Police blitz on key risk factors

Bathurst police joined a state-wide operation, ‘Compliance 3’, which saw highway patrol officers and local police stopping drivers for using mobile phones while driving; breaking the law in school zones, and identifying vehicles with illegal equipment or enhancements.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander for the Chifley Local Area Command, Sergeant Peter Foran said the purpose of the operation was to address key risk behaviours for road users.

Sgt Foran said in school zones, motorists need to be aware of not only the 40km/h speed limit between 8am and 9.30am, and again between 2.30pm and 4pm, but also the high level of pedestrian activity involving  school children, parents and teachers who need to use those areas during peak times

He said patrolling school zones was part of highway patrol’s day-to-day focus.

“The last thing we want is an incident in a school zone where a child is injured or killed,” he said.

“We patrol these areas to minimise the risk to children and we make no apologies for that.”

Sgt Foran said the use of mobile phones by drivers was an ongoing problem, and one that posed a great risk to not only the driver but to the general community.

He said mobile phone use can be a major distraction for drivers, and by taking their eyes off the road even for a second, drivers can lose control of their vehicle.

“I think anyone who drives around Bathurst will regularly see someone driving and talking on the phone, but there is no excuse for it,” he said.

“These days people can get devices in their cars for hands free and blue tooth relatively cheaply.”

Sgt Foran said studies have shown that talking on a phone while driving results in similar driver impairment to drink-driving.

“It’s a distraction. They don’t have two hands on the steering wheel and, more often than not, they are not looking where they are going,” he said. “Overall, our aim is to enforce road safety for the benefit of all road users.”