Reducing road trauma along The Bucketts Way is the aim of a joint traffic enforcement and education operation that will be run along the full length of the crash prone road this week.
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As part of Operation Pail, motorists that use the 150 kilometre road stretching from Twelve Mile Creek to Gloucester on Wednesday and Thursday, March 20 and 21, will see an increased presence of police vehicles, Roads and Maritime Services mobile speed cameras and staff from two councils.
"We're running a joint operation concentrating on the full Bucketts Way in an attempt to reduce road trauma in the lead up to the Easter and Anzac Day long weekend and school holidays," Kristin Marshall, Port Stephens-Hunter police's Acting District Operations Inspector for roads, said.
"Not only is it road policing enforcement it's also education for drivers. The councils will be handing out information to drivers with a drive towards zero message at rest stops along The Bucketts Way.
"In the last few years there has been a significant increase in road accidents along this road at this time of year.
"Enforcement alone doesn't specifically solve the problem. The more education and information we can give drivers to make informed decisions will hopefully, in the long term, reduce the amount of accidents and fatalities."
Operation Pail will involve police from the Port Stephens-Hunter and Manning-Great Lakes districts, Traffic and Highway Patrol, RMS, Port Stephens Council and MidCoast Council staff.
Wednesday and Thursday were chosen for the operation due to police data showing the "hot spot" time for motor vehicle accidents in the area was Thursdays throughout the day, particularly between 9am and 12pm.
Motorists can expect to see more Traffic and Highway Patrol and general duties police cars plus Crash Investigation Unit vehicles and trail bikes along The Bucketts Way throughout the day on March 20 and 21.
Police will be focusing on breath testing, speed, distraction devices such as mobile phones, fatigue and seat belts.
RMS speed camera vehicles will be operating along the roadside and staff members from the Port Stephens and MidCoast councils will be handing out information to drivers at rest stops.
"It's going to be highly visible so people know we're in the area, which will hopefully lead to a reduction in any traffic offences or incidents," Acting District Operations Inspector Marshall said.
"We ran this operation last year and it was quite successful.
"This will not be the last time we'll be targeting this road. There will be an increase in policing on all main thoroughfares, including The Bucketts Way, during the upcoming school holidays and long weekend."