivers have no place on our roads,” Mr Giddings said.
“Experience has shown that the installation of a speed device does not necessarily stop hoon behaviour. Hooning activity is an attitude by drivers. The attitude of these drivers needs to change rather than install speed treatments in every street where an incident is reported.”
Mr Giddings said the first step people should take if they witnessed hoon driving was to report it to police.
“The report will be referred to a police unit for attention. The unit will attend to apprehend and undertake the appropriate enforcement while the activity occurs,” he said.
“Although people may not have all the information required, any details which may be used to identify a vehicle or driver will be useful.”
Xavier Smerdon
