NSW: Deadly holiday period looms

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2004
NSW: Deadly holiday period looms

By Paul Carter, Police Reporter

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - Fewer highway patrol officers doing less time behind the wheel
made for a deadly holiday period ahead on NSW roads, the state opposition said today.

Police Commissioner Ken Moroney acknowledged the highway patrol was under strength
and a reduction in mileage was an issue, even though productivity was up.

Traffic Services Commander John Hartley said times and equipment had changed, helping
patrol officers to work smarter and move less.

Mr Moroney today announced operational changes to the highway patrol, following an
extensive internal review of the service.

Under the changes, the use of local intelligence will be enhanced and strategies planned
at a local level to ensure patrol officers can be at the right place at the right time
to target blackspots and repeat offenders.

The announcement came ahead of the annual holiday road blitz, Operation Safe Arrival.

This begins at one minute past midnight on the morning of Christmas Eve (Friday) and
will target holiday destinations along the coast until January 3, with double demerit
points.

But NSW opposition police spokesman Peter Debnam sounded a dark warning based on figures
he said showed patrol numbers were down by 500 on the 1,200 officers patrolling NSW roads
20 years ago.

Mr Debnam called for an increase in the "piddling couple of million dollars" spent
on highway patrol from the $100 million raised each year from speed cameras.

The road toll had plateaued in recent years, after seatbelt and drink driving campaigns
took effect, he said.

So far this year 517 people have been killed on NSW roads - five less than at this
time last year.

"Motorists know they can do whatever they like on the roads because the chance they
will be caught is remote," Mr Debnam said.

"The reality is, with the reduced number of highway patrol officers, if the weather
is wet, it's going to be a deadly holiday period."

Mr Moroney acknowledged a report in The Daily Telegraph today which included documents
revealing the state's highway patrol cars were vanishing with the fleet travelling 2,000
km less a day than six years ago.

He said the decrease "is an issue" and "highway patrol numbers are coming up to strength".

"But at the same time we've got to look at the productivity of the highway patrol over
the same period of time," he said.

"And in that five year period criminal charges proffered by the highway patrol have
gone up by 14,000 charges."

Supt Hartley said the introduction of hand-held radars, more RTA speed cameras, and
an increase in random breath testing resulted in more stationary activities for patrol
officers.

"The kilometre issue is one we need to look at and see why the decrease has occurred,
but we are aware our work practices have changed over the last five years," Supt Hartley
said.

"You don't need to do as many kilometres, we are just working smarter."

Twenty-one people died on NSW roads in the last Christmas period, with two-thirds killed
in country areas.

AAP pc/nf/cjh/

KEYWORD: XMAS TOLL NSW (WITH FACTBOX)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.