Dangerous Driving Habits Targeted By Police This Christmas

Police Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand are conducting Operation Crossroads this Christmas (23 December 2011 - 3 January 2012) to raise awareness of road safety issues, in particular drink/drug driving, speeding, careless driving and licence offences.

ANZPAA CEO Jon White says that Operation Crossroads takes the Safe System approach to road safety. ANZPAA is the agency that serves Police Commissioners in both Australia and New Zealand.

The Safe System approach is a holistic road safety method used by governments in Australia and New Zealand. It represents a fundamental shift in the way we think about road safety. The Safe System links safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles and safe road use.

“Human beings are fallible and even with a focus on prevention, road crashes will still occur. However the extent of injury or deaths sustained can be reduced when we accept, comply and share the responsibility for using our roads safely,” said Mr White.

“The Safe System approach doesn’t take the road user out of the equation, instead it shares responsibility amongst everyone involved in road usage. For police, this means ensuring that road users are skilled, competent and comply with road rules.”

Careless driving, speeding and drink driving are still considered the three main causes of injuries or deaths on Australian and New Zealand Roads.
“The irony is that most people think they are good drivers but many drivers continue to talk or text on a mobile, run a red light, speed, follow too close or drive while tired or under the influence of alcohol and drugs,” said Mr White.

“It’s not unusual to spot people on the roads doing just these things. Whether it is lack of education about how to drive safely or that they have developed poor driving habits over time - these people are a danger to themselves, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”

Dangerous driving can result in anything from near misses to serious injuries and death. These injuries often result in life-long disabilities for the victims of bad drivers and can fundamentally affect their quality of life and that of their families.

“The victims aren’t statistics. They’re our mums, dads, sons and daughters. Police across Australia and New Zealand will be working hard this Christmas to help ensure everyone using the road does so safely” said Mr White.

Notes:

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 23 December 2011 and finishes on 3 January 2012.

To find out more information on Operation Crossroads please visit www.anzpaa.org.au

For road safety statistics please go to www.anzpaa.org.au

The Safe System approach includes:

• designing and maintaining roads and roadsides to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practical


• setting speed limits according to the safety of the road and roadside


• advising, educating and encouraging road users to comply with road rules, be unimpaired and alert, and drive according to the prevailing conditions


• encouraging consumers to purchase safer vehicles with primary safety features that reduce the likelihood of a crash, such as electronic stability control, and secondary safety features that reduce injury severity in a crash, such as side curtain airbags.

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Secretariat
Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA)

ENDS

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