Just six months on from the horrific accident on Redlands Rd that took the lives of two teens in September, 2023, local police are doing everything in their power to ensure that such tragedy never touches the town again.
“We have received multiple reports this week about hoon driving, burnouts and speeding, one in particular about a young Howlong driver on his red P-plates doing 160km an hour on the Riverina Hwy,” Sgt Marshall said.
“It’s just so stupid and will only end in further deaths on our roads.”
Determined to put a stop to unnecessary loss of life and the trauma small communities experience as a result, Sgt Marshall and Sgt Savage from Rutherglen in conjunction with Federation Council will again present the Cool Heads driving program in May.
Providing participants with a realistic, interactive and confronting experience, the emphasis of the program is on the dire impact of dangerous driving, not just for the kids in the cars but also their families, friends and the community as a whole.
Established in 2008, the Cool Heads program has been pivotal in offering senior students at both Corowa and Rutherglen high schools a raw, unsanitised perspective on how the choices they make as drivers can so easily leave a legacy of devastation behind them.
“I don’t want to see any more kids dying on our roads,” Sgt Marshall said.
“Those doing the wrong thing need to know that we are absolutely targeting them.
“If they’ve got skid wheels on their cars, or they’re speeding, they will be pulled over.
“We know who these drivers are. We know their cars and where they live.
“The Murray River Police District, Highway Patrol and a number of unmarked officers are all fully supporting our efforts, we will all be doing everything overtime to catch them.”
As a small-town station, Sgt Marshall recognises how vital community assistance is and appreciates the many calls they have been receiving from concerned residents regarding dangerous driving.
“We all appreciate the community’s help to catch these drivers,” he said.
“We also understand how frustrating it can be to call the station and not get an answer but that is exactly when we need people to hang on the line and speak with the Albury officers, as we will be out on the road at those times, poised to respond immediately to sightings of hoons.”
With road deaths in NSW already exceeding annual averages, Sgt Marshall is fully committed to preventing any further tragedy in the Corowa region and encourages all locals to help local police in their endeavours.
To report incidences of dangerous driving call Corowa Police Station on 02 6932 2899.
28°C