Get your hand off it — Great Southern police send clear message for holiday motorists

Great Southern traffic officer-in-charge Sergeant Derek Grimes has a clear message for motorists on the eve of the July school holidays: “stay off your phone”.

In a message to drivers, Sgt Grimes said there would be extra police on the roads over the holidays to ensure people were doing the right thing.

“This is a timely reminder for people coming down and travelling within the Great Southern to be mindful of road safety,” Sgt Grimes said. “We like people to get where they going nice and safe. Stick to the speed limit and factor in fatigue stops.

“We will be focusing on offences that are main contributors to our road crashes, including speeding, seatbelts and, most important at this time of year with family on board, distracted drivers.

“So stay off your phone.”

Albany, Bremer Bay and Denmark in particular become hotspots and Sgt Grimes said main highways would be key targets.

But they would not be the only targets.

“Our focus won’t just be on the main arterial roads to people’s destinations,” he said. “Hotspots for people attending Albany, Bremer Bay, Denmark and so on, we will be concentrating on those areas.

“It’s also the secondary arterial roads, not just the main highways.

“We have Perth traffic assisting us, Multanovas and staffing of the Great Southern will heighten over the school holidays to get those maximum patrols out there.

“We will continue to put unmarked cars out on the roads and those officers in plain clothes as well.”

Sgt Grimes said he was confident the Great Southern roads will remain safe if drivers do the right thing.

“Police will be out in force but if you are doing the right thing it’s not a problem,” he said.

“Where you need to go, plan your trip and plan plenty of time and make sure you arrive safe.”