New South Wales police tackle driver behaviour

Date: 20/9/2012

The latest drive to improve the safety of roads in New South Wales in Australia has been moving away from just concentrating on motorists' speed.

Instead police have been cracking down on driver behaviour which is endangering lives and increasing the chances of accidents.

In a 24-hour concerted effort, 1,200 traffic offence notices were handed out to those motorists who were not biding by the rules of the road.

The types of offences which were being found were using a mobile phone while driving, seatbelts and helmets not being worn and trucks which were on the road without being fully compliant.

Operation Compliance 4 was rolled out across the entire state by officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.

1,262 infringement notices were issued in the course of the day. They were:

831 for the use of a mobile phone without a hands-free kit

278 for not wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle or a helmet on a bike

153 trucks were found to have defects or their drivers were found to be committing traffic offences.

Using a mobile phone while driving is obviously an endemic problem, even if the figures from this latest drive are used in isolation.

Superintendent Stuart Smith said: "Using a mobile handset while driving or riding a vehicle is irresponsible, illegal and dangerous.

"Yesterday’s operation highlights that far too many motorists are continuing to distract themselves with mobile phones when they should be focusing their entire attention on the road around them."

Not enough people are get hands-free kits to use in their vehicles and think it is OK to use their mobile phone anyway.

A recent smartphone app has been invented which prevents phones from making a sound when a message is received or a call is incoming while on the road.

This prevents the motorist from being tempted to answer the call and risk their life while driving their car, truck or other vehicle.

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News