Abide by the road rules or risk being caught.

That is the message from Tasmania Police today.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Mewis said the 24-hour Operation Zero started at midnight last night.

“All available police are enforcing the road rules throughout the State as part of Operation Zero,” he said.

“Zero traffic offences equals zero road tragedy.

“We are concentrating on all the road rules, including the Fatal Five: speeding, drink/drug-driving, inattention, driving tired and not wearing seatbelts.

“We talk a lot about speeding and that’s because it’s the number one factor in road deaths.

“But there are thousands of other crashes on the road each year caused by things like inattention, fatigue and failing to obey traffic rules.

“Mobile phones are a huge distraction while driving. Taking your eyes and attention off the road for just the couple of seconds it takes to read a text can end in tragedy.

“Drivers who take risks like using their mobile, ignoring traffic rules and driving while tired are more likely to be involved in crashes,” he said.

He said this year was the third time Operation Zero had been held. Police have been promoting the operation through Facebook for the last two weeks, posting road rules and traffic facts.

Operation Zero is sponsored by the Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC).

RSAC Chair Jim Cox said the operation highlighted the need for all road users to use the road safely all the time:

“Behind this police enforcement message is another one: it’s not just about today.

“We want everyone to share the road safely and responsibly and to get home safely every time
they use the road. We have got a much greater chance of that happening if we all road users
stick to the rules.

“A small crash, in which no one is injured, could quite easily have become a lot worse with
people seriously injured, or worse, killed.”

More information about road rules is at: http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/licensing/publications/tasmanian_road_rules

In 2014, the streets with the highest number of crashes were Macquarie Street, Davey Street
and Brooker Avenue. In Launceston, Wellington and Brisbane Streets had the most crashes.
William Street, Devonport and Wilson Street in Burnie also had a high number of crashes.

Operation Zero results in 2014 were:

• Disobey lights or road markings – 38 cautions, 74 infringements
• Failing to give way or indicate – 9 cautions, 4 infringements
• Mobile phone offences – 56 cautions, 76 infringements
• Restraint (seatbelt) offences – 31 cautions, 31 infringements
• Drink driving offences – 8
• Positive drug tests – 8
• Speeding offences – 133 infringements, 59 cautions.