Every year, motorists around Australia hit the road to attend parties with friends and family, but all too often these outings end in serious car accident injuries and fatalities.
This year, the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) is launching a new holiday traffic-enforcement campaign called Operation Safe Arrival, which was designed to keep every motorist safe during the busy holiday travel season.
The NSWPF is working closely with Highway Patrol Command to achieve its goal of zero deaths on the highways this Christmas and New Year's. Operation Safe Arrival began at 12:01am on Friday December 20, and will last through 11:59 pm on Thursday, January 2.
The campaign will include enforcing double demerits for speeding, seatbelt and helmet offences during this period. There will also be a much heavier NSWPF presence on all roads during the campaign. These task forces will be seeking out anyone who may be drink or drug driving, speeding, driving their vehicle when fatigued or using their mobile phone while behind the wheel.
Traditionally, the holidays are an extremely busy time for travel, and the rate of accidents rises. This year, the NSPF hopes to change all that.
"It’s simply not worth taking the risk or being foolish on the roads. It’s not just your life you are putting in danger, but the lives of motorists and passengers around you," Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher stated.
"As a former Highway Patrol officer, I have seen too many times the devastating aftermath of an accident. There are few greater tragedies than losing a loved one in a road accident, particularly at this time of the year."
Cutting down on the number of car accident injuries
The road toll for 2013 has already risen to 332. While this is down by 23 fatalities compared with the same period last year, it is still far too high, as "even one fatality is too many," according to Deputy Commissioner of Police – Specialist Operation Catherine Burn.
"Over the next two weeks, during Operation Safe Arrival, police will be doing everything in our power to keep the road toll from getting any higher," she said.
Those who have been injured on NSW's motorways may want to get in touch with a compensation lawyer to learn what legal action can be taken.