NSW Police are disappointed at the risk-taking behaviour of road users who continue to put the lives of others in danger, after one man died and another man remains in a serious condition on day four of the Easter long-weekend, NSW Police say.
At part of Operation Merret, police on roads are targeting drivers for dangerous behaviours including; speeding, drink and drug-driving, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts.
Just after 3.30pm yesterday (Sunday 1 April 2018), an 84-year-old man died and another man remains in a serious condition in hospital, after a single-vehicle crash at Jindera.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner and an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command said double-demerits remain in force until the operation concludes at 11.59pm this evening.
"Police issued 1,300 speeding infringements and conducted 54,660 breath tests during day four of the operation. It’s a sad reality that drivers continue to disobey even the most basic of road rules, endangering the lives of others and themselves.
"Two people have lost their lives on our roads during the Easter long weekend because of poor decisions made by drivers and it simply will not be tolerated.
"Police will continue to take people off the roads who choose to drink and drive, or who cannot stay within the speed limit," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
Some examples of inappropriate driver behaviour detected during Day Four of the operation include;
- A teenager has been charged after allegedly failing to stop for police before a pursuit was initiated, about 9am yesterday (Sunday 1 April 2018). A white BMW, which had been reported as stolen earlier in the day from Marrickville, was allegedly involved in a number of fail-to-stop collisions in the Inner West. Officers pursued the vehicle on the Princess Highway, Tempe, before the vehicle allegedly crashed into a police vehicle and four occupants fled the scene. A 17-year-old girl was arrested and charged with take and driver conveyance without consent of owner, police pursuit, drive dangerously, exceed speed limit over 30km/h, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, use vehicle with unauthorised number plate affixed, goods in custody and driver not disclose identity of passengers. An 18-year-old man and 16-year-old girl were arrested a short time later and charged with be carried in conveyance. Inquiries continue.
- About 4.30pm yesterday (Sunday 1 April 2018), police stopped a silver Mitsubishi on Rowe Street, Woollahra. Police checks revealed the 27-year-old male driver’s learner licence had been suspended. Police searched the vehicle and allegedly seized an amount of cannabis. The man was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with driver while licence suspended, possess prohibited drug and supply prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail and will appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 29 May 2018.
- About 10.10pm yesterday (Sunday 1 April 2018), officers from Leichhardt Police Area Command were conducting speed enforcement duties on Victoria Road, Rozelle, when a silver Toyota Aurion was allegedly detected travelling at 124km/h in a 60km/h zone. The 17-year-old male driver, a P1 provisional licence holder, had his licence suspended for six months and was issued an infringement notice for exceed speed over 45km/h.
Key statistics (Cumulative total – started on 29 March 2018):
Total infringements issued (not speeding): 9497
Speed infringements: 6244
Breath tests: 227,085
Drink-driving charges: 229
Lives lost: 2
