1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,199 Speaker 1: Now, last year was a horrendous year on our roads, 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: sixty lives lost last year alone. Six have been lost 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: so far this year. Now police are doing all that 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: they can in an effort to stop people doing the 5 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: wrong thing on our roads and really minimize that risk 6 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: not only of losing lives but also serious injury. Now 7 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: joining us on the show is Superintendent Rick mcgrae. Good 8 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: morning to you. 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 2: Rick, Good morning Katie, thanks for having me on. 10 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, good to have you in the studio. Now, talk 11 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: me through what police have got planned for this Easter 12 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: long weekend. 13 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: First off, Yeah. 14 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 3: This Easter, we've got a lot planned all throughout the 15 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 3: territory which is really good. So obviously it's a time 16 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 3: of year when a lot of people will start making 17 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 3: the most of the change in the weather and get 18 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 3: out camping and head out. 19 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 2: Rural so we will have a real big focus. 20 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 3: In that both up here in the top end and 21 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 3: down in the southern region as well. So I think 22 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 3: the message for drivers is really you know, you will 23 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 3: expect to see police some stage over this long weekend, 24 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 3: so let's make. 25 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: Sure it's a really good encounter with us rather than 26 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 2: yeah one. 27 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: Well, and so obviously additional RBTs. I'm assuming, you know, 28 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: I'm making sure that people are doing the right thing, 29 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 1: but having a real focus on the fatal five. 30 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's correct, And the RBTs are our real focus 31 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: at the moment. It's something that we're really really pushing 32 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 3: a lot. So, yeah, not just this easter, but ongoing 33 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 3: and already this year, we're really focusing on those RBTs 34 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 3: and having those interactions with drivers. Unfortunately, last year, I 35 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 3: think the statistics so far sort of show us that 36 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 3: alcohol and drugs were a factor and in close to 37 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 3: seventy five percent of our fatality. 38 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: So that's really where we're putting our focus in those 39 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 2: rb two. 40 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: I mean, it's really bad in the sense that we 41 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: all know you shouldn't be getting behind the wheel of 42 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: your vehicle after you've been drinking or after you've been 43 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: taking any kind of substance, you know, And the fact 44 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: that people continue to do that despite the loss of 45 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: life and the serious injury that we see on our 46 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: roads as well. 47 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's absolutely horrible. So and it's something that's so 48 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 3: easily avoided. So when we talk about making that change 49 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 3: and driving like our lives are worth living, that's one 50 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 3: really big thing that people can focus on is there. 51 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: Going to be like you said that there will be 52 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: plenty of like a real RBT presence. Are we expecting 53 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: like can you say what areas or can we just 54 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: expect them to be everywhere? 55 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 2: Respect them to be everywhere? 56 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, like I said, we really you know, we do 57 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 3: understand that a lot of people at this time of 58 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 3: the year will get out and go remote a lot. 59 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: So I think there's a big clue there. But then 60 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 3: also in town, we'll also be increasing our presence, you 61 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 3: know with roaming patrols and then also stationary RBT. So 62 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 3: it really is expect us to be anywhere at any time. 63 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 3: We're really trying to put the random in random breath testing. 64 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: Yep, Hey, I was saying to you if just a 65 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: few moments ago, I mean, we know that we had 66 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: sixty lives lost last year, the six already lost this 67 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: year on our roads. You know, it is it's a 68 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: better outcome than what it was at this time last year, 69 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: but that's still six territories whose lives have been lost. 70 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: And we also then just on Monday, I caught up 71 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: with Saint John, as I do on a Monday morning, 72 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: and they were running me through you know, the different 73 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 1: car crashes that they'd been out to and the serious 74 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: injuries that they're dealing with when they go out to 75 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: these road crashes. I mean, that's another big factor. I 76 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: always think that sometimes we look at the at the 77 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: death toll and we go, Okay, we're tracking along a 78 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: little bit better this year, but the number of people 79 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: that are still seriously injured on our roads is really high. 80 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. 