Despite six people losing their lives on NSW roads since the start of Operation Safe Arrival, police are still detecting drivers speeding and failing to obey police directions, NSW Police say.
The operation commenced at 12.01am on Friday 16 December 2016 and concludes at 11.59pm on Monday 2 January 2017. Double demerit points will be in place between Friday 23 December 2016 and Monday 2 January 2017.
During the first 10 days of the operation, six people have died on NSW roads, which is five fewer than at the same time last year. The 2016 road toll currently stands at 374.
Traffic and Highway Patrol officers pursued a driver for more than 13km east along the Great Western Highway yesterday.
The incident began about 12.25pm yesterday, as police were patrolling Mount Lambie and saw a hatchback allegedly swerving within the eastbound lane.
They directed the driver to stop, however, will allege the 27-year-old woman ignored directions and a pursuit was initiated involving a fully-marked Highway Patrol vehicle.
The driver continued east until road spikes deflated the vehicle’s tyres at Wallerawang.
Two women allegedly told police they did not realise police wanted them to stop.
The driver has been issued with a Court Attendance Notice for the offences of police pursuit – not stop (Skye’s Law). She is due to appear in Lithgow Local Court on Thursday 2 February 2016.
This was one of a number of incidents which have Highway Patrol officers concerned, with several speeding drivers being stopped including:
• A 29-year-old man was stopped after being detected at 166km/h in a 110km/h zone south along the Hume Highway at Mundarlo about 3.30pm yesterday. The man’s licence was suspended on the spot and he was issued with a fine for exceed spend.
• About two hours later, a 29-year-old unaccompanied learner-driver was detected in the same location allegedly travelling at 144km/h (learners are restricted to a maximum of 90km/h). The man’s licence was suspended for six months and his vehicle impounded for three months; he also received traffic infringement notices (TINs) totalling $3758 for learner exceed speed, unaccompanied learner, not display L plates, and drive in the right lane.
• About 10.40pm a 38-year-old man was stopped after his speed was recorded at 161km/h in a 110km/h zone on the Hume Highway at Bowning. He was issued with a TIN for speeding and had his licence suspended for six months.
So far during the operation, more than 11,000 TINs have been issued for speeding offences in NSW, which is 1967 more than at the same time last year.
During the operation police want road users to think about the #Five2Arrive; five simple tips for road users in order to arrive home safely:
1. Don’t speed.
2. Don’t drink and drive
3. Wear a seatbelt
4. Put your phone away, and
5. Take regular breaks.
Acting Traffic & Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, is urging road users to comply with #Five2Arrive’s top tip: Don’t speed.
"Our #Five2Arrive campaign focuses on the key driver-safety tips and these drivers demonstrate the cost of not complying," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
"But the cost of the traffic fines is a fraction compared to the risk to human lives by drivers travelling at excessively-high speeds."
