Tasmania Police ask drivers to stay away from bushfire-affected areas
Tasmania Police has urged the public to stay away from bushfire-affected areas and obey road closures this Australia Day long weekend.
Tasmania
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TASMANIA Police has urged the public to stay away from bushfire-affected areas and obey road closures this Australia Day long weekend.
Commander Tony Cerritelli said there was a “real risk” communities and properties would be affected by a number of uncontrolled bushfires burning across the state, particularly in the Central Highlands and Huon Valley.
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Commander Cerritelli asked the public to stay away from alert areas — for their own safety and to assist firefighters and other support agencies.
“Stay off roads that have been closed. Cancel your trips and reconsider any non-essential travel,” he said.
“Visibility on the roads is likely to be reduced due to smoke, ash and embers and there is the potential for roads to be blocked by fire.
“We need people to stay away from bushfire-affected areas to ensure emergency services vehicles can get to where they are needed as quickly as possible and to reduce the risk of crashes and people being impacted by a fast-moving fire.”
Commander Cerritelli directed drivers who must travel on roads impacted by smoke to turn on their headlights, decrease their speed and always give way to emergency vehicles.
“Reducing the impact on the emergency services effort can be greatly assisted by minimising your presence on the roads and staying away from affected areas,” Commander Cerritelli said.
Road Safety Advisory Council chair Garry Bailey also reminded drivers that fatigue could have fatal consequences.
Mr Bailey said a minimum of seven hours sleep was what experts recommended.
“A US study found drivers who slept for less than four hours in a 24-hour period were 11.5 times likelier to crash,” he said.
“Driving is a complex task and requires 100 per cent concentration 100 per cent of the time.
You can’t concentrate properly if you’re tired, so as soon as you feel tired, take a break.”
Mr Bailey said a vehicle going 60km/h will cover 33 metres in a two-second concentration lapse.
“In those few seconds a life-changing crash can happen. If you plan to go away, plan to drive refreshed,” Mr Bailey said.
SES volunteers will staff ‘Driver Reviver’ sites on Monday at Sidling Lookout on the Tasman Higway in the North-East, Parramatta Creek on the Bass Highway in the north, Fossey River on the Murchison Highway in the North-West, and Franklin River Nature Trail on the Lyell Highway in the South-West.
Stay up-to-date about the current fire situation by tuning in to ABC Radio and checking the TFS website www.fire.tas.gov.au and the TasAlert site www.alert.tas.gov.au
Road closures are also updated on the Tasmania Police website www.police.tas.gov.au
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