Safety concerns prompted hundreds of motorists to take advantage of free headlight checks across the Limestone Coast last week.

It was timely as the winter months of darkness, fog and poor visibility are approaching while kangaroos and wallabies are prevalent on the region’s roads at all hours. Rotary clubs in the South East last Thursday evening volunteered to make local roads a safer place.

Members held a free community event to check vehicle lighting and safety, allowing motorists to have faulty lights replaced where possible to make sure headlights were pointing in the right direction and the right height and to ensure people were aware if their tyres needed replacing.

This year Lakes Rotary, Millicent, Naracoorte and Bordertown clubs inspected approximately 380 vehicles with 75% needing aim adjustment. From headlight, taillight and number plates, over 20 globes were replaced in Mount Gambier alone.

The Rotary volunteers were supported by the Barry Maney Group, Trident Tyre Centre, Millicent Farm Supplies, Wise Ford and Naracoorte Battery Services who allowed the Rotary clubs to use their premises and supplied the qualified staff to help with the adjustments and safety checks.

It is an annual initiative of local Rotary clubs and road safety groups and the SE Road Safety Steering Group. Millicent resident Ian Leibhardt has praised the mechanics and Rotarians for donating their time and to Millicent Farm Supplies for providing the venue.

“It is a good thing they are doing for the community,” Mr Leibhardt said. “I drive about 20,000km each year through my work and with my geocaching hobby. “I am on the road at various times. “This is the first time that I have taken part in these safety checks.”

Volunteer mechanic John Marshall has donated his time on an annual basis for several years and he said he was happy to do so. Although not a member, he has close ties with the Millicent Rotary Club. “My late father Glen Marshall was a past president and was made a Paul Harris Fellow,” he said.