New Police traffic vehicles ready for Easter

• 48 new advanced traffic management vehicles operating over Easter
• Vehicles are able to scan 1,000 number plates per hour
•  Increased capacity will help detect unlawful road users

Police and Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey announced today that 48 new advanced traffic management vehicles (ATMVs) were ready to be deployed on Western Australian roads this Easter.

Mrs Harvey said $3.78million had been allocated from the Road Trauma Trust Account to the ATMVs, each of which was able to check about 1,000 vehicle registration plates per hour.

"This is a significant increase from the current manual in-car computers which are able to check about 250-300 registration plates a day," she said.

"These vehicles will be an important addition to WA Police's Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) because they allow for constant monitoring of traffic and checking of vehicle registrations."

The Minister said each ATMV was fitted with four cameras linked to the police database which alerted officers by voice prompts when a target was identified.

"Instead of random stops, officers can program the system to specifically target unlicensed drivers, repeat drink drivers, stolen cars and vehicles of interest," she said.

"The ATMVs are a significant step forward in policing in WA, and will assist in the detection of unlawful road users."

Mrs Harvey said the ATMVs would be part of an increased police presence on WA roads this Easter. She reminded motorists that double demerits, in effect until Monday midnight, applied to offences including:

• drink or drug driving

• speeding

• failing to wear a seat belt or correct child restraint

• carrying passengers in the open load space of a vehicle.

          Fact File

• Two ATMVS will be deployed to each metro and regional district in WA, with another 20 vehicles allocated to the Traffic Enforcement Group, and the Breath and Drug Unit

• An average of 65 people are killed on WA roads each year because of speeding-related crashes

• Alcohol is a factor in almost a third of fatal crashesLiberal-National Government has diverted all revenue from speed and red-light camera infringements to the Road Trauma Trust Account

• Recent research shows double demerits prevent about 30 serious crashes when in effect each year

Minister's office - 6552 5900