Extra police will be on our roads from midnight on Thursday when Operation Safe Arrival officially begins.
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The annual Christmas holiday campaign will commence at a time that syncs in with the start of school holidays, but the double demerit portion of the operation won’t begin until December 22.
More police than ever will be patrolling over the 18-day operation, which ends at midnight on January 1, 2018.
And those that speed, drive while impaired, and drive while distracted are firmly in the sights of the officers that will be giving up their holiday period to keep us all safe.
“We’ve all seen the ads but the fact still remains that local people are being killed on local roads, and it needs to stop,” Western Region traffic tactician Inspector Peter McMenamin said.
“The biggest killers on our roads are speeding, driving while distracted by a mobile phone or radio, driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, and on regional roads, driving without restraints.
“They’re the main areas we’ll be targeting but we’ll have extra cars from metropolitan areas out here, and every car is now equipped with equipment to perform drug and alcohol testing.
“Drug testing is escalating to the same volume as alcohol testing, and we now use the terminology of random testing and impaired driving. It’s not all about alcohol anymore.”
...the fact still remains that local people are being killed on local roads, and it needs to stop.
- Inspector Peter McMenamin
Already, a total of 367 lives have been lost on NSW roads this year.
Tragically, 76 of the lives lost were passengers, who are often innocent victims to road trauma. This number is an increase of 24 passengers killed in crashes when compared to last year.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Troy Grant, said while December is typically a time for celebration, it is also a time when tragedies can happen.
“Our first responders do an incredible job, especially at this time of year when they sacrifice time with their own friends and loved ones to respond to all kinds of incidents,” he said.
“But they should not have to break the devastating news of a road fatality to any family member or loved one.
“Do not let careless behaviour ruin what should be a time of real celebration and fun.
“Make this holiday period memorable for all the right reasons.”
