Police have encouraged NSW road users to add a few New Year’s resolutions to their list – keep to the road rules, drive to the conditions, and drive towards a zero road toll as we commence 2017, NSW Police say.
Operation Safe Arrival commenced at 12.01am on Friday 16 December 2016 and ends at 11.59pm today, with double demerit points in place until the operation concludes.
Last year’s road toll (2016) totalled 384, which is 34 more than 2015. The road toll so far this year (2017) is zero. Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, of Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, has asked road users across the state to continue the zero road toll figure as 2017 continues.
"Last year was a shocking year on NSW roads: too many lives were lost unnecessarily and too many traffic offences were detected," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
"Despite the continuing presence of speeding and drink drivers caught, the first day of 2017 ended with not one life lost on NSW roads.
"I challenge each and every road user – whether you’re a driver, rider, cyclist or pedestrian – stick to the road rules, be aware of your surroundings, and drive to the conditions.
"We often start the year with New Year’s resolutions. I hope each and every road user in NSW adds an extra one to their list – drive towards zero deaths on NSW roads in 2017," he said.
Since the start of Operation Safe Arrival:
- 982 people have been charged with drink-driving.
- 69 793 infringements have been issued, including 17,450 for speeding
-1394 major crashes have been reported, resulting in 538 people injured
-14 people have died (two less than at this time of the operation last year).
Incidents of note on Sunday 1 January 2017 (day 17 of Safe Arrival) include:
- About 1.55am, police were conducting stationary roadside breath testing on Parramatta Road, Homebush. A 55-year-old driver provided a positive result and was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station. He then returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.162. The man had his licence suspended and was charged with high-range PCA, to appear at Burwood Local Court on 24 January 2017.
- At 3am, police conducting speed enforcement on the M5 at Moorebank detected a driver allegedly travelling at 122km/h in a 100km/h marked zone. The 37-year-old woman was stopped and returned a positive road side breath test result. She was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station where she returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.171. The Prestons woman was charged with exceed speed more than 10km and driver with high-range PCA, to appear at Liverpool Local Court on 8 February 2017.
- About 3.45am, police attempted to stop a 20-year-old P1 Provisional driver travelling along Victoria Street, Wollongong, with four male passengers, all aged 20. It will be alleged the driver failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated until the man hit a parked and vacant vehicle on Smith Street. The man was arrested and returned a positive road side breath test. He was taken to Wollongong Police Station where he returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.097. The Port Kembla man had his driver’s licence suspended on the spot and was issued a court attendance notice for mid-range PCA, police pursuit, driver manner dangerous and P1 Provisional exceed passenger restriction.
- Just after 9am, an 86-year-old woman was driving a grey Peugeot east along New South Head Road, Rose Bay, when at the intersection of Dover Road, the vehicle and a cyclist collided. Emergency services treated the cyclist – a 52-year-old man – and he was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital where he remains in a serious, but stable condition. The woman was uninjured; investigations into the circumstances of the crash continue.
- At 1.25pm, police stopped a car travelling along the Hume Highway at Tumblong (south of Gundagai) for a random roadside breath test. The 64-year-old driver could not produce a driver’s licence was asked and further checks revealed the South Australian man’s licence had allegedly expired in 1997. The man was issued a court attendance notice for driving unlicensed and directed not to drive the vehicle further. About 20 minutes later, the same man was stopped driving along the Hume Highway near Rosedale Road at Mundarlo in the same vehicle. The man was arrested and taken to Gundagai Police Station where he was charged for driving unlicensed. He will appear at West Wyalong Local Court on 2 February 2017.
- About 6pm, a 34-year-old man was stopped driving a Ford Territory Station Wagon north along the Newell Highway, Narrabri, following complaints from other road users. The man, who is a P1 Provisional driver, provided a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Narrabri Police Station where he returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.136. The man was issued a field court attendance notice for high-range PCA and his driver’s licence was suspended. About 7.50pm, the same driver was stopped driving the same vehicle in Narrabri. He returned a positive roadside breath test and was arrested and taken to the same police station, where he returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.136. The man was issued another court attendance notice for mid-range PCA and drive whilst suspended. He was placed on conditional bail, including not driving a motor vehicle. About 10.20pm, police stopped the same man, in the same vehicle, about 8km north of Narrabri. The man produced a positive roadside breath test result and was arrested and taken to Narrabri Police Station, where he returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.097. The man was further charged with mid-range PCA, drive whilst suspended and breach of bail. He was refused bail and will appear at Moree Local Court today for all three incidents today.
During the operation police want road users to think 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.
