General Comment

This is the third full day of Operation Crossroads.

Tasmania Police continue to conduct high visibility and covert traffic operations in all areas around the state.

Overall offences are down from the same period last year but Tasmania Police see this as no time for complacency.  Offences are still too high and each one of these offences indicates that unnecessary risks are being taken on our roads this Easter.

The road toll still remains at zero fatalities, but a serious crash involving a motorcycle and a car resulted in the serious crashes for the Easter period  rising to 1.  A family will now be sending much of Easter visiting  a loved one in hospital.

Incidents:

Inattention offences:

A 49yo male motor cyclist is in LGH in a serious but stable condition, following a motorcycle crash at Penquite Rd, Newstead yesterday evening (26 March).  Prreliminary investigations indicate the motorcyclist failed to give way to a turning vehicle on Penquite Rd. It is currently underdetermined whether alcohol/drugs were contributing factors to the crash.

In a separate incident, a parked police vehicle and semi-trailer were struck by an out of control utility yesterday at Deloraine.  Investigations  indicate that he accident was as a result of inattention on the part of the driver of the utility.

Both these incidents are examples of inattention and could have resulted in more serious injuries or even deaths.  Please keep alert and aware of what is going on around you.

Insecure Loads

A vehicle was intercepted in Davey Street, Hobart yesterday with a mattress strapped to the roof of the car.  It was secured by one piece of rope that was threaded through open rear windows of the vehicle.  The load was so badly secured that it required both the passenger and driver to have their hands out of their windows to hold the mattress onto the roof.

This is a timely reminder that when travelling this easter, ensure the extra cargo you may be carrying is secured safely  to your vehicle.  Check and double check caravan and trailer connections and ensure all safety measures, including trailer and caravan brakes are in full working order place.

Tasmania Police ask each and every motorist to drive carefully and be continually aware of the ‘fatal 5’; the five biggest contributors to serious and fatal accidents on our roads, these being:

speed

failure to wear seatbelts or helmets

Alcohol and Drugs

Distraction

Driving whilst tired

Tasmania Police employs over 1200 sworn officers with new additions hitting the streets regularly. Not all of these are operational but of those that are most will have some involvement with operation crossroads over this Easter.  Be prepared to see police, and for those that are doing the wrong thing, be prepared to get caught.