TASMANIAN police have caught 488 motorists speeding since a national Christmas holiday road safety campaign Operation Crossroads began on December 23 - despite ongoing pleas for drivers to slow down.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
About 170 motorists were captured speeding on Thursday and Inspector Shane LeFevre said yesterday police would continue to work hard to stop dangerous drivers and take them off the road.
As the new year approaches, Tasmania's chief motorist representative body has also urged drivers to slow down and drive to the busier festive season conditions in the lead-up to 2013.
RACT public policy manager Vince Taskunas said the new year period was a dangerous time on the road for everyone, especially vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Six pedestrians have been killed and 27 have been seriously injured on Tasmanian roads this year, along with 39 motorcyclists.
``Pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable in the event of a collision with a car and this year's road toll should make drivers focus on the need for special vigilance at this time of the year when pedestrian traffic - some intoxicated - is at increased levels,'' Mr Taskunas said.
The national Christmas holiday road toll as of yesterday stands at 22 fatalities, including the single-vehicle accident at Bagdad on December 23 that killed a 61-year-old man.
Inspector LeFevre said motorists could expect an increased police presence and more random breath-testing over the next few days and at new year celebrations - having already booked 33 people for exceeding the legal .05 alcohol limit.
Seven vehicles have been confiscated and 646 drivers have been issued with traffic infringement notices in six days.
Operation Crossroads will run until midnight on Thursday.