Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, last year was a horrendous year on our roads,
sixty lives lost last year alone. Six have been lost
so far this year. Now police are doing all that
they can in an effort to stop people doing the
wrong thing on our roads and really minimize that risk
not only of losing lives but also serious injury. Now
joining us on the show is Superintendent Rick mcgrae. Good
(00:23):
morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Rick, Good morning Katie, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Yeah, good to have you in the studio. Now, talk
me through what police have got planned for this Easter
long weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
First off, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
This Easter, we've got a lot planned all throughout the
territory which is really good. So obviously it's a time
of year when a lot of people will start making
the most of the change in the weather and get
out camping and head out.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Rural so we will have a real big focus.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
In that both up here in the top end and
down in the southern region as well. So I think
the message for drivers is really you know, you will
expect to see police some stage over this long weekend,
so let's make.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Sure it's a really good encounter with us rather than
yeah one.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well, and so obviously additional RBTs. I'm assuming, you know,
I'm making sure that people are doing the right thing,
but having a real focus on the fatal five.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yeah, that's correct, And the RBTs are our real focus
at the moment. It's something that we're really really pushing
a lot. So, yeah, not just this easter, but ongoing
and already this year, we're really focusing on those RBTs
and having those interactions with drivers. Unfortunately, last year, I
think the statistics so far sort of show us that
alcohol and drugs were a factor and in close to
(01:37):
seventy five percent of our fatality.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So that's really where we're putting our focus in those
rb two.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I mean, it's really bad in the sense that we
all know you shouldn't be getting behind the wheel of
your vehicle after you've been drinking or after you've been
taking any kind of substance, you know, And the fact
that people continue to do that despite the loss of
life and the serious injury that we see on our
roads as well.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah, it's absolutely horrible. So and it's something that's so
easily avoided. So when we talk about making that change
and driving like our lives are worth living, that's one
really big thing that people can focus on is there.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Going to be like you said that there will be
plenty of like a real RBT presence. Are we expecting
like can you say what areas or can we just
expect them to be everywhere?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Respect them to be everywhere?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, like I said, we really you know, we do
understand that a lot of people at this time of
the year will get out and go remote a lot.
So I think there's a big clue there. But then
also in town, we'll also be increasing our presence, you
know with roaming patrols and then also stationary RBT. So
it really is expect us to be anywhere at any time.
We're really trying to put the random in random breath testing.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yep, Hey, I was saying to you if just a
few moments ago, I mean, we know that we had
sixty lives lost last year, the six already lost this
year on our roads. You know, it is it's a
better outcome than what it was at this time last year,
but that's still six territories whose lives have been lost.
And we also then just on Monday, I caught up
(03:10):
with Saint John, as I do on a Monday morning,
and they were running me through you know, the different
car crashes that they'd been out to and the serious
injuries that they're dealing with when they go out to
these road crashes. I mean, that's another big factor. I
always think that sometimes we look at the at the
death toll and we go, Okay, we're tracking along a
little bit better this year, but the number of people
(03:31):
that are still seriously injured on our roads is really high.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I think there's two parts to that, Katie, And I
think the thing is is last year was our worst
year in over a decade. So whilst it must look
like we're doing quite well this year, I don't really
want us to be comparing it to our worst, Like,
let's let's strive for better than that. So six lives
are still just way too many lives lost. But yeah,
you've touched on it there, Like the fatalities are really
(03:55):
just the tip of the iceberg, you know, Like unfortunately
they're the worst of what we see on our roads.
But as Saint John would have really been able to
allude to, like, there's a lot of road trauma outside
of that as well.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
So yeah, and like life changing stuff, you know, some
of those injuries change your life forever.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
And it's not just sure life, it's changing. It's a
life of your family, the life of your kids. You know,
people depending on you, You depending on other people. So yeah,
all for one bad choice, one mistake, but if people
have the right attitude on our roads, they can really
avoid that. Like going through a lot of the the
coronial files and files that we see at work, you
(04:36):
look at all these incidents and they are avoidable. So
they're avoidable through people making better choices.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Yep, and that's what we all need to make sure
that we do. You know, if not for yourself, do
it for your family as well, and do it for
you know, the other people that are using our roads.
