POLICE are keeping a close eye on the Omeo Highway following an increase in collisions.
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The highway has seen a significant rise in traffic, particularly motorbike riders, since the final section of 157 kilometre road was sealed 19 months ago.
Members from the Wodonga highway patrol inspected the road last week to see if there were any safety changes that could be made.
Officers will increasingly target users on the road.
Senior Constable Owen Clarke said the highway was the “missing link” for motorbike riders that connected other popular routes.
“It was an opportunity to go out there and have a look at how the plans that were put in place are working and if we needed to make improvements,” he said.
“We do reviews of all of our roads.
“When there’s something that happens that is going to have a fair impact on the traffic volume, a review is something we go out of our way to do.
“We also identify problems on roads just by people driving along them.”
There have been six serious motorbike crashes since the last section of the road was completed in April 2014.
Of the 10 crashes since last April, all involved motorbikes.
VicRoads regional director Bryan Sherritt said the road was attractive for motorbike riders.
“It’s a high-quality smooth road,” he said.
“It’s an interesting road for motorcyclists but it would be challenging.
“We are aware that there has been an increase in motorbike accidents and we think that’s got a fair bit to do with fatigue.
“It’s a long stretch of road and it could become quite demanding on a rider who might not be as fit as they’d like to be or a bit older.”
While motorbikes account for around one percent of all kilometres travelled in Victoria, riders made up 17 per cent of the road toll in 2013.
Male riders made up 95 per cent of fatalities and nearly half were aged 40 to 65, and 54 per cent of deaths were in regional Victoria.
The highway cost $14.9 million to be sealed between Mitta and Omeo in 2014.