Dob in a Hoon initiative launched ahead of National Road Safety Week

After a spate of hooning incidents including a police station ramming and the vandalism of Anzac Park, Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley has called on the community to dob in a hoon. DETAILS >

Clarence Divisional Inspector Brett Barry and Mayor of Clarence Brendan Blomeley at Rosny bus mall, launching the Dob in a Hoon campaign. Picture: Linda Higginson

Members of the Clarence community are being urged to call out hoons in an initiative leading up to National Road Safety Week.

The Clarence City Council’s Dob in a Hoon campaign will encourage residents to report dangerous and reckless driving.

National Road Safety Week runs from May 14 to 21, and is an annual initiative that highlights the impact of road trauma, and ways to reduce it.

Banners displaying “Dob in a Hoon” messaging will be displayed at bus malls, as well as corflute signage across the city as part of the campaign.

Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley said it was time the community came together to stamp out hooning.

Clarence Divisional Inspector Brett Barry and Mayor of Clarence Brendan Blomeley at Rosny bus mall, launching the Dob in a Hoon campaign. Picture: Linda Higginson

“I urge all residents to do their part by reporting dangerous driving and dob in a hoon” Mr Blomeley said.

“Together, we can make our community safer and more enjoyable for everyone.”

He said hooning, street racing, burnouts and other dangerous driving behaviours was a concern for council, but that it was not a “unique” problem for Clarence.

“We want to ensure all our residents, visitors and workers are safe on our roads,” he said.

On April 18, the Clarence Plains Police station was deliberately driven into with police later finding an abandoned ute believed to be the vehicle that had rammed the building.

Just over a month before, hoons targeted Clarence Anzac Park and the Gielston Bay oval in a night of vandalism – tearing up turf.

Mr Blomeley said Tasmania Police had reported that this year, vehicle complaints to police are up in the south by 30 per cent, and southern road crashes had gone up by 75 per cent.

Fatal and serious crashes in Clarence are reported to be up by 25 per cent, compared to last year.

Report hooning and dangerous driving as it happens by calling 131 444.