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Police ask for community pledge

The Fleurieu App

01 April 2021, 4:40 AM

Police ask for community pledgeAiming for a fatality free weekend

Make it stop here. That's the pledge police are asking motorists to make as they head off on Easter break this weekend, in a desperate bid for a fatality free long weekend.


Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott is making an impassioned plea to South Australians to stop the lives lost through road trauma in its tracks this Easter.


With 32 lives lost so far this year, as compared to 30 at the same time last year, SAPOL are launching a massive 7 -pronged, month-long traffic operation across the state, starting Thursday 1 April.


"We have to do this together," AC Parrott says.


"Our role as police is to educate people about the dangers of the fatal five and to deter dangerous behaviours by having a highly visible presence on the roads across the state. We'll  continue to do that this weekend. But we need the South Australian driving public to play their part too.

We're asking every driver to make a concerted commitment to doing the right thing and not take risks on the road this Easter. If you're someone who usually glances at your mobile phone, don't. If you're tempted to drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, don't. If you think driving over the speed limit is safe because you're a good driver, think again. If you are going to skip that rest break or overtake when you know it’s risky because you’re running late, don’t.  Make the decision, and promise your family, that your actions on the road this weekend won’t kill them or someone else.”


Operation High Impact Fatal Five is an all-encompassing approach running every day of April, targeting the driver behaviours that lead to the most trauma on our roads.


The newest addition to the operational schedule is Operation Barossa Focus Fatal Five which started on Friday 26 March and will run to Sunday 11 April, 2021.


The other sub-operations within Operation High Impact Fatal Five include:

  • 1 -5 April: Operation Safe Long Weekend Easter
  • 11-12 April: 24 Hour Operation Stop Drink Drug Drive
  • 23-26 April: Operation Safe Long Weekend Anzac Day
  • 25 April: 24 Hour Operation Stop Drink Drug Drive - Anzac Day
  • 27-28 April: Operation Return to School
  • 1 - 26 April: Operation Safe Hills 2020 - 2021

"The messages are simple and they apply to every single one of us: Plan your drive with regular breaks every two hours, have a passenger navigate rather than looking at your GPS, get plenty of sleep without drinking or taking drugs before you drive, stick to the speed limits on country roads, be courteous and patient, don't be selfish and don't take stupid, dangerous risks," AC Parrott says.


"Let the events of the past three months be your wake-up call and pledge to do the right thing this Easter."


Police Minister Vincent Tarzia said “Multiple SAPOL operations will be in play this month to keep people alive on our roads, stop serious injuries, and make sure every motorist makes it home safe.


Think about your behaviour behind the wheel, or on the bike, and play your part to keep the long weekend fatality free.”

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