Police hunt for speeder

POLICE are keen to catch up with a speeding Subaru driver as they continue their Christmas road safety blitz across Tasmania.

Tasmania Police conducted 1500 random breath tests on Monday, with only one drink driver and four drug drivers charged.

One speedster on the Bass Highway near Deloraine did get away from police about 11.15am.

Police said the vehicle was a green Subaru Forester station wagon with NSW registration CF81XK. It was detected doing about 140km/h in a 110km/h zone.

Anyone with any infor- mation, particularly regarding the identity of the driver, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

As part of Operation Crossroads, now in its fifth day, police have conducted more than 13,000 random drug and alcohol tests of Tasmanian motorists.

A total of 716 infringement notices have been issued, including 447 for speeding, 20 for inattentive driving, 15 for mo- bile phone use and 20 for seat belt offences.

“As we head towards New Year and with people driving to either public events or to their holiday destinations, Tasmania Police, as always, ask that they drive within the speed limits and with regard to the road conditions, that they wear their seatbelts, don’t allow themselves to be distracted, don’t drive with alcohol or drugs in their system and don’t continue to drive if fatigued,” acting Inspector Luke Moore said.

Insp Moore had his own brush with poor driving.

“Just before Christmas, I witnessed a lady going through a red light in Launceston — I was commuting on my push bike riding to work and the lady missed me by about 1½ metres and then struck a car going through the intersection,” he said.

“I saw that car then spin on the roadway and two pedestrians — two tourists from Norway — had to step back to avoid being hit by a car that was now out of control.”

Operation Crossroads will continue throughout the Christmas-New Year period.

Nationally, more than double the number of people have died on NSW roads this Christmas compared to last year.