Police operation targets road deaths

Operation Consequence will saturate the region’s roads for the next six weeks with police hoping to change the mindset of drivers and save lives in the process.

With two fatal collisions in the Shoalhaven on Monday, and a near miss north of Berry on Tuesday police have called for motorists to put more thought into their driving.

Highway Patrol Sergeant Mick Tebbutt said the Shoalhaven was among the highest areas in the state for driver fatalities last year.

“We had 19 fatalities in the Shoalhaven last year and our three year average is nine,” Mr Tebbutt said.

While the finger is often pointed at young drivers the numbers of older people dying on local roads matched those of drivers under the age of 25.

Operation Consequence brings highway patrols from three other areas to this region to target compliance, speed, alcohol and heavy vehicles.

“Police from out of town do not have the same rapport with locals that we do so motorists can expect zero tolerance,” Mr Tebbutt said.

During Operation Consequence attention would be focused on drivers under 25 and over 65 years of age.

Leading Senior Constable and field operations commander for the operation Kelly Thomas said those age groups are pretty much running on par in regard to traffic law compliance. 

“Some older people let their driving skills drop, they become a bit too familiar. Also their hand eye co-ordination and reflexes are not as good as they once were,” Mr Thomas said.

“And the younger people don’t have the level of responsibility to add weight to their decision making process. The result is they take risks.

“That responsibility tends to come as they get older and maybe have a family of their own.”

Operation Consequence will target roads around coastal villages and some of the roads less travelled as well as all major roads and feeder-roads to the region.

The operation will run for six weeks after which the results will be evaluated.