NSW Police Force Operation Safe Arrival begins at 12.01am Friday December 15 with a new strategy to make sure Young drivers are protected on the road.
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To make sure everyone arrives home safely these holidays police are calling out for backseat drivers to do their part and speak up, in order to save lives.
The unorthodox approach follows an alarming increase in passenger deaths when compared to figures from last year.
According to NSW Police the state has already lost 367 lives on NSW roads this year. Tragically 76 of the lives lost were passengers who according the police are often innocent victims to road trauma.
This number is an increase of 24 passengers killed in crashes when compared to last year.
Operation Safe Arrival will continue throughout the holiday period and finish 11.59pm on New Years Day (Monday January 1, 2018).
Double demerits will be in place between Friday 22 December 2017 and Monday 1 January 2018 for all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle-helmet offences and officers will be out in large numbers during the operation enforcing all types of dangerous driving behaviours.
Deputy Commissioner Specialist Support Catherine Burn said passengers play a major role in keeping themselves, their drivers, and other road-users safe these holidays.
“In my view, one of the most tragic statistics is that 76 of the people who have died this year were passengers in vehicles. That is 24 more passengers who have died this year when compared to last year,” Deputy Commissoner Burn said.
According to the deputy commissioner it makes the statistic even more tragic because it shows innocent people are dying because of those behind the wheel.
“During Operation Safe Arrival, we want everyone to remember not to let safety take a backseat. This means that we want drivers to think about the innocent passengers in their cars and other cars before they make a stupid decision to speed, pick up a phone, drink and drive, or drive tired,” she said.
“It also means we want passengers to be a backseat driver.”
The operation promotes passengers speaking up if they see a driver speeding, using their phone or drinking before they drive.
“They also need to offer to drive if their driver is tired or has been driving for a long period of time.”
According to Deputy Commissioner Burns 16 people died last year during the same operation and they hope the number is even less this year.
“The message is simple, everyone needs to do their part and look out for each other, so that everyone can arrive home safely.”