House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-05-13 Daily Xml

Contents

POLICE, FINES

448 The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (24 February 2009).

1. Why was there a presence of the police in unmarked cars on the Eyre Highway between Port Augusta and Iron Knob in late December 2008 and were they targeting the road transport industry and if so, why?

2. Were these police acting in accordance with the undertakings given by the Minister for Transport in the House during the passage of the new heavy vehicle legislation?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing):

1. South Australia's northern highways links it to three other States. A large number of heavy vehicles, along with overseas tourists and interstate travellers, drive on these highways daily. During the December 2008 and April 2009 school holiday periods, there is an increase in the quantity of vehicle traffic on these roads.

An operation was conducted in the area by the SAPOL Northern Traffic Enforcement Section (NTES) from 13 to 15 December 2008. NTES specifically targeted the known causes of road fatalities and serious injuries known as the 'Fatal Five' namely speed, drink and drug driving, inattention and complacency, failure to wear seat belts and fatigue, as part of its commitment to the Rural Highways Saturation Management Plan.

2. The operation was related to the increase in all types of vehicles using the Highway and was conducted for the purposes of reducing death and injury on South Australian roads.