Police clamp down on driver offenders
13 April 2012
Police clamp down on driver offenders
Police officers across Australia and New Zealand carried out a five day operation over Easter targeting road safety. Called Operation Crossroads, it is an initiative of Police Commissioners in Australia and New Zealand to reduce road trauma by raising awareness of road safety issues, in particular drink/drug driving, speeding, careless driving and licence offences.
ANZPAA CEO Jon White said that the operation was timed to coincide with the beginning of the Easter holiday period and remind motorists that speeding is a major contributor to increases in road trauma and that improved driver behaviour will save lives. ANZPAA is the agency that serves Police Commissioners in both Australia and New Zealand.
“It is regrettable that we have to continually highlight to people the danger their driving behaviour poses to their own safety and that of other road users. During this latest Operation Crossroads, 35,057 drivers were caught driving at excessive speed and police detected over 1,919 drink driving offences, 175 positive drug tests and 3,525 licence offences.”
Effective enforcement of excessive speed, drink/drug driving, licence offences and traffic infringement is an essential part of Operation Crossroads. Although Police are normally out and about on roads at all times of the year, this highly visible Operation aims to raise awareness of these pervasive problems.
The campaign over Easter was aimed at catching public attention as well as offenders. However, those who choose to speed, drive while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs or commit other offences should be aware that this is 24/7 business for all police jurisdictions and that the consequences are severe – so don’t do it.”
The operation started on 5 April 2012 and ended on 9 April 2012. Preparations are already underway for Operation Crossroads this Christmas.
To find out more information on Operation Crossroads please visit www.anzpaa.org.au
Number of | Total[1] |
Random Breath Tests Administered | 686,535 |
Drink Driving Offences | 1,919 |
Drug Tests | 3,562 |
(Road Side) Drug Tests Positive [1] | 175 |
Licence Offences (Incl. Disqualified Driving) | 3,525 |
Traffic Infringement Notices | 38,749 |
Speeding Offences | 35,057 |
Vehicle Impoundments | 601 |
[1]. The latest statistics for Operation Crossroads – an ongoing series of nationally coordinated road safety operations to reduce road trauma across Australia and New Zealand – are listed below. Please note that not all jurisdictions capture information in each of the categories listed, and as some information is yet to be added, these totals are not final.
Operation Crossroads is a joint initiative of Police Commissioners across Australia and New Zealand. Operation Crossroads supports the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety which was launched in May 2011. The operation starts on 5 April 2012 and ends on 9 April 2012.
To find out more information on Operation Crossroads please visit www.anzpaa.org.au
ENDS