Operation Highway 31 launch

NSW Police Force will target unsafe driver behaviour during a four-month traffic blitz on the Hume Highway. 'Operation Highway 31' runs from July to October 2012, focusing on reducing the incidence of road trauma and promoting the free flow of traffic. Officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command will be conducting extensive patrols of the Hume Highway from Pheasants Nest through to Albury. The operation focuses on the enforcement of speeding, drink-driving and other unsafe driving behaviours such as fatigue. Acting Traffic and Highway Patrol Operations Commander, Acting Superintendent Gregory Lynch, said police are working closely with Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to reduce further road trauma. "Over the last three years, there have been more than 1200 major traffic crashes on the Hume Highway," Acting Superintendent Lynch said. "Almost 400 of those crashes resulted in serious injuries and 23 were fatal crashes. "Speeding, drink-and-drug-driving and fatigue are known killers on the road. Operation Highway 31 is in place to combat these and other unsafe driver behaviours." In addition, officers will promote the free flow of traffic by monitoring conditions and reporting real-time information to the Traffic Management Centre (TMC). "The Hume Highway is a major inter-city highway and a vital link for road freight to transport goods between Sydney and Melbourne, as well as serving Albury-Wodonga and Canberra. "This operation provides a highly-visible policing response to incidents along the highway and aims to keep traffic disruptions to a minimum. Operation Highway 31 coincides with the 'SnowSafe' campaign, that encourages motorists take extra care when driving to the snowfields, particularly focusing on driving to road and weather conditions. "All motorists have a responsibility to themselves -- and to all other road users -- to obey the speed limit and drive responsibly," Acting Superintendent Lynch said. For all information on general travel information, visit the Roads and Maritime Service website at www.rms.nsw.gov.au