Tasmanian Police target risky behaviour in new road safety campaign Operation Safe Arrival

Tasmanian Police will intensify road safety measures over Christmas as part of a new safety campaign by deploying random alcohol and drug tests and unmarked police cars across the state.

Police during the launch of Operation Safe Arrival at Cambridge. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tasmanian Police will be out in force closely watching motorists during the busiest time of year to ensure they make it to their destination safely.

In the new Christmas road safety campaign Operation Safe Arrival, police will be targeting risky behaviour.

“We will concentrate on those people that drink and drive. Those people that take drugs and drive. People that are speeding, people that are not wearing seatbelts and people that are not paying attention,” Tasmanian Police assistant commissioner Adrian Bodnar said.

Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar during the launch of Operation Safe Arrival at Cambridge. Picture: Chris Kidd

The campaign which has the tagline “we’re watching out for you these holidays” will begin on Friday and run until January 3.

Police will be conducting high visibility operations including random breath and drug testing.

“These high visibility operations that we will be conducting can occur anywhere and at any time across our state,” Mr Bodnar said.

“If you’re doing the wrong thing on Tasmanian roads, particularly at this time of the year, you’re likely to be caught because we can be anywhere at any time and at times we will be using unmarked police vehicles as well.”

Road Safety Advisory Council chair Scott Tilyard is urging Tasmanian drivers to safely arrive at their destination these holidays.

Minister Michael Ferguson, Road Safety Advisory Council chair Scott Tillyard and Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar during the launch of Operation Safe Arrival at Cambridge. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Make sure that you get to your destination safely for yourself, for the passengers in your vehicle which is often your family and your loved ones but for all road users,” he said.

“The Christmas and New Year period is one of the busiest times on our roads. We’ve got extra visitors to the state. We’ve got people travelling on roads that they don’t normally travel on so there’s a lot more traffic out there and a greater need for people to be more careful.”

It comes as 32 Tasmanians lost their life on the state’s roads this year – a reduction compared to 51 deaths in 2022.

Police during the launch of Operation Safe Arrival at Cambridge. Picture: Chris Kidd

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the festive period can be a tragic time for families.

“We know right around the country that every Christmas we see lives lost, particularly when you see more traffic and people are getting about their business during the Christmas and New Year period,” he said.

“We’re very pleased that we’ve seen a reduction in the number of fatalities and we hope to believe that our road safety strategy including our mobile speed cameras have played a role in that.

“With a sense of wishing people a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, we can actually honour that by playing our role on the roads by being safe drivers, safe passengers, safe pedestrians and safe cyclists.”

Originally published as Tasmanian Police target risky behaviour in new road safety campaign Operation Safe Arrival