20 April 2011

Operation Crossroads running over Easter

| johnboy
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Operation Crossroads, a national initiative to reduce road trauma across Australian and New Zealand, was launched ahead of the Easter long weekend today by ACT Policing.

Traffic Superintendent Mark Colbran said road collisions kill on average 1,500 people every year in Australia and on average 400 a year in New Zealand. Six people have already died on ACT roads this year alone.

“It is unacceptable that deaths and injuries occur at all on our roads. On average, over the past five years, Canberrans have been involved in around 593 road crashes per year resulting in serious injury”.

“Road trauma is a major cause of premature death, especially among younger age groups. The fatal five (drink driving, speeding, seat belts, driver distraction and fatigue) are still a major cause of road deaths, and are preventable” he said.

As part of Operation Crossroads, police will be rolling up their sleeves and donating blood to raise awareness of the trauma and injuries over the traditionally busy Easter period.

More than 27,000 blood donations are needed each week to treat people in need. Police are giving their blood to make sure that people think about the impact of their actions on friends, families and others while travelling on our roads.

“Our police officers give their time and effort in attempting to keep our roads safe each day. As part of Operation Crossroads, officers will also be giving blood. Our best expectations will be that you won’t need us or our blood over Easter,” Superintendent Colbran said.

Operation Crossroads commences Friday, April 22 and will continue until the end of the Easter period (Tuesday, April 26). Targeting recidivist traffic offenders, known hotspots and the use of static and mobile random breath testing as well as all available traffic patrols will form part of ACT Policing’s road safety approach to Operation Crossroads.

This Easter’s Operation Crossroads is the first of an ongoing series of coordinated road safety initiatives across Australia.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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Martlark said :

Time to have electronic tracking of offender vehicles. More speed cameras and more red light cameras.

Or they could just buy all the known repeat offenders iPhones.

Time to have electronic tracking of offender vehicles. More speed cameras and more red light cameras.

gooterz said :

Maybe the cops can refuel the busses to save lives!

+1 gooterz

As someone who is not allowed to drive (due to a mispent youth) and relies on public transport, I’ve found the last couple of weekends completely frustrating with the bus services. I’ve had to dust off my bicycle (probably not a bad thing). My point, this traffic offender is trying not to be a recidivist.

Tooks said :

Ever heard of RAPID?

Plus, Canberra’s small. It’s not hard for a cop car to take a drive past a known repeat offender’s house to see if the car’s in the driveway. Which they do, even when it’s not easter for your information colourful sydney….

colourful sydney racing identity said :

How are they going to ‘target recidivist traffic offenders’? If they can do this why don’t they spend more time doing it, given that we constantly here about the numner of recidivist drink drivers caught by RBT’s

Ever heard of RAPID?

colourful sydney racing identity10:06 am 21 Apr 11

How are they going to ‘target recidivist traffic offenders’? If they can do this why don’t they spend more time doing it, given that we constantly here about the numner of recidivist drink drivers caught by RBT’s

Maybe the cops can refuel the busses to save lives!

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