Dangerous drivers have been warned – police continue to be out in force across our streets, targeting people flouting road rules and putting other road users at risk.
The warning comes after Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officers saturated roads across the greater Sydney area under Operation Katana, targeting speeding, drink and drug-driving, mobile phone, and other traffic offences.
The high-visibility operation, which ran from Friday (1 September 2023) until yesterday (Sunday 3 September 2023), saw officers conduct more than 1,900 random breath tests, with 20 people charged with drink-driving, and more than 760 random drug tests, which returned 43 positive detections.
There were also 97 speed infringement notices and 397 other traffic infringement notices issued.
During the operation, a 24-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy died following a three-vehicle crash in Heckenberg about 9.20pm on Friday (1 September 2023). A 20-year-old man has been charged and remains before the courts.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Anthony Boyd, said police regularly conduct proactive traffic operations to help reduce road trauma and the loss of lives on our roads.
"I find it incomprehensible that there are still some drivers out there that make choices that put not only their own lives at risk, but also the lives of other road users, pedestrians and first responders," A/Assistant Commissioner Boyd said.
"Our officers will not hesitate to take action against those detected speeding or driving dangerously as we continue to patrol roads across the state.
"But we need the community to help us reduce road trauma – follow the road rules to make sure we all reach our destinations safe and sound."
Sally Webb, Deputy Secretary for Safety, Environment and Regulation at Transport for NSW said, sadly more than 239 people have lost their lives on NSW roads during the first eight months of this year.
"Speed remains the biggest killer on NSW roads. The impact of a death or a serious injury on a local community is immeasurable," Ms Webb said.
"We need everyone on our roads to make safe decisions – to slow down, be vigilant and respectful of others using the road.
"We all deserve to make it to our destination safely."
A/Assistant Commissioner Boyd said police will continue to run Operation Katana campaigns to target dangerous and irresponsible driving behaviour.
Incidents of note during Operation Katana include:
- Officers were conducting speed enforcement duties on the Anzac Bridge, Pyrmont, when they detected an Audi allegedly travelling 117km/h in a 60km/h zone about 10pm on Saturday. The vehicle was stopped, and officers spoke with the driver, a 22-year-old man. He was issued an infringement notice for class A motor vehicle exceed speed limit over 45km/h.
- Just after midnight on Saturday, officers were called to Wategos Street, Greenhills Beach, following reports of a vehicle driving erratically. A Kia Picanto hatchback was stopped, and officers spoke with the driver, a 16-year-old boy. Police allege the boy, who holds a learner driver licence, was not accompanied by a licenced driver and was not displaying any L plates. The boy underwent a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and underwent a breath analysis test that returned a result of 0.027. The boy was issued infringement notices for special range PCA, unaccompanied learner, not display L plates and not carry licence. His licence was also suspended, and he was returned home.
- About 1am yesterday (Sunday 3 September 2023), officers were patrolling the Pyrmont area, when they directed a Toyota IS200 to stop for a random breath test on Pyrmont Bridge Road. When the vehicle failed to stop, a police pursuit was initiated. The pursuit was terminated for safety reasons before officers located the vehicle in Harris Street before the driver, a 41-year-old woman, and her passenger, a 42-year-old man, were arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station. The man was charged with an outstanding warrant, destroy or damage property, and breach of bail. He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local yesterday. The woman was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly, fail to comply with request or signal to stop vehicle, negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm), and drive with one unrestrained passenger. She was granted strict conditional and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 29 September 2023.
- Just after 1am yesterday, a Hyundai i30 hatchback was stopped on Taren Point Road, Taren Point, for a random breath test. The driver, a 25-year-old man, allegedly returned a positive result and was arrested to undergo a breath analysis test, which allegedly returned a result of 0.095. The man also underwent a random drug test, that allegedly returned a positive detection for cocaine. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with mid-range PCA and drive with mid-range PCA while illicit drug present in oral fluid. He is due to face Sutherland Local Court on Thursday 28 September 2023 and the man's licence was also suspended.
Anyone with information about dangerous driving behaviours is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
