Vic: Authorities urge safe driving over holiday period

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2006
Vic: Authorities urge safe driving over holiday period

MELBOURNE, Dec 21 AAP - Victorian authorities have urged motorists to slow down, stay
sober and take extra precautions on the state's roads this holiday period.

Sixteen people were killed in road accidents in the 15 days of the Christmas and New
Year period last summer, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said today.

"This included five on Boxing Day," Ms Nixon told reporters in Melbourne.

"And of the 16 who died, nine were victims of someone else's error and carelessness
(and) one of them was a two-year-old boy."

Ms Nixon warned that traffic police would again stage major road safety blitzes across
the state, targeting speeding, drunk and drugged motorists.

"If you do the wrong thing, you'll get caught, worse, you could be injured and worse,
you could be killed," Ms Nixon said.

The official Christmas road toll period starts at midnight (AEDT) tonight and continues
until midnight on January 5.

Thirteen people were killed on Victoria's roads in the same period last year, preceded
by 16, 20, 15 and then 12 deaths going back to the summer of 2000-01.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks also urged motorists to take regular breaks as they
drive to holiday destinations.

"You want to get there as quickly as you can because you want to enjoy yourself, but
just think about the fact that you want to get there safely - arrive alive," Mr Bracks
said.

AAP dr/xlc/goc/nf

KEYWORD: XMAS ROADS VIC

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