Let's all respect each other and try to look after
each other this long weekend.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah, it really is everyone's responsibility.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I know that's something we say a lot, but you know,
we strive to be anywhere at any time, but can't
be everywhere at all times. So it really comes up
to people making better choices. But even trying to influence
your family to make better choices. So you know, if
you're aware that someone's having risky driving behavior, be a
drink driving or speeding, really try and get the message
(05:15):
through to them.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Yeah, Rick, can I ask in terms of the upcoming
long weekends, like, obviously we got this weekend, Easter long weekend,
but then we've got a few in a row. So
I'm expecting that the Northern Territory Police, our road policing
crews are going to be out everywhere over those long weekends.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Yeah, that's correct, And look that's a really good, really
good point to you know, really think of those people
who are giving up their long weekends and giving up
their family time to keep people safe. So my hat's
off to everyone who's doing that. But yeah, really we
will have a really good presence over those long weekends.
We identify them as risky times, so we will definitely
(05:53):
have our resources out and about.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Well, Superintendent Rick mcgree, it is always good to catch
up with you, mate. Thank you very much for joining
us in the studio, and you know, to everybody out
there listening, please take care on our roads as we
head into the long weekend and a number of long weekends.
You know, the last thing that I'm sure you want,
Rick and your teams within you know, the police want
is to be heading out to fatalities. The last thing
(06:17):
Christain I want is to get on air next week
and be reporting on the loss of life of wonderful territories.
Nobody wants a situation where their loved ones not coming home.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah yeah, We'll definitely much rather be proactive over this
long weekend and not reactive. So we really hope yourself
and everyone else has a really safe Easter and drive safely.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah you too, And a big thanks to all the
police who are going to be working incredibly hard over
the long weekend. Rick, thanks mate, thanks for joining us
in the studio.
Now, last year was a horrendous year on our roads,
sixty lives lost last year alone. Six have been lost
so far this year. Now police are doing all that
they can in an effort to stop people doing the
wrong thing on our roads and really minimize that risk
not only of losing lives but also serious injury. Now
joining us on the show is Superintendent Rick mcgrae. Good
(00:23):
morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Rick, Good morning Katie, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Yeah, good to have you in the studio. Now, talk
me through what police have got planned for this Easter
long weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
First off, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
This Easter, we've got a lot planned all throughout the
territory which is really good. So obviously it's a time
of year when a lot of people will start making
the most of the change in the weather and get
out camping and head out.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Rural so we will have a real big focus.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
In that both up here in the top end and
down in the southern region as well. So I think
the message for drivers is really you know, you will
expect to see police some stage over this long weekend,
so let's make.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Sure it's a really good encounter with us rather than
yeah one.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well, and so obviously additional RBTs. I'm assuming, you know,
I'm making sure that people are doing the right thing,
but having a real focus on the fatal five.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yeah, that's correct, And the RBTs are our real focus
at the moment. It's something that we're really really pushing
a lot. So, yeah, not just this easter, but ongoing
and already this year, we're really focusing on those RBTs
and having those interactions with drivers. Unfortunately, last year, I
think the statistics so far sort of show us that
alcohol and drugs were a factor and in close to
(01:37):
seventy five percent of our fatality.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So that's really where we're putting our focus in those
rb two.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I mean, it's really bad in the sense that we
all know you shouldn't be getting behind the wheel of
your vehicle after you've been drinking or after you've been
taking any kind of substance, you know, And the fact
that people continue to do that despite the loss of
life and the serious injury that we see on our
roads as well.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah, it's absolutely horrible. So and it's something that's so
easily avoided. So when we talk about making that change
and driving like our lives are worth living, that's one
really big thing that people can focus on is there.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Going to be like you said that there will be
plenty of like a real RBT presence. Are we expecting
like can you say what areas or can we just
expect them to be everywhere?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Respect them to be everywhere?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, like I said, we really you know, we do
understand that a lot of people at this time of
the year will get out and go remote a lot.
