Police to target drivers in winter sting

Police will target dangerous and distracted drivers to reduce winter crash statistics. Photo / File

Dangerous and distracted drivers will be the focus of a police sting over the next few months in a bid to reduce the number of crashes over winter.

The campaign dubbed the 2015 Winter Road Policing operation will be launched tomorrow. It aims to reduce the number of crashes over the winter months by targeting drivers and riders who fail to drive to the conditions.

Around 30 per cent of crashes during this period last year occurred while the roads were wet or icy.

Sergeant Ray Wylie said the large majority crashes during this period were "preventable".

"There are a number of things a driver can do to prevent crashes, namely slow down, double the following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, always wear your seatbelt, drive to the conditions and stay entirely within your own lane."

Mr Wylie encouraged drivers to call 111 or *555 to report incidences of bad driving.

"These incidents often involve drunk, impatient, dangerous or fatigued drivers, and we need to know about them sooner rather than later so we can intervene immediately," he said.

"We also encourage members of the public to call *555 to report changing road conditions or areas of high risk."

The operation will run through to October 4 this year.