Lessons not sinking in
Alarming number of fines detected during Road Safety Week
Photo: Kevin Farmer
A WEEK designed to encourage safer driving has delivered mixed results, with the region’s top police officer hitting out at motorists who continue to put their lives at risk.
Despite Road Safety Week being hailed a success in terms of fostering partnerships with government and non-government agencies, the number of drink and drug drivers behind the wheel was a point of concern for Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon.
“We had almost 40 drink drivers, numerous drug drivers detected, and a lot of traffic infringement notices issued which were all about safety on the roads,” he said.
“We sadly had one fatal during the week.”
Speeding continues to be the major contributing factor to fatal and serious injury crashes, as well as not wearing seatbelts and impaired driving.
Assistant Commissioner Condon said an alarming number of people were still using mobile phones while driving, with 60 people fined.
“If you speed, don’t wear a safety belt, drink or drug drive or use a phone, it’s highly likely you will be killed in a motor vehicle or on a motorcycle.
“It’s time for the public to wake up and start driving to the conditions.
“We’ve got an increase in trauma accidents ... people who will have injuries for the rest of their lives as a result of their poor decisions.
“Seven of our 10 motorcyclists killed in this region so far this year have been at fault.
“So we really need to get this message across to ensure our people are a lot safer.”