Tasmanian road users are being reminded of what can happen if they don’t drive safely for National Road Safety Week (1-6 May).

Three crashed cars will be on display on busy highways around the State to show people what can happen. One of the cars will be on the busy Southern Outlet near Kingston, one on the East Tamar Highway and one on the Midland Highway south of Ross.

Police Commander Brett Smith said that marketing activity will be reinforced by enforcement on each day of the week. There is a focus for each day: Monday, seatbelts and child restraints; Tuesday, speeding; Wednesday, inattention; Thursday, vehicle safety; Friday drink- and drug-driving.

“We should not accept that road deaths are inevitable.  Many deaths and serious injuries are avoidable. These deaths and injuries are a tragedy not only for those involved but also for the friends and family of those people,” Mr Smith said.

Police will be focussing on those contributing factors:

• failing to wear seatbelts or restraints correctly
• speed and not driving to the conditions
• inattention and distraction – eg using mobile phones while driving
• driving while tired
• driving while affected by alcohol or drugs

“We’ll be conducting high visibility patrols targeting the ‘Fatal Five’ causes of road crashes, as well as targeted covert operations,” Mr Smith said.

Emergency services vehicles will display a yellow ribbon for the week as a reminder to drive so others survive and to remember those killed or injured and their families.

A competition for young people aged 16-19 to make a 30 second video to educate their peers as part of National Road Safety Week is also being held. First prize is $5000, second is $2000 and third prize is an RACT package of driving lessons.

For more information about National Road Safety Week 2016, check out www.rsac.tas.gov.au

Day 1 – Monday 2 May 2016 – Get Strapped

Make sure you are strapped in before starting your journey, road safety authorities said today.

Road Safety Advisory Council Chair Jim Cox said that seat belts and properly installed booster seats for children save lives.

“Hundreds of lives have been saved and many more injuries prevented since the wearing of seat belts became mandatory in 1977,” Mr Cox said.

Seatbelts and booster seats are the focus of the second day of Road Safety Week in which drivers are being urged to drive so others survive.

Police Commander Brett Smith said police throughout the state today would be paying particular attention to seatbelts.

“The penalty for not wearing a seatbelt is $300 and 3 demerit points, but the real penalty could be a life or a serious injury.”

Day 2 – Tuesday 3 May 2016 – Don’t get shattered

Speeding is a factor in almost half the road fatalities in Tasmania and more than a third of serious injuries.

And half of those fatalities and serious injuries are in 100km/h or 110km/h zones, many in rural Tasmania.

Road Safety Advisory Council Chair Jim Cox said today reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries was every road user’s responsibility.

“Ask yourself: what can I do to help make our roads safer? One answer is to drive to the conditions which means going at a speed that’s safe for the weather and road conditions and that may be well below the speed limit.

“The faster a vehicle is going, the less time there is to react to the unexpected. Give yourself that time and slow down.”

“As our ads say “speeding shatters lives. You cannot bring someone back to life and you cannot repair all serious injuries.”

Police Commander Brett Smith said exceeding the speed limit was dangerous and put lives at risk.

He said Police throughout the state would be concentrating their efforts on speeding today, the second day of Road Safety Week.

“Too often Police see the results of going too fast. It is better to arrive a little late rather than not at all.”

Commander Smith said the road rules protected all road users and were designed to keep the roads safe.

“It is up to all road users to be responsible and do what they can to keep our roads safe.”

Day 3 – Wednesday 4 May 2016 – Pay attention

It is impossible to drive safely and use a mobile for talking or texting at the same time, road safety authorities warned today. The brain cannot effectively do both, Road Safety Advisory Council Chair Jim Cox said.

“Driving is a complex task, even though it can seem we can do it without much thinking.

Talking on a mobile phone – even hands-free – or texting, takes valuable concentration away from driving and in in the few seconds it takes to take your eyes off the road and look at a text message a tragedy can happen.”

Police Commander Brett Smith said talking on a mobile or texting while driving was against the law.

“Not paying attention is a major crash factor and clearly using a mobile phone is still a big temptation to many people,” he said.

“If you need to answer a phone call or send a text, pull over and park in a safe spot off the road.”

Today’s Road Safety Week focus is on inattentive driving today and Police throughout the State would be paying attention to it, Commander Smith said.

Take the test that proves driving and using a mobile, even hands-free, cannot be done http://think.direct.gov.uk/drivingchallenge/

Day 4 – Thursday 5 May 2016 – Play it safe

Safety should be the main priority when buying a vehicle, road safety authorities said today, the fourth of Road Safety Week.

Tasmanians will experience a graphic display of vehicle safety at the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) display at Agfest.

The display has been brought to the State by ANCAP, the Road Safety Advisory Council and RACT and is the first time it’s been in Tasmania. The display shows two crash tested vehicles each crash tested at 64 kilometres an hour. One, a Chery J1 with a three-star ANCAP safety rating and the other, a Subaru Forester which holds a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

“The display is a stark illustration of the potential risk of driver and passenger injuries in different vehicles, when involved in a crash,” ANCAP Chief Executive Officer James Goodwin said.

The display allows consumers to see the significant differences in safety performance between a top rated vehicle and the poor rated three-star vehicle.

“It is of vital importance that consumers are aware of the safety of their vehicle or one they are looking to purchase. There are five-star choices in all market segments and ANCAP encourages consumers to buy the safest car they can afford,” Mr Goodwin said.

An ANCAP safety rating is awarded to a vehicle after it has undergone a number of physical crash tests, along with an assessment of its safety assist technologies.

“The ANCAP star rating system takes the guess work out of vehicle safety for consumers. The more stars the better, with a five-star ANCAP safety rating demonstrating the highest level of vehicle safety,” he said.

He urged people in the market for a vehicle to visit www.ancap.com.au where they can check the ANCAP safety rating of their current or prospective new vehicle.

New vehicles have never been safer and manufacturers were making safety a priority and a major selling point, Road Safety Advisory Council Chair Jim Cox said.

“Not all of us can afford a new vehicle but that shouldn’t stop us from buying the safest possible vehicle, that may be a used one, within our budget,” Mr Cox said.

RACT’s Executive General Manager, Membership and Community Stacey Pennicott said safety should be the vehicle buyer’s top priority.

“Safety is more important than colour, sound system or other features,” she said.

Police Commander Brett Smith said the focus of Police throughout the State today would be focussing on vehicles’ road worthiness.

“Drivers should ensure their vehicle is as safe as it can be by having, among other things, the brakes and lights are working as they should and correct tyre pressure and tread.”

Day 5 – Friday 6 May 2016 – When to plan not to drive

People who drive after drinking when they may be over the legal limit endanger their lives and those of others, road safety authorities said today.

Drink-driving is a major factor in crashes and is socially unacceptable and people who do it endanger their lives and those of others, Road Safety Advisory Council Chair Jim Cox said today.

Alcohol was a factor in one in five road fatalities and serious injuries, he said.

“Make a plan about how to you will get home before you have a drink. Then there’s no risk to you, your family, friends or others on the road,” Mr Cox said.

Police Commander Brett Smith said that Police would be paying particular attention to drinkdriving over the next 24 hours.

“We won’t always be seen,” he said. “In addition to the familiar breath test operations, there will be less visible activity.”

If you, or someone you know has been affected by road trauma, and would like help, please contact Road Trauma Support Tasmania on 0427 487 251.