NSW Police are reminding drivers about their responsibility to drive safely after five people lost their lives on the roads across the ANZAC Day long weekend.
The ANZAC Day traffic operation commenced at 12.01am on Wednesday 24 April 2024, and concluded at 11.59pm yesterday (Sunday 28 April 2024), coinciding with the end of the school holidays.
Double demerit points were in force for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.
The Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, together with local police, patrolled roads across the state, targeting double demerit offences and the Fours Ds – drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving – with the aim of preventing injury and death.
During the period, police saw a number of dangerous driving incidents, including excessive speed, drink-driving, and reckless driving.
Across the state, police issued 4,197 speed infringements, conducted 165,604 breath tests with 256 people charged with drink-driving, conducted 12,371 roadside drug tests with 637 positive detections, and attended 410 major crashes, resulting in 148 people injured.
Five people died on NSW roads, compared to four for the same period the previous year (2023).
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said it was disappointing to still see risky driving behaviour.
"Five lives lost is five lives too many. That's five people not going home to their families," Minister Catley said.
"Police will continue to target speeding, distracted driving, and alcohol and drug use to make sure everyone can get to their destinations safely."
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, said police will continue to run these operations in order to keep the community safe and target dangerous and irresponsible driving behaviour.
"During what has been a busy period on our roads with school holidays and the ANZAC long weekend, unfortunately police are still seeing risky driving behaviour," Assistant Commissioner McFadden said.
"Those individuals who thought they could drink and drive without being caught have learnt the hard way this weekend. This is a timely reminder to have a plan B to make sure you return home safely."
"Whilst the ANZAC Day operation may have concluded, police will continue proactive taskings to keep the community safe."
Some items of interest during the operation include:
About 4:40am on Wednesday (24 April 2024), officers attached to Sutherland Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement on the Princes Hwy, Loftus, when they detected a Tesla Model Y travelling at 175km/h in a signposted 80km/h zone. The driver, a 33-year-old Heathcote man was issued an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit more than 45km/h, which carries a fine of $2794. His licence was also suspended for six months.
About 8.50am on Wednesday (24 April 2024), officers attached to Coffs Harbour Traffic and Highway Patrol were performing speed enforcement duties on the Pacific Highway, Corindi Beach, when they detected a Honda Jazz traveling at 152km/h in a signposted 110km/h zone. The driver, a 19-year-old man, produced a provisional P1 licence restricting him to 90km/h. he was subjected to roadside breath tested, returning a negative result. A roadside drug test returned a positive result to cannabis. The man was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station for a secondary drug test that has been sent for analysis. He was issued an infringement notice for exceed speed limit more than 45km/h and fail to display P plates. His licence was also suspended for six months.
About 1.30pm on Thursday (25 April 2024), officers attached to the Mid North Coast Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement on the Pacific Highway, Kundabung when a Toyota Camry was detected traveling at 147km/h in the signposted 110km/h speed zone. The driver, a 23-year-old man, produced a provisional P1 licence, restricted to 90km/h. An inspection of the Toyota revealed that the front tyres had no tread left on them. The driver was issued an infringement notice for exceed speed limit more than 45km/h and use unsafe/unserviceable vehicle on road. His licence was also suspended for six months, and the registration plates were confiscated for three months.
About 5:00pm on Thursday (25 April 2024), officers attached to North Shore Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a silver Honda Accord on Burns Bay Road, Linley Point. The driver, a 44-year-old Double Bay woman, was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. The woman was arrested and taken to North Sydney Police Station where she was subjected to a secondary breath analysis, returning an alleged reading of 0.216. She was issued a court attendance notice for drive with high range PCA and is due to appear at Hornsby Local Court on Thursday 30 May 2024. Her licence was also suspended.
About 9am on Friday (26 April 2024), officers attached to the Hume Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a Porsche Cayenne on the Hume Highway, Mittagong, after it was detected travelling at 172 km/h in a signposted 110km/h zone. The driver, a 31-year-old Woollahra man, was issued an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit more than 45km/h and his licence was suspended for six months.
