Police are disappointed with the results of Operation Safe Arrival after 16 were killed during the 18-day operation, with speeding and other dangerous behaviour continuing on the roads, NSW Police say.
Acting Commander of the State’s Traffic and Highway Patrol, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said the road toll will again be high this year if people don’t learn to slow down.
"The New Year has just started and we don’t want to see a death toll like last year. We had 384 people die in 2016, and 16 died during Operation Safe Arrival.
"Speeding is still the biggest killer on our roads, contributing to about 40% of fatal crashes, yet we see people continue to speed on highways, back roads, and through residential areas.
"We have already seen too many people and too many families learn the hard way that speeding kills.
"Let’s all just slow down on our roads, so that we can make 2017 a better year than 2016 was on our roads, "Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
Operation Safe Arrival commenced at 12.01am on Friday 16 December 2016 and concluded last night at 11.59pm yesterday.
Throughout the entirety of Operation Safe Arrival:
- 44134 infringements were issued, including 19,267 for speeding
- 1033 people have been charged with drink-driving.
- 1440 major crashes have been reported, resulting in 576 people injured
- 16 people died (one fewer than at this time of the operation last year).
Police want road users to continue thinking about the #Five2Arrive; five simple tips for road users in order to arrive home safely:
- Don’t speed
- Don’t drink and drive
- Wear a seatbelt
- Put your phone away, and
- Take regular breaks.
