Police will conduct extra stops on Albany Highway in bid to reduce number of accidents cause by driver fatigue

Police will be more visible and there will be extra breath-testing operations carried out on Albany Highway over the weekends of Lighting the Sound in a bid to reduce incidents of driver fatigue. Sergeant Dave Swain, officer-in-charge at Mt Barker, said there would be a more overt presence because of the likely influx of people to Albany for bicentenary events and then Easter. He said the breath testing was as much about giving drivers a break as it was about policing alcohol and drugs. “It means they are having a brief stop during which our officers can tell them it’s an opportunity to have five minutes off the road and maybe start a conversation about what’s in town or where the kids could have a break,” he said. “It’s a chance for them to stop, slow down and enjoy the journey rather than just jump in the car and drive.” He said his area, which spanned from North Bannister all the way to Narrikup, was the worst on Albany Highway for crashes caused by driver fatigue.