Police to focus on fatal five

WITH the school holidays under way, police are pleading with the community to be safe while travelling, following a bad month on the region’s roads.

In the past month, four people have been killed on the region’s roads, taking the year’s state road toll to 174.

Operation Spring Break launched yesterday and runs through to October 6.

Officer in charge Townsville Road Policing Unit, acting Senior Sergeant Robert Nalder, said police would be increasing patrols and raising the number of RBT sites across the region.

“The Road Policing Unit will be patrolling the highways and we’re going to be throughout the area to ensure that motorists see a high visibility of police and also try to remind them to be mindful of the fatal five ( distraction and inattention, speeding, drink and drug driving, failure to wear a seatbelt and driving while fatigued),” Sen- Sgt Nalder said.

He said people need to plan ahead when going on long trips and remember the fatal five, with local police focusing on fatigue these holidays.

“I think people need to remember fatigue. It’s the quiet killer on the road,” he said.

“People will be travelling long distances, it’s inevitable. We live in a regional area where it is a part of life, but we need to remind everybody to rest on those trips.

“It has been pretty tragic throughout the Townsville district of late. We have had a few fatals that have occurred and I have no doubt with the school holidays commencing there will be an above- average amount of vehicles on the roadway.

“The big message is, don’t be in a hurry, leave early, don’t leave it ’ til the last second and ensure there is no distractions inside the vehicle.”