Police issue warning to road users
DELINQUENT drivers are on notice as police vow to come down extra hard on reckless and irresponsible road users.
It comes during a horror year on Tasmanian roads, with fatalities on track to double last year’s figures.
Tasmania Police Sergeant Steve Dine was flagging down cars on the Brooker
Highway on Thursday to check for dangerous and irresponsible behaviour.
Road users were relatively well behaved on Thursday, with police issuing one infringement notice for an unsecured load, three defect notices, and an unlicensed driver among the 260 motorists intercepted.
But that wasn’t always the case, said Sergeant Dine.
“We had an operation up at Pelham recently where we pulled over 10 cars, and we got two drink-drivers from that,” Sergeant Dine said.
“Police are out on the roads every single day enforcing the road rules, but people can help us by reporting dangerous driving immediately on 13 14 44.”
He said police could be anywhere, prowling the roads and highways.
“We could be in a marked car or in an unmarked car. We have unmarked police motorcycles, we’ve also got semi-marked cars which look like ordinary cars as they’re coming towards you,” he said.
“We’re focused upon keeping people on the road safe. It’s not just a police problem, it’s a community problem; we need everyone to play their part. Enough is enough.”
Police are keeping an especially stern eye out on the fatal five: speeding, mobile phones, seatbelts, inattention, and fatigue.
Sergeant Dine said he encouraged members of the public to report wrongdoers by uploading video footage to the Tasmania Police online evidence portal. However he warned drivers not to do anything illegal, such as recording while driving.