Easter Operation Crossroads – State-wide enforcement activities (Total) – Day 6 Final report
Note: This is a cumulative report comparing this stage in this year’s operation to the same stage in Last year’s operation.
| State wide traffic enforcement activities | 2018 | 2017 | % Diff. |
| Random drug & alcohol tests to date | 18471 | 19000 | -2.8 |
| Motorists charged with drink driving offences to date | 43 | 54 | -20.4 |
| Motorists who returned positive oral fluid tests to date | 50 | 81 | -38.3 |
| Total Infringement notices issued to date | 847 | 967 | -12.4 |
| Infringement notices issued for speeding offences | 567 | 694 | -18.3 |
| Infringement notices issued for inattentive driving | 56 | 60 | -6.7 |
| Infringement notices issued for mobile phone use | 25 | 32 | -21.9 |
| Infringement notices issued for seat belt offences | 55 | 37 | +48.6 |
| Fatal and Serious Crashes | 2018 | 2017 | % Diff. |
| Fatal Crashes | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Serious Crashes | 3 | 9 | -66.7 |
This is the final ‘wrap up’ for Operation Crossroads. Recording of Crossroads activities officially concluded at 0600 this morning.
Overall Tasmanian motorists should be proud of the way they have conducted themselves this holiday period. There has been a marked reduction in most traffic offences, generally down by about 12%.
Drink and drug driving offences have also decreased from the same time last year, which is very pleasing to Tasmania Police; however 43 motorists detected for drink driving and 50 for positive oral fluid tests are still too high.
Less encouraging is the increase in seatbelt compliance infringement notices, which is up nearly 47% on last year. Seat belts are one of the Fatal Five contributing factors to serious and fatal crashes in Tasmania. Seatbelts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. “I would be confident in stating that no Tasmanian of driving age would be unaware of this requirement and there is simply no excuse for not wearing one”, said Acting Inspector Steve Jones.
Sadly there has been one fatality throughout the Easter Crossroads holiday period which is still under investigation. The three serious crashes that occurred during this period were also disappointing. Two of these were completely avoidable and each resulted directly from one of the ‘fatal 5’ crash factors which have been advertised regularly through television, media and policing activities over this holiday period and prior.
Although the Easter Operation Crossroads campaign has ended, motorists are urged to be continually aware of the ‘fatal five’; the five biggest contributors to serious and fatal crashes on our roads, those being; speed, failure to wear seatbelts or helmets, alcohol and drugs, distraction and driver fatigue. It is not only during holiday periods that crashes occur and these messages are just as important outside holidays as during.