81 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 3: I think there's two parts to that, Katie, And I 82 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 3: think the thing is is last year was our worst 83 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 3: year in over a decade. So whilst it must look 84 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 3: like we're doing quite well this year, I don't really 85 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: want us to be comparing it to our worst, Like, 86 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 3: let's let's strive for better than that. So six lives 87 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 3: are still just way too many lives lost. But yeah, 88 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 3: you've touched on it there, Like the fatalities are really 89 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 3: just the tip of the iceberg, you know, Like unfortunately 90 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 3: they're the worst of what we see on our roads. 91 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 3: But as Saint John would have really been able to 92 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 3: allude to, like, there's a lot of road trauma outside 93 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 3: of that as well. 94 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: So yeah, and like life changing stuff, you know, some 95 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: of those injuries change your life forever. 96 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: Yep. 97 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 3: And it's not just sure life, it's changing. It's a 98 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 3: life of your family, the life of your kids. You know, 99 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 3: people depending on you, You depending on other people. So yeah, 100 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 3: all for one bad choice, one mistake, but if people 101 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 3: have the right attitude on our roads, they can really 102 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 3: avoid that. Like going through a lot of the the 103 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 3: coronial files and files that we see at work, you 104 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 3: look at all these incidents and they are avoidable. So 105 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 3: they're avoidable through people making better choices. 106 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: Yep, and that's what we all need to make sure 107 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: that we do. You know, if not for yourself, do 108 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: it for your family as well, and do it for 109 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,239 Speaker 1: you know, the other people that are using our roads. 110 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: Let's all respect each other and try to look after 111 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 1: each other this long weekend. 112 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it really is everyone's responsibility. 113 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 3: I know that's something we say a lot, but you know, 114 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 3: we strive to be anywhere at any time, but can't 115 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 3: be everywhere at all times. So it really comes up 116 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 3: to people making better choices. But even trying to influence 117 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 3: your family to make better choices. So you know, if 118 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 3: you're aware that someone's having risky driving behavior, be a 119 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 3: drink driving or speeding, really try and get the message 120 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 3: through to them. 121 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, Rick, can I ask in terms of the upcoming 122 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: long weekends, like, obviously we got this weekend, Easter long weekend, 123 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 1: but then we've got a few in a row. So 124 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: I'm expecting that the Northern Territory Police, our road policing 125 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: crews are going to be out everywhere over those long weekends. 126 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's correct, And look that's a really good, really 127 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 3: good point to you know, really think of those people 128 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 3: who are giving up their long weekends and giving up 129 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 3: their family time to keep people safe. So my hat's 130 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 3: off to everyone who's doing that. But yeah, really we 131 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 3: will have a really good presence over those long weekends. 132 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 3: We identify them as risky times, so we will definitely 133 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 3: have our resources out and about. 134 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: Well, Superintendent Rick mcgree, it is always good to catch 135 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: up with you, mate. Thank you very much for joining 136 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: us in the studio, and you know, to everybody out 137 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: there listening, please take care on our roads as we 138 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: head into the long weekend and a number of long weekends. 139 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: You know, the last thing that I'm sure you want, 140 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 1: Rick and your teams within you know, the police want 141 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: is to be heading out to fatalities. The last thing 142 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 1: Christain I want is to get on air next week 143 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: and be reporting on the loss of life of wonderful territories. 144 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: Nobody wants a situation where their loved ones not coming home. 145 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, We'll definitely much rather be proactive over this 146 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,679 Speaker 3: long weekend and not reactive. So we really hope yourself 147 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 3: and everyone else has a really safe Easter and drive safely. 148 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: Yeah you too, And a big thanks to all the 149 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: police who are going to be working incredibly hard over 150 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: the long weekend. Rick, thanks mate, thanks for joining us 151 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: in the studio.