About 4pm on Friday (26 April 2024, officers attached to Armidale Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a Mazda sedan on White Street, Bundarra, south of Inverell, after the driver was detected not wearing a seatbelt. Police spoke to the 59-year-old man who was unable to produce a current driver's licence with checks revealing his last licence expired in June 1993. He was issued a court attendance notice for driving unlicensed and an infringement notice for not wear seat belt.
About 8pm on Friday (26 April 2024), officers attached to Grafton Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a Holden Rodeo utility on Tubiaca-Tyndale Road at Tyndale, south of Grafton. The driver, a 42-year-old South Arm man, returned a positive roadside drug test and checks revealed the vehicle had multiple defects and two teenagers, aged 17, sitting between trail bikes in the tray. The man was arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station where a secondary test was conducted and sent for analysis. He was issued infringement notices for drive with passengers in/on part of vehicle not enclosed, number plate obscured/defaced, not comply with taillights, and tyres not comply with standard.
About 1.40am on Saturday (27 April 2024), officers attached to Ryde Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a Mercedes on James Ruse Drive, Rydalmere, after it was detected travelling at 150km/h in the signposted 70km/h zone. The driver, a 28-year-old man, was issued with a penalty notice for exceeding the speed limit more than 45km/h and his licence was suspended. The number plates were also seized.
About 6.35pm on Saturday (27 April 2024), officers attached to the Mid North Coast Highway Patrol responded to complaints about the manner of driving of a white Subaru Forrester in the Port Macquarie area. The Subaru was located and stopped on Gordon Street. The driver, a 46-year-old man, was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. Checks revealed vehicle's registration had expired in January 2024. The man was arrested and taken to Port Macquarie Police Station where a secondary breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.277. He was issued a court attendance notice for drive with high range PCA and is due to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 19 June 2024. His licence was also suspended, and he was issued infringement notices for driving the vehicle unregistered/uninsured.
About 8.25am yesterday (Sunday 28 April 2024), officers attached to Albury Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling the Albury CBD when they stopped a Suzuki Swift on the Hume Highway. The driver, a 42-year-old man, was subjected to roadside drug test which allegedly returned a positive result. Checks revealed the man's licence was disqualified and during a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located drug paraphernalia and prohibited drugs. The man was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station for secondary testing, which has been sent for analysis. He was issued a court attendance notice for drive while licence disqualified, possess prohibited drug, and possess equipment to administer a prohibited drug. He is due to appear at Albury Local Court on Monday 6 May 2024.
About 7pm yesterday (Sunday 28 April 2024), officers attached to Dubbo Traffic and Highway Patrol saw a Ford Focus travelling along the Mitchell Hwy, Dubbo before stopping the vehicle on Windsor Parade. As police approached the Ford, the driver allegedly moved to the passenger's seat. The 47-year-old man was subjected to roadside drug testing, returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station where he was subjected to secondary testing which has been sent for analysis. He was issued a court attendance notice for drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and has been refused bail to appear at Dubbo Local Court today (Monday 29 April 2024).
Key statistics state-wide (progressive total):
Total Traffic Infringement Notices: 11,580
Speed infringements: 4,197
Breath tests: 165,604
PCA charges: 256
Positive drug-driving tests: 637
Major crashes: 410
Fatalities: 5
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REGIONAL STATISTICS
Northern Region
Total infringements: 2,529
Speed infringements: 1,011
Breath tests: 26,112
PCA charges: 67
Positive drug-driving tests: 138
Major crashes: 78
Fatalities: 2
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Southern Region
Total infringements: 2,196
Speed infringements: 1,1020
Breath tests: 33,229
PCA charges: 49
Positive drug-driving tests: 141
Major crashes: 57
Fatalities: 1
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Western Region
Total infringements – 928
Speed infringements: 401
Breath tests: 13,751
PCA charges: 27
Positive drug-driving tests: 63
Major crashes: 39
Fatalities: 1
