High Visibility Police Cars

The Acting Commissioner of Police, Darren Hine, has announced a trial of specially marked high visibility police cars that will focus on Tasmania’s highways and major roads, in a further effort to crackdown on lawbreaking motorists and help reduce the State’s road toll.

The Minister for Police and Emergency Management, Jim Cox, made a commitment last year for Police to examine the usage of high visibility police cars through Project Meridian.  Project Meridian has been reviewing existing Police practices and new technologies.

Mr Hine said “national and international research has found the use of high visibility police cars can have a positive impact on driver behaviour.  We are now at a point where four existing cars will shortly be prepared to take to Tasmania’s major carriageways.”

“Their purpose will be to enforce the traffic laws and act as a high visibility deterrent to road users – those motorists who are prepared to risk their lives and the lives of others by taking unacceptable risks while driving.  These cars are designed to act as reminders to motorists to not speed, to not drink and drive, to drive to the conditions, and to wear seatbelts.”

Like the community and the State Government, Police are also extremely concerned with our State road toll and recent examples of poor driving behaviour.  Mr Hine said the trial would be evaluated after 12 months of operation.

The cars will be marked with traditional blue and white chequers as well as fluorescent horizontal stripes in a widening pattern, making them extremely visible to other traffic.  Apart from their livery, the cars will be no different to standard Tasmania Police cars, and they will be able to respond to any type of police situation as necessary.

The trial of the high visibility cars may provide another tool for the State Government and Police to adopt in their efforts to curb the State's road toll and encourage responsible driving on the state's roads.

(3 May 2009)