28 June 2012

Snow safe patrols kick off on the roads

28 June 2012 | By johnboy

ACT Policing in co-operation with NSW Police will continue to conduct high-visibility patrols on major arterial roads in and out of Canberra as part of Operation Snow Safe this winter.

From the start of the NSW snow season on Friday 8 June, police have been focusing on speeding, drink-driving and driver fatigue as motorists travel to and from the snow fields

With large numbers of motorists travelling to and from the snow fields this winter, drivers are reminded to obey speed limits, take regular breaks and be patient and alert when driving in heavy traffic conditions.

Officer in Charge of Traffic Operations Sergeant Rod Anderson said it was also important for motorists to be prepared for sudden changes in road and weather conditions, and to ensure they adapt their driving accordingly.

“Drivers need to be aware of seasonal drops in temperature typically experienced during the winter months, which can potentially result in hazardous weather and conditions such as fog, high winds, snow or ice on the roads or on your vehicle’s windscreen,” Sergeant Rod Anderson said.

“These conditions can cause minimal visibility on our roads, and can present a real danger when motorists don’t adapt their driving appropriately.

Operation Snow Safe runs over the NSW snow season, from 8 June until the 1 October 2012.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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EvanJames10:35 pm 28 Jun 12

p1 said :

Saw an ~~advertisement~~ news story on this police campaign on the news. From what I could tell, the cops are gonna chase cars down the highway on snowmobiles.

How many times have they played that bit tonight? fark. Stuffs the skidoo, and it’s not great for the road surface either. People who paid for their own skidoos don’t do that to them. I remember a snow-bound season at a place beyond Perisher, and every time there was a heavy snowfall, you could set your watch by the NPWS, police and firies turning up on their skidoos to hoon around where they thought no one could see them.

p19:05 pm 28 Jun 12

Saw an ~~advertisement~~ news story on this police campaign on the news. From what I could tell, the cops are gonna chase cars down the highway on snowmobiles.

cranky6:29 pm 28 Jun 12

‘From the start of the NSW snow season on Friday 8 June, police have been focusing on speeding, drink-driving and driver fatigue as motorists travel to and from the snow fields’

Whilst I can appreciate these aims, I am puzzled how the authorities can identify and correct driver fatigue. There dosn’t seem to be a measuring device they can use.

No money in that.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back4:55 pm 28 Jun 12

snoopydoc said :

… though there are still some breathtakingly retarded overtaking maneuvers to be seen on each and every trip I make.

Speed is not the issue. Overtaking is.

EvanJames2:23 pm 28 Jun 12

snoopydoc said :

Anecdotally (I drive between Canberra and Cooma very frequently), the Bredbo-Cooma camera seems to have had some impact on driving behaviour, though there are still some breathtakingly retarded overtaking maneuvers to be seen on each and every trip I make.

Not sure if you’ve been doing the commute during a ski season, but it’s all fun and games from now until October, especially on the Monaro where it’s straight and clear. Plus you get some traffic to the south coast to really spice things up, people with snow gear on top vs. people towing boats. Many “drivers” don’t know how to overtake, and the Mad Mile is aptly named.

Insert a few tour buses, especially those driven from QLD or the Gong by drivers who don’t often do the route, and it gets highly entertaining. If there’s a fatal, they close the entire stretch which is becoming a huge problem with so many commuters. Stories of people having to go to Cooma and beyond via Adaminaby or Jerangle.

snoopydoc1:52 pm 28 Jun 12

I’d be curious to see the figures on how many drivers are being pinged for speeding through the average speed camera monitored section of the Monaro Hwy between Bredbo and Cooma since they installed it (and for the one on Hindmarsh Drive for that matter).

Anecdotally (I drive between Canberra and Cooma very frequently), the Bredbo-Cooma camera seems to have had some impact on driving behaviour, though there are still some breathtakingly retarded overtaking maneuvers to be seen on each and every trip I make.

EvanJames1:09 pm 28 Jun 12

…”From the start of the NSW snow season on Friday 8 June, police have been focusing on speeding, drink-driving and driver fatigue as motorists travel to and from the snow fields”…

In what way is that different from what they usually do?

It will be interesting to compare the rate of crashes on the Snow road to the Coast road. Friday and Sunday nights, that road is an endless line of lights.