Melbourne police will target cyclist, pedestrian and driver behaviours linked to accidents in a bid to reduce serious injury collisions today.

Officers will be out on bikes, foot patrols and vehicles to ensure cyclists and drivers are riding and driving safely around the CBD, Southbank, Carlton and North Melbourne.

Police will also target motorcyclists in bike lanes, passenger drop offs and illegal parking.

Detectives from Caulfield CIU are appealing for information over the theft of two motorcycles from a dealer in Brighton East.

The thieves struck about 2am on Monday August 9 when an alarm was set off at the motorcycle dealership on the Nepean Highway.

Older drivers, motorcyclists and country motorists are all over-represented in the state's sky-rocketing road toll.

In the latest fatal collision emergency services were called to Gembrook Road in Pakenham Upper around 5am.

Investigators believe that a 19-year-old Gembrook man was driving south when his vehicle collided with a tree that was across the road.

He died at the scene.

THE number of drivers facing criminal charges and jail after serious car accidents is increasing rapidly after the most significant reform to road policing in the state for more than three decades.

INTELLIGENT criminal profiling will be used to identify the dangerous drivers most likely to kill on the road, in a million-dollar world-first initiative to slash the road toll.

Victoria Police has launched a Road Policing Analysis Unit, to be staffed by 13 people who will gather intelligence on our worst recidivist drivers.

DALE Albert's behaviour on a hot February night in 2007 could not have been more culpable.

Victoria Police will begin destroying hoon vehicles seized under hoon legislation in a bid to remove unsafe cars and motorcycles from the road.

Under the current legislation, which was introduced four years ago this month, police are able to apply to the courts to permanently seize a vehicle which has been impounded three or more times.

Stonington and Port Phillip Highway Patrol Units are on target to speak to 1000 drivers and motorcyclists this weekend about sharing the road safely.

As part of Operation Be Aware, funded by the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council, 520 people have been spoken to in an effort to remind all road users of the need for more attention and awareness.

A MOTORCYCLIST rode along a footpath at more than 100km/h for during a dangerous daylight pursuit in Melbourne's south-east.

Police estimate he travelled for 1.5km along the footpath during the frightening race from Mordialloc to Aspendale.

State Highway Patrol officers had tried to pull over the man, who was riding an unregistered bike along the Nepean Highway 4.05pm yesterday.

He then sped off at speeds of up to 140km/h through 60km/h zones.

A MOTORBIKE and car were impounded by police overnight as Operation Ardent continued across Melbourne's southeast.

The bike was seized just before midnight when police intercepted a motorcyclist doing in excess of 160 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the Monash Freeway at Narre Warren, between the Princes Hwy and Tinks Rd.

A VINTAGE motorbike - one of only two like it in the world - has been stolen from a Gold Coast home.



The black 1928 Matchless T3 500 is worth more than $20,000 and is often shown at motorcycle events.

VICTORIA Police is bracing for a torrid time on our roads in the months ahead as the state's toll climbs.

What can't police catch motorcycle hoons? Victoria's top road cop Ken Lay explains to Radio 3AW's Neil Mitchell and throws down a challenge.

Hooning motorcyclists are having a devastating impact on Victoria's road toll which is heading for its worst result in five years, the state's top traffic policeman says.

The latest figures reveal that one fifth of the 160 deaths on the state's roads this year involve motorcyclists, the latest occurring on Friday morning when a rider hit a parked truck in Melbourne's west.

ED - isn't that a dirt bike? Surely not representative of all riders, it doesn't even have a registration!

STUPIDITY has been blamed for the high number of bikers being killed on Victorian roads.

Top road cop Ken Lay has slammed the behaviour of some motorcyclists for driving up Victoria’s soaring road toll.

“In reality, nearly all of our increase in deaths are the result of motorcycle crashes,” Mr Lay said today.

A MOTORCYCLIST carrying a pillion passenger has been clocked doing 178km/h on the Hume Freeway at Benalla, in Victoria's northeast.

V8 Supercar driver and reigning Bathurst champion Will Davison will join Victoria Police, the TAC and VicRoads today for the launch of an aggressive road policing operation in time for the Queen's Birthday long weekend.

Starting tomorrow, Victoria Police will run Operation Aegis VIII, which will see police cars and motorbikes, bicycles and foot patrols smother the state's roads in an attempt to reduce road trauma

Cops hoon hunt

The arrest comes as Intelligence reports have been prepared on the state's worst 40 drivers over the past two years.

The files containing the names and addresses of serial traffic offenders have been sent to police in our 10 worst accident black spots.

Up to 30 police will gather in City Square this morning for one of the biggest ever public briefings before they embark on a three day quest to help save motorcyclists lives.

As a sign of their support and belief in the Victoria Police vision to reduce trauma suffered by the motorcycling community, members will be briefed on their tasks for Operation Yellow Flag/Black Flag.

AN off-duty cop caught hooning at speeds exceeding 160km/h undermines the force's road safety message, Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay admitted this morning.

The 46-year-old Benalla man was nabbed travelling at 163km/h in a 110km/h zone on the Hume Fwy, Euroa yesterday afternoon.

MOTORISTS caught on camera a fraction over the speed limit could be refunded fines and reimbursed demerit points should a legal challenge by a respected traffic cop succeed.