Operation Crossroads – State wide enforcement activities (total, Tasmania Police say)
Operation Crossroads started yesterday at 0001 on Thursday 13 April.
We had a great start to the Easter Crossroads period with no serious or fatal accidents in the State. Drivers should congratulate themselves on this effort. The Thursday prior to the start of the Easter holiday is known to be one of the busiest evenings on our roads. An outstanding result.
Although it is difficult to make a meaningful comparison this early in the operation we can make the following observations:
In comparison to last year, Tasmania Police have almost doubled the amount of Random Breath tests conducted on the first day of the operation.
Unfortunately 10 people were charged for drink driving offences and 5 people returned Oral Fluid tests. These people are clearly not heeding the message regarding the dangers of drink and drug driving.
An example of this disregard for the safety of others was evident in Launceston where a 34-year-old woman was detected drink driving on the Esplanade with a reading of 0.168. This is over three times the legal limit. She has been bailed to appear in court in May. Due to her high reading and the fact that she has another matter with a similar reading pending, she has been issued with an Excessive Drink Driving Notice disqualifying her from driving of 24 months. If convicted, she will face, at the very least, a significant fine and further term of disqualification. A jail term is also a distinct possibility.
However, it should be noted that given the rise in the number of RBT’s (almost doubled) the number of drink and drug driving offenders has remained relatively stagnant which in itself is an encouraging sign.
The number of speeders detected has increased in comparison to last year. This is concerning and we urge drivers to slow down and enjoy their Easter break at a speed that ensures they will see it from a car rather than from a hospital room.
An interstate motorcyclist was detected at 114km/h in a 70km/h zone on Penguin Road in the north west of the state. He was issued with a 3 month disqualification and a $650 fine. Given the fact that all 5 of our fatalities this year have been motorcyclists it is an example of the reckless behaviour that can lead to this type of statistic. Police may well have saved his life or the life of someone else by stopping him when they did.
Tasmania Police ask each and every motorist to drive carefully and be continually aware of the ‘fatal 5’; the 5 biggest contributors to serious and fatal accidents on our roads, these being:
Speed
Failure to wear seatbelts or helmets
Consuming alcohol or using drugs prior to driving
Distraction/ inattention
Driving whilst tired
If it helps, drive as if the car behind you is an unmarked police vehicle; it could well be.
Plan ahead
This Easter allow yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go. Ensure that you don’t leave yourself in a position where you feel the need to speed to get there on time or you that you don’t allow yourself time to stop and have a break. There are a significant amount of roadworks around the state and there will be more (and slower) traffic on the roads.
If you are taking a long journey, plan to leave early enough to allow yourself time to stop, take a break, refresh yourself and allow the kids in the car some exercise to ensure they don’t distract you with hyperactivity whilst you’re driving.
On Easter Monday 5 Driver Reviver stations will be set up around the state for this very purpose. These are:
St Peters Pass (Midlands Highway)
Paramatta Creek (Bass Highway)
The Sidling (Tasman Highway)
Franklin River (Lyell Highway)
Fossey River (Murchison highway)
Make plans to stop at any of these sites, have a chat to the friendly SES staff who volunteer their time to keep you safe and grab a free coffee and a biscuit.
Here’s to a fatality free Easter on our roads!
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