Griffith’s road trauma is sky-rocketing. Over the last month the district has seen accidents involving trucks, motorbikes and cars in and around Griffith.
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This has prompted Griffith Murrumbidgee Police District inspector Nick Seddon to implore the community to avoid taking risks on MIA roads.
In a special interview with The Area News, Inspector Seddon delivers a clear message: be safe.
“Of late we have seen a large increase in motor-vehicle crashes with people getting either really badly injured or in fact dying,” he said.
“I want to reiterate our position on driving on rural roads, and in fact we really need to drive to the conditions, taking into account where we are driving to and how we are going to get there.
He says being safe while overtaking other vehicles and driving at the right time of day are important considerations.
“When we are driving at four o’clock in the morning, you need to think: is there really a reason why I am driving at this time? Or should I be driving during the day when my senses are more alert, when I can see further, and when it’s safer for me to drive?”
“I think also we need to talk about overtaking trucks and how we get around them, whether we wait until we can see way past them into the distance or we take the risk. I implore you to really think about how you drive, and the risks you take and why, who we have in the car and who it could be affecting.”
Operation Chrome
Inspector Seddon said this weekend Murrumbidgee PD will be involved in Operation Chrome, targeting rural road trauma in Griffith and district.
While targeting the usual offences: speeding, drink and drug-driving, not wearing seatbelts, using a mobile phone while driving and fatigue, you can expect to see police on roads where police have hardly seen.
“So if you think this weekend, oh I might take the back road home, I would urge you to think again, because we are looking at those rural roads, those roads where you don’t often see police, so you need to think about what you are going to do and how you get home,” he said.
“There is no excuse for drink or drug driving.”
[Operation Chrome] aims to stop fatal crashes before they happen. To do that, we make no apologies for enforcing the road rules that are the biggest contributors to fatal crashes.
- Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie, Commander of the Southern Region.
The first phase of Operation Chrome will run from Friday April 27 until Sunday April 28.
Coffee With A Cop
After the safety warnings, Inspector Seddon wished to remind the community Coffee with a Cop is coming up.
Held on Tuesday May 8 at the Health Hut, the annual event will give the community to touch base with the police in an informal setting.
“You can have a chat to us about anything, about personal issues you have or those in your community, or just to pass the time of day with us.”
“Say G’day, have a chat, and we will even buy you a coffee, and get to know us a bit better.”
