Police are urging the community to think of others on the road after a significant number of dangerous driving incidents across the State during the road safety enforcement operation over the festive season.
Operation Christmas/New Year 2023 commenced at 12.01am Friday (22 December 2023) and concluded at 11.59pm yesterday (Monday 1 January 2024).
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 dangerous driving behaviour and risks on the roads – with the aim of preventing injury and death.
During the period, police saw a concerning number of dangerous driving incidents, including excessive speed, high-range drink-driving, and reckless driving.
Police issued 8069 speed infringements, laid 631 drink-driving charges and 1374 drug-driving charges, attended 740 major crashes, and conducted 342,102 breath tests.
Five people died in crashes over the period, three fewer than during the operation last year.
"During the festive season, we saw a number of concerning incidents of dangerous driving, including excessive speed, drink and drug driving and distractions," Traffic and Highway Patrol State Operations Commander, Superintendent Anthony Boyd said.
"We will continue to have a zero-tolerance approach to law breakers. The end of the double-demerit operation isn't an excuse to forget the road rules, including the speed limit.
"One death is one too many and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep people safe on our roads through enforcement and education.
"Highway Patrol officers, together with local police, will continue to have a high-visibility presence in metro and regional areas across the state, targeting speeding, fatigue, and drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving," Supt Boyd said.
Some examples of driver behaviour detected during the operation include
- About 6.50pm on Saturday 30 December 2023 police stopped a black Mazda 6 bearing Victorian registration on Argyle Street, Picton, for the purpose of random testing. The 65-year-old driver was spoken to and produced an expired Victorian licence. A large number of black garbage bags were allegedly stacked in the rear of the vehicle. A search was conducted and allegedly revealed 34 large rubbish bags containing cannabis and $1780 cash. The driver was arrested and taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged with deemed supply prohibited drug, deal with the proceeds of crime, and being unlicensed. He was refused bail to and appeared at Parramatta Court on 31 December 2023.
- About 4.50pm on Saturday 30 December 2023, police attached to Campbelltown Highway Patrol stopped a 33-year-old woman driving a Mazda hatch on Old Leumeah Road, Leumeah. She allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test and checks revealed her licence was disqualified. Police searched the vehicle and allegedly located a quantity of a substance suspected of being methamphetamine; a box cutter was also found. She was arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station where she allegedly tested positive to methamphetamine. She was charged with drive while disqualified, supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, and custody of a knife. She was bail refused and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday 31 December 2023.
- About 9.05am on Saturday 30 December 2023, police attached to Riverina Highway Patrol were conducting stationary random breath testing on Sheridan Street, Gundagai. A white Ford Transit van was stopped and the driver and sole occupant was spoken to and subjected to random testing which returned a negative result to both alcohol and drugs. A search of the cargo area of the van allegedly located 14 removalist boxes containing a total of 135 cannabis plants. Police also allegedly located 1.86 grams of methamphetamine. The 28-year-old man was arrested & taken to Gundagai Police Station along with the van containing the drugs. He was charged with deemed supply cannabis quantity, possess prohibited drug (Meth), unlawfully possess Australia driver licence, and drive while licence cancelled. He was bail refused and appeared at Wagga Wagga Local Court on Sunday 31 December 2023.
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Western Region
Restraint Infringements – 73
Mobile phone infringements – 14
Speed infringements – 846
Breath Tests – 33,597
PCA charges – 73
Drug-driving charges – 154
Fatal Crashes – 1
Lives Lost – 2
Reported major crashes – 53
People injured – 44
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Southern Region
Restraint Infringements – 65
Mobile phone infringements – 59
Speed infringements – 2,006
Breath Tests – 64,911
PCA charges – 116
Drug-driving charges – 341
Fatal Crashes – 1
Lives Lost – 1
Reported major crashes – 78
People injured – 22
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Northern Region
Restraint Infringements – 100
Mobile phone infringements – 102
Speed infringements – 2,110
Breath Tests – 59,981
PCA charges – 180
Drug-driving charges – 353
Fatal Crashes – 1
Lives Lost – 1
Reported major crashes – 171
People injured – 53
