On Day One of the campaign has been marked by the death of a 78-year-old woman who died when a bus rolled on the M1 Motorway, near the Dapto exit at Yallah, yesterday, NSW Police say.
Operation Safe Return 2017 was launched on Tuesday 24 January, 2017 with NSW Police officers out in force on the state’s roads during Operation Safe Return, the annual traffic campaign for Australia Day.
Acting Commander of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, is urging road users to obey road rules to get home safely to their family and friends.
"Throughout Operation Safe Return, you will see more police on the roads targeting speeding, drink driving, seatbelts, fatigue and driver distraction.
"All we want is to see people return home safely this year. To make sure this happens we will be out in force taking licences off those people who put themselves and others at risk," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
Since the start of Operation Safe Return:
- 31,396 people have been breath tested
- 1,055 infringements have been issued for speeding
- 113 infringements have issued for seat belt offences
- 1,761 infringements have been issued (not speed related)
Some incidents included:
- Shortly before 12am, Wednesday 25 January 2017, a 38-year-old woman was stopped for a random breath test in Broken Hill where she allegedly returned a positive result. She was arrested and a breath analysis showed an alleged reading of 0.110. She was issued a field court attendance notice for mid-range PCA and her driver’s licence was suspended. About 1.48am, the same female driver was again detected for driving the same vehicle. The woman was stopped for a random breath test in where she allegedly returned a positive result. She was arrested and a breath analysis showed a reading of 0.0.72. She was issued a field court attendance notice for low-range PCA and drive whilst suspended. Her car keys were seized.
- A 19-year-old provisional driver was detected allegedly driving at 109km/h in a 60km/h zone in Blaxland. His licence was suspended and his registration was confiscated. The man was charged with exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h, and driving at a speed dangerous to the public. He is due to appear at Penrith Local Court on Monday 20 February 2017.
- A 26-year-old man was stopped for a random breath test in Dee Why where he allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and a breath analysis showed an alleged reading of 0.138. He was issued a field court attendance notice for mid-range PCA and his driver’s licence was suspended. He is due to appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday 22 February 2017.
- A 57-year-old man was detected allegedly driving at 171km/h in a 100km/h zone at more than over 45km/h over the posted speed in Cassillis. The man was issued with an infringement for exceed speed limit by more than 45km/h and his licence was suspended.
- Bathurst Highway Patrol were conducting stationary RBT where they saw a 20-year-old man who was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Police conducted a search on the man where they allegedly found cannabis in his pocket. He was arrested and charged with the outstanding warrant and possess prohibited drug.
- A 20-year-old was detected allegedly driving in excess of 129km/h in a 60km/h zone, in Eastern Creek. The man was issued with an infringement for exceed speed limit by more than 45km/h and his licence was suspended and registration plates were confiscated.
- A 75-year-old man was detected driving in Mogo whilst suspended. He was issued with a court attendance notice for the offences drive whilst suspended, and use unregistered motor vehicle on a road. The man is due to appear in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday 6 March 2017.
The operation commenced at 12.01am on Wednesday 25 January 2017 and concludes at 11.59pm on Sunday 29 January 2017.
Double demerits will be in force throughout the period for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
During the operation police want road users to think about the #Five2Arrive; five simple tips for road users in order to return home safely:
- Don’t speed.
- Don’t drink and drive
- Wear a seatbelt
- Put your phone away, and
- Take regular breaks
