Tasmania’s road toll this year has been horrific and the time has come to enforce safer roads.
It is time for every Tasmanian to echo the sentiments of Tasmania Police: enough is enough.
Our new Road Policing Service has now operationalised dedicated new police officers, patrol vehicles and advanced drone technology.
The new enforcement capability available for Tasmania Police is part of our ongoing efforts to keep Tasmanians safe on the roads.
There have been 36 people who have lost their lives on Tasmanian roads this year, up from 21 the same time last year.
The Road Policing Service is made possible through the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s investment in 329 more police officers since coming to office.
With 68 police officers solely dedicated to keeping our roads safe, Tasmania now has one of the highest ratios of traffic police in Australia.
This means more police to crack down on dangerous drivers.
The police patrol vehicles will be equipped with advanced technology to catch speeding drivers and upgraded markings mean police will be an unmistakable presence on our streets.
They are specifically designed for high-speed interception.
Our Government has also invested $860,000 in drone technology, with 30 drones operational to expose hoons and other dangerous drivers.
The drones have already resulted in prosecutions and have also been used to tackle dangerous driving in remote areas.
To keep the community safe, we are on track to increase Tasmania Police numbers by 31 per cent since forming Government.
This is in stark comparison to the Labor Opposition who cut 108 officers when in Government - which included our dedicated highway patrol unit.
Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving behaviour should report it immediately to police on 131 444 or Triple Zero in a life-threatening situation.
If you can’t report it at the time, you can head to Tasmania Police’s evidence portal.
More Media Releases from Felix Ellis
More Media Releases from the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management