Police operations are under way across the nation as drivers head out to enjoy the Easter long-weekend. Despite safety reminders from highway patrol, it seems motorists have not got the message.
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Police have warned there would be more officers on the roads targeting drivers for dangerous behaviour, including speeding, drink and drug-driving, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, of the NSW traffic and highway patrol command, said there had been too many lives lost and many tragedies could have been avoided.
“It is the 20th anniversary since double-demerits began and they have proven to be effective,’’ Mr Corboy said.
“Sadly drivers continue to ignore warnings, putting their own lives, their passenger’s lives and the lives of other road uses at great risk of death or injury.’’
NSW POLICE
On the first full day of Police Operation Tortoise, the Easter long weekend police blitz in NSW, 280 motorists across the Northern Region were handed a speeding ticket and a further 340 given other traffic infringements, including 17 not failing to wear a seat belt.
The death of a 27-year-old Windale concreter at Brandy Hill on Thursday morning was the state’s first fatality during Operation Tortoise.
The man was on his way to help his father at a job site when it is believed he drove through a stop sign on Clarence Town Road and was hit by a four-wheel drive. When he failed to show up at work, his father went searching and drove across the crash scene.
The man’s death was the 16th on Hunter roads this year, up from 11 for the same time last year. A second fatality occurred at Brocklesby, near Albury, on Thursday night when a 38-year-old was killed in a single-vehicle crash.
And the Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter was called to fly a female trailbike rider to John Hunter Hospital after she suffered serious lower leg fractures on a Putty Road property south of Bulga.
Emergency services were also kept busy on Friday along sections of the the M1 Pacific Motorway and Pacific Highway with several multi-car pile-ups on the Central Coast and at Raymond Terrace. Operation Tortoise continues until Monday night.
QLD
Mount Isa Police Station’s officer-in-charge has reminded Queensland motorists that enforcement targets the ‘fatal five’ traffic offences during Easter weekend.
Senior Sergeant Renee Hanrahan said these Fatal Five offences were the most common causes of death on Queensland roads. These are drink and drug driving, fatigue, inattention, speeding and not using a seatbelt.
VICTORIA
A provisional driver has lost his licence after being caught drink-driving in the early hours of Good Friday.
Acting Sergeant David Semmens said the 18-year-old man recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.160 after being pulled over in Castlemaine.
Provisional drivers must have no alcohol in their system when driving.
Acting Sergeant Semmens said the man’s licence was immediately suspended for 14 months and he was issued a penalty notice in relation to drink-driving.
Across the state, police are targeting speed, fatigue, distraction, seatbelt non-compliance and impaired driving under Operation Nexus, which started on Thursday and will run for 13 days.
TASMANIA
A woman has allegedly been caught drink driving while more than three times over the legal limit in Launceston during Operation Crossroads.
While Tasmania Police said Easter was off to a good start with no serious or fatal crashes in the state, officers have detected a number of drink drivers and speeders.
One interstate motorcyclist was caught travelling at 114km/h in a 70km/h zone in the North-West. Read the full report.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Collie Police and WA Police Major Crash Investigation unit officers examined the scene of a car crash on Mungalup Road on Friday morning.
Investigators marked, photographed and measured the road for the crash reconstruction process – showing the path the vehicle had taken.
Collie Police officers also interviewed witnesses and blocked off roads around the scene at the time.
Collie Police Senior Sergeant Mike Dean said the investigation was currently underway with Major Crash Investigators in attendance and the alleged driver was at the police station assisting with inquiries.
“It’s a tragedy that Collie didn’t need and the families are going to need a lot of local support in the coming days,” he said.
The crash was the first fatality in WA for the Easter long weekend.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
With the Easter long weekend lining up with the start of school holidays this year, police are expecting increased rural traffic as families enjoy the first long break since Christmas.
In addition to having a road safety operation in place, SA Police are mindful of the need for the community to pay close attention to water safety with a mild forecast across the weekend.
“We expect that travel and recreational activities will be among the top priorities for South Australians this long weekend and we urge the community to stay safe while they do both,” Superintendent Anthony Fioravanti said today.
During Operation Easter 2017 – which runs from midday Thursday, until midnight on Monday, police will have a specific focus on people not wearing seat belts in rural areas.
“That’s not just drivers, but all passengers and importantly babies and children - everyone in the vehicle must be in the appropriate safety restraint,” Superintendent Fioravanti, the Officer in Charge of Traffic Support Branch, said.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
It was a tragic start to the Easter long weekend with a fatal motor vehicle crash.
Senior Sergeant Shane Humphries said just after 7:30pm a 46-year-old male has attempted to cross Elrundie Avenue in Palmerston.
“A vehicle traveling northbound has failed to see the pedestrian before striking him. The driver has immediately stopped and called emergency services,” he said.
“Tragically the pedestrian was declared deceased at the scene. The female driver and her teenage daughter who was a passenger at the time were treated for shock.
“The driver was breath tested at the scene and returned a negative reading.”
Police are treating this as a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the deceased’s family and the driver of the vehicle.
ACT
Police warned they will be targeting drivers for dangerous behaviour including speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts.
Double demerits also apply in the ACT. The ACT road toll stands at three.