So I think there's a big clue there. But then
also in town, we'll also be increasing our presence, you
know with roaming patrols and then also stationary RBT. So
it really is expect us to be anywhere at any time.
We're really trying to put the random in random breath testing.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yep, Hey, I was saying to you if just a
few moments ago, I mean, we know that we had
sixty lives lost last year, the six already lost this
year on our roads. You know, it is it's a
better outcome than what it was at this time last year,
but that's still six territories whose lives have been lost.
And we also then just on Monday, I caught up
(03:10):
with Saint John, as I do on a Monday morning,
and they were running me through you know, the different
car crashes that they'd been out to and the serious
injuries that they're dealing with when they go out to
these road crashes. I mean, that's another big factor. I
always think that sometimes we look at the at the
death toll and we go, Okay, we're tracking along a
little bit better this year, but the number of people
(03:31):
that are still seriously injured on our roads is really high.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I think there's two parts to that, Katie, And I
think the thing is is last year was our worst
year in over a decade. So whilst it must look
like we're doing quite well this year, I don't really
want us to be comparing it to our worst, Like,
let's let's strive for better than that. So six lives
are still just way too many lives lost. But yeah,
you've touched on it there, Like the fatalities are really
(03:55):
just the tip of the iceberg, you know, Like unfortunately
they're the worst of what we see on our roads.
But as Saint John would have really been able to
allude to, like, there's a lot of road trauma outside
of that as well.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
So yeah, and like life changing stuff, you know, some
of those injuries change your life forever.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
And it's not just sure life, it's changing. It's a
life of your family, the life of your kids. You know,
people depending on you, You depending on other people. So yeah,
all for one bad choice, one mistake, but if people
have the right attitude on our roads, they can really
avoid that. Like going through a lot of the the
coronial files and files that we see at work, you
(04:36):
look at all these incidents and they are avoidable. So
they're avoidable through people making better choices.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Yep, and that's what we all need to make sure
that we do. You know, if not for yourself, do
it for your family as well, and do it for
you know, the other people that are using our roads.
Let's all respect each other and try to look after
each other this long weekend.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah, it really is everyone's responsibility.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I know that's something we say a lot, but you know,
we strive to be anywhere at any time, but can't
be everywhere at all times. So it really comes up
to people making better choices. But even trying to influence
your family to make better choices. So you know, if
you're aware that someone's having risky driving behavior, be a
drink driving or speeding, really try and get the message
(05:15):
through to them.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Yeah, Rick, can I ask in terms of the upcoming
long weekends, like, obviously we got this weekend, Easter long weekend,
but then we've got a few in a row. So
I'm expecting that the Northern Territory Police, our road policing
crews are going to be out everywhere over those long weekends.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Yeah, that's correct, And look that's a really good, really
good point to you know, really think of those people
who are giving up their long weekends and giving up
their family time to keep people safe. So my hat's
off to everyone who's doing that. But yeah, really we
will have a really good presence over those long weekends.
We identify them as risky times, so we will definitely
(05:53):
have our resources out and about.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Well, Superintendent Rick mcgree, it is always good to catch
up with you, mate. Thank you very much for joining
us in the studio, and you know, to everybody out
there listening, please take care on our roads as we
head into the long weekend and a number of long weekends.
You know, the last thing that I'm sure you want,
Rick and your teams within you know, the police want
is to be heading out to fatalities. The last thing
(06:17):
Christain I want is to get on air next week
and be reporting on the loss of life of wonderful territories.
Nobody wants a situation where their loved ones not coming home.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah yeah, We'll definitely much rather be proactive over this
long weekend and not reactive. So we really hope yourself
and everyone else has a really safe Easter and drive safely.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah you too, And a big thanks to all the
police who are going to be working incredibly hard over
the long weekend. Rick, thanks mate, thanks for joining us
in the studio.
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