Police in Southern Region are calling on road users to share the responsibility of safer driving behaviour at the conclusion of Operation Chrome, a three-day police operation aimed at reducing road trauma, NSW Police say.
The operation, which ran from Friday (27 April 2018) to Sunday (29 April 2018), utilised officers from all police districts within the Southern Region, working alongside officers from the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command.
During the operation, officers conducted 26,852 random breath tests, with 82 drivers allegedly returning a positive reading. Officers also conducted 781 random drug tests, with 53 returning a positive result. Police stopped 341 drivers for speeding and 15 for not wearing a seat belt or a helmet.
Tragically, and despite police warnings, four people lost their lives.
During the operation, officers interacted with more than 30,000 road users and called for caution, as poor driver behaviours continue to cost lives on rural roads including speeding, drink and drug-driving, not wearing seatbelts, using a mobile phone while driving and fatigue.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie, Southern Region Commander, said the tragic loss of life is a reminder for all road users to heed the advice of police.
"Entire families and communities are feeling the loss of loved ones and every road user must accept that safety on our roads is a shared responsibility.
"Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. If every driver or rider takes personal responsibility for their actions, it will save lives. It’s that simple," Assistant Commissioner Barrie said.
"While this operation has concluded, officers will continue to stop road users who are putting themselves and others at risk as part of Operation Merret, a state-wide operation aimed at reducing road trauma."
The four lives lost were:
About 7pm (Sunday 29 April 2018), emergency services were called to Gerogery Road, Jindera, after two cars collided. The male driver and female passenger of a blue Lexus died at the scene.
Also yesterday (Sunday 29 April 2018), a 43-year-old man died in a single vehicle crash at Burley Griffin Way, in Yenda. Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash.
About 3.10pm on Saturday, 28 April 2018, a 61-year-old woman, who was a pillion passenger of a Kawasaki motor cycle travelling east on the Snowy Mountains Highway, Tumut, was ejected from her seat after a tree branch fell and struck her.
