Police are reminding motorists to slow down as double demerits remain in place for the entire October long weekend, NSW Police say.
Operation Slow Down commenced at 12.01am on Thursday 29 September and will conclude at 11.59am on Monday 3 October 2016.
Police have breath tested 23, 420 motorists, and have charged 17 drivers with drink driving.
However, police have issued 1476 motorists with speeding (not including fixed cameras) infringements, which is 143 more than this time last year.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver, is concerned that motorists aren’t heeding the message to slow down on the road.
"When you speed, you not only risk your own life, you risk the life of your passengers, pedestrians and other people on the road," said Acting Assistant Commissioner Driver.
"We have already seen a number drivers speeding, taking unnecessary risks and driving dangerously.
"There is little doubt that speeding a major contributor to crashes on our roads. Our message is simple: slow down."
Some of the significant items from Day One (8 October 2016) of Operation Slow Down include:
MACQUARIE FIELDS:
A 24-year-old P-plate driver was charged with drink driving and had his licence confiscated and suspended after he was allegedly detected driving at 141km/h in an 110km/h zone. The man was stopped on the Hume Highway at Menangle where he returned a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station where he was charged with low-range PCA and issued with infringement notices for not displaying P-plates and licence offences. He appears in Campbelltown Local Court on Monday 31 October 2016.
GUILDFORD:
About 4.36pm yesterday, police stopped a 20-year-old man on Chetwynd Road, Guildford, after he was allegedly detected driving at 86km/h in a 50km/h zone. He was issued with a traffic infringement notice for exceed speed limit by 30km/h. His licence was also suspended.
About 8.15pm yesterday, police attempted to pull over a Harley Davidson motorcