Australian Police

Australian Police

The Thin Blue Line – Australian Police

Traffic Services Branch

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Commander Ron Sorrenson

The Traffic Services Branch is primarily responsible for:

  • developing the strategic direction and formulating policies associated with the Service’s response to road safety and traffic management,
  • providing operational support to Regions and Local Area Commands through intelligence driven deployment of additional traffic enforcement personnel and the provision of traffic enforcement technology and services,
  • developing and disseminating advice on all matters relating to traffic policy, enforcement, education, road trauma, legislation and miscellaneous matters to the Government, police executive and operational commands, road safety stakeholders and members of the public, and
  • representing the Force on relevant road safety committees and forums.

Program 3 Traffic Services

“To reduce road trauma by encouraging safer road user behaviour and compliance with the road laws.”

Road safety is the responsibility of all police and the Traffic Services component of the NSW Police Force Corporate Plan, focuses on and enhances the key program areas of the Road Safety 2000 strategy.

It is important that our Force maintains a strong focus on high profile traffic enforcement, which has proven to be a major component in improving driver behaviour and reducing road trauma. While traffic enforcement targets road trauma reduction, this represents only part of the overall traffic strategy adopted by the NSW Police Force. Providing an effective traffic policing service involves:
 

  • promoting road safety through compliance with traffic laws
  • deterring inappropriate behaviour by road users
  • facilitating the free movement of traffic, people and goods

Apart from enforcement, traffic policing involves community education, communication and encouragement strategies. All of these areas focus on creating a change in attitude and behaviour of NSW road users.

Road Safety 2000 is the road safety strategic plan for New South Wales. It provides an integrated framework for the road safety activities of all government agencies and every sector of the NSW community. This strategy addresses four strategic issues:

  • community involvement
  • transport and land use planning
  • safer people, roads and vehicles
  • co-ordination

As part of the strategy annual targets have been set for the year 2000 are:

  • 500 (or less) fatalities – down 23% on 1994
  • 5,500 (or less) serious injuries – down 13% on 1994

In road safety terms, the performance of NSW has consistently improved since 1991 and considering its population, we have one of the lowest death rates in Australia.

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