Highway Patrol to help save lives on Tasmanian roads

Tasmania Police has today launched its new Highway Patrol vehicles, adding to the wide range of high-visibility resources available for the new Road Policing Services unit.

Road Policing Services under its new structure and dedicated traffic focus commenced on 4 July, which means there are now 68 police officers solely dedicated to road policing across Tasmania.

Inspector Gary Williams has commenced in the brand-new role of State Road Safety Coordinator.

“This new structure means we now have one of the highest ratios of traffic police in the country, and we want to do whatever we can to stop people dying in crashes on our roads,” he said.

“We’re throwing everything we can at making our roads safer, including these brand-new Highway Patrol vehicles, and we’re using other resources like drones and our community evidence portal to help us track down traffic offenders.”

“With 36 deaths on our roads this year, now more than ever we need the community’s support.”

“Talk to your family, talk to your friends, talk to your children, about making the right choices on our roads and make it clear that none of us should be taking risks or thinking we’re above the rules.”

“We talk about the fatal five: seatbelts, drink and drug driving, speeding, fatigue, and inattention, because it’s these things that cause people to die in crashes.”

“Being ‘a good driver’ is irrelevant. It’s time for everyone to take road safety seriously.”