The Rockliff Liberal Government is working hard to make Tasmanian roads safer and more efficient but road safety is primarily the responsibility of the driver.
One of the best presents you can give your family and friends this Christmas is your safe arrival.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said that road safety risk factors increase during the festive season.
“Our roads are busier at this time of year with more people travelling to Christmas functions, catching up with family and friends, and we also have more tourists visiting Tasmania,” Mr Ferguson said.
“While police are looking out for bad behaviours that could lead to serious or fatal consequences, all road users have a responsibility to keep both themselves and others safe on our roads.
“This year’s number of fatalities is down on last year’s horrific toll but there are still too many people dying or being seriously injured on our roads,” he said.
Tasmania’s road toll for the year currently stands at 32, compared to 51 for the same time last year however the number of people seriously injured has risen, reaching almost 300.
Mr Ferguson said that the unnecessary loss of life was devastating at any time of the year but the impact was felt more during the holiday period.
“Sadly media reports of holiday-period road deaths are all too common, but the reality is that there is no need for people to die over the break,” he said.
“Unfortunately, bad driver decisions and behaviour are why we had to introduce mobile speed cameras last year and mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras in August this year.
“Too many people are still doing the wrong thing despite ongoing enforcement and education campaigns.
“We’ve seen more than 44,000 speeding fines issued from the mobile speed cameras in just over a year and in just four months with nearly 700 fines have been issued for seatbelt offences and more than 400 for mobile phone use.
“This holiday period, I’m urging all road users to think about the fatal five – stick to the speed limit and drive to the conditions, put your phone away, correctly wear your seatbelt and don’t drink or drug drive – it’s just not worth taking any risks.”
