Drive safely this Christmas, police urge
“Keep an eye on your driver” is the message to all passengers travelling through the State’s north this holiday season.
Operation Safe Arrival 2007 runs from 0001 hours on Friday 21st December, 2007 to 2359 hours on Friday 4th January 2008.
Double demerit points apply for all speeding and seatbelt offences between 21 December and 1 January.
Northern Region Traffic Co-ordinator, Senior Sergeant Mal Read, said the holiday season was a time for families to be gathered around the Christmas tree rather than a hospital ward.
Passengers in vehicles account for 19 per cent of deaths on roads in the Northern Region during 2007 with 24 people losing their lives.
“I would appeal to anyone who is a passenger in a car these holidays where the driver is behaving irresponsibly or might be tired to ask them to slow down or pull over and take a break,” he said.
“The life you save could be your own or one of your children’s.
“Traffic is expected to be heavy over the start of the holidays and I am asking everyone not to take any unnecessary risks. Arriving late to your destination is better than not arriving at all.
“Ensure that your car is roadworthy and keep in mind that your car fully laden with clothes and Christmas presents handles completely different to your car when it is empty.
“Police and emergency services workers are left to deal with the aftermath of every fatal crash. Crashes can happen at anytime and anywhere whether you are on the coast or in the city.”
