Operation Crossroads, a national initiative to reduce road trauma across Australian and New Zealand, was launched ahead of the Easter long weekend today by ACT Policing.
Traffic Superintendent Mark Colbran said road collisions kill on average 1,500 people every year in Australia and on average 400 a year in New Zealand. Six people have already died on ACT roads this year alone.
“It is unacceptable that deaths and injuries occur at all on our roads. On average, over the past five years, Canberrans have been involved in around 593 road crashes per year resulting in serious injury”.
“Road trauma is a major cause of premature death, especially among younger age groups. The fatal five (drink driving, speeding, seat belts, driver distraction and fatigue) are still a major cause of road deaths, and are preventable” he said.
As part of Operation Crossroads, police will be rolling up their sleeves and donating blood to raise awareness of the trauma and injuries over the traditionally busy Easter period.
More than 27,000 blood donations are needed each week to treat people in need. Police are giving their blood to make sure that people think about the impact of their actions on friends, families and others while travelling on our roads.
“Our police officers give their time and effort in attempting to keep our roads safe each day. As part of Operation Crossroads, officers will also be giving blood. Our best expectations will be that you won’t need us or our blood over Easter,” Superintendent Colbran said.
Operation Crossroads commences Friday, April 22 and will continue until the end of the Easter period (Tuesday, April 26). Targeting recidivist traffic offenders, known hotspots and the use of static and mobile random breath testing as well as all available traffic patrols will form part of ACT Policing’s road safety approach to Operation Crossroads.
This Easter’s Operation Crossroads is the first of an ongoing series of coordinated road safety initiatives across Australia.
More than just shops: Woolworths gets nod to develop Moncrieff Group Centre
There are still no freestanding townhouses in the Canberra planning, Why is that? Just more of the… View
Trees, traffic and run-off: The issues pushing developers of Tuggeranong's long-awaited ice rink to look elsewhere
Maybe they should get in touch with the bloke who is building the new ice rinks in Marion and… View
I don’t understand why Majura near ikea hasn’t been an option. It’s already flat, heaps of… View
The site was identified 10 years ago. Issues relating to the development like the slope of the land,… View
Winter is the season of Canberrans' discontent
@CR... renewable wood, nice.. Any idea if the smoke it produces is bad for the environment? View
I'm a Canberran, so of course I own a load of winter coats all in black or very dark grey. View
@karen, its nice for once to see someone NOT pointing the finger at Putin!! View
ACT Budget: Permanent boost to energy bill rebate
Out of compassion let's presume your inability to understand my post led to that silly comment. It… View
Not everyone is blessed enough to lack any resemblance of a soul, or a conscience, or the ability to… View
Ian Douglas, if a couple owns their own home with further assets exceeding $1M then they could try… View