Tis the season to drive safely

• Police begin State-wide Christmas traffic blitz
• Powerful new campaign focuses on victims of road crashes - people who will be missed these holidays
• Double demerits apply from December 24, 2021 to January 9, 2022
  

Police and Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia is urging road users to remain vigilant and drive safely as Western Australians hit the road over the holiday season.

 

WA Police will ramp up traffic enforcement operations, with high visibility

patrols, drug and alcohol testing and mobile camera units to catch speeding drivers.

 

Road users are also being asked to keep themselves and others safe by slowing down, not driving tired and buckling up.

 

The double demerit period will run from December 24, 2021 to January 9, 2022.

 

So far this year there have been more than 160 people tragically killed on WA roads. These mostly preventable deaths form the basis of a new road safety campaign launching today, 'Shadows of Summer'.

 

The campaign, designed to shine a light on the scale of WA's road toll, will also be taken to the regions and shows striking visuals of shadows representing people who have lost their lives on our roads this year.

 

For information relating to the Shadows of Summer campaign, visit the Road Safety Commission website https://wa.gov.au/rsc

 

Comments attributed to Police and Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia:

 

"While there will be a big police presence on the road, we also need all drivers to take responsibility for their behaviour.

 

"I want everyone to prioritise their safety and the safety of others during what can be a tragic time of year on our roads.

 

"The Shadows of Summer campaign encourages people to think about those who have been killed on our roads this year and the things they and their families will miss out on.

 

"Our frontline police officers are often first at the scene of a fatality and the ones who deliver the horrible news to families who have just lost someone.

 

"My hope for this Christmas is that no more families lose a loved one to road trauma."

Police Minister's office - 6552 5600