Australian Police

Australian Police

The Thin Blue Line – Australian Police

Road Safety & Traffic Management

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Road Safety & Traffic Management

The NSW Police Force provides the public face of road safety to the community and is a key road safety stakeholder. The Service is actively engaged in all aspects of the 5 E’s of road safety:

  • engineering
  • education
  • encouragement
  • enforcement
  • evaluation

This combination of activities seeks to achieve road trauma reduction and the free movement of traffic through day to day on road activities.
 
Causal Factors in Fatal Crashes
 
Speeding

During 1998 speed was a causal factor in:

  • 42% of fatal crashes (up from 36% in 1997)
  • 19% of serious injury crashes
  • 12% of injury crashes
  • 37% of speeding drivers involved in serious casualty crashes, were males aged 17 to 25 years. This group holds only 8% of licences.
 
Drink and Drug Impaired Drivers
During 1998 alcohol was a causal factor in:

  • 16% of fatal crashes (down from 19% in 1997)
  • 15% of serious injury crashes

On Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights alcohol was a factor in 60% of fatal crashes. In 1996 of those drivers/riders admitted to hospital with illegal BAC’s – over 50% were high range, with young driver’s (17-25) having twice the incidence of illegal BAC levels.
 
Corporate Plan – Program 3. Traffic Services

“To reduce road trauma by encouraging safer road user behaviour and compliance with the road laws.” Providing an effective traffic policing service involves:

  • encouraging improved road user behaviour through compliance with traffic laws
  • deterring inappropriate behaviour by road users
  • facilitating the free movement of traffic, people and goods
  • working with the local community and other stakeholder’s

 

Demerit Points
People detected committing driving offences, apart from the monetary penalty and potential licence cancellation for some offences, may also be subject to loss of demerit points.
 
Speed Detection Equipment
Radar, Lidar devices (hand held laser speed detection),
Speed Cameras.
 
Occupant Restraints
During 1998 motor vehicle occupant casualties not wearing an available restraint resulted in:
 
Driver Fatigue
Fatigue is not necessarily associated with long trips or heavy vehicles and it is difficult to assess. In general terms:

Useful Road Safety Links

 
www.rta.nsw.gov.au
Roads & Traffic Authority website, where you can download road user handbooks and up to date traffic legislation.

 
www.maa.nsw.gov.au
Motor Accidents Authority website, where you can obtain road safety information, green slip quotes and information on Paralympians.

 
www.atsb.gov.au
Australian Transport Safety Bureau website, in Canberra for access to national road safety statistics and strategies.

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