Police across the state have been kept busy on Day 6 of Operation Safe Arrival as drivers continue to put themselves and other road users at risk.
Double demerit points kick-in tomorrow (00.01am Friday 22 December 2017) and will remain in force until Midnight on New Year’s Day (11.59pm).
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said as we roll closer to the peak Christmas period drivers are again reminded to drive to the conditions and allow plenty of time to get to your destination.
“We have seen some poor decisions made by a handful of motorists across the state during Day 6 of the operation. If you take the risk of driving without a current licence you will be caught and prosecuted,” said Corboy.
Key statistics (Cumulative total):
Total infringements issued: 16,939
Speed infringements: 7,200
Breath tests: 202,277
Drink-driving charges: 310
Major crashes: 572
Lives lost: 5
Some examples of inappropriate driver behaviour detected during Day 6 (Wednesday 20 December 2017) of Operation Safe Arrival include:
– About 5.40am, a 26-year-old man was driving east on the M4 Auburn near Silverwater Rd. When he overtook a fully marked police Highway Patrol motorcycle at high speed. The speed of the bike was checked at 163kph in a sign posted 90kph. The driver was issued an infringement notice for exceeding speed limit >45kph and had his licence suspended. The rider was also the owner of the vehicle so his plates have been suspended for three months.
– About 9.20am a b-double truck was heading south on the M1 Motorway at Chinderah loaded with general goods weighing 55 tonnes. The vehicle was stopped at the heavy vehicle checking station and the driver was asked by RMS officers for his licence and work diary. The driver refused and police were called. Officers from Tweed Heads Highway Patrol arrived and spoke with the man who was found to be a suspended driver with numerous work diary breaches. He submitted to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result to Methamphetamine. He was subsequently arrested and taken to Tweed Heads Police Station for secondary testing. He was charged with being a suspended driver, and further charges are expected with regard to the drug test. The work diary offences were dealt with by RMS.
– At 11.30pm a 23-year-old man was stopped on Seven Hills Road, Baulkham Hills after he was allegedly observed crossing the unbroken centre double white lines. At the time the vehicle was displaying red P plates. When spoken to the driver produced a Learner’s licence. A woman seated in the front passenger seat was unlicensed. The driver was issued infringement notices for learner not accompanied by licensed driver, not display L plates and not keep left of centre two-way road. The 22-year-old woman, who was also the owner of the car, was issued with an infringement notice for owner cause/permit or allow learner breach.
– About 1:10pm officers from Newcastle Highway Patrol sighted a stolen vehicle travelling south on Maitland Road. Officers have attempted to stop the vehicle however the driver failed to stop and a pursuit commenced through the suburbs of Newcastle for a short time before the vehicle was stopped in Villers Street, which is a dead end. The driver was arrested and charged with a number of traffic offences including Skyes Law and disqualified driver after it was discovered the man is disqualified from driving for 76 years.
Operation Safe Arrival, the state’s Christmas and New Year road safety campaign, started at 12.01am on Friday 15 December, and will continue until 11.59pm on Monday 1 January 2018.
Double demerit points are now in place and will continue through until midnight on New Year’s Day.
There are more police on roads targeting drivers for dangerous behaviours that have lead to loss of life on our roads, including; speeding, drink and drug-driving, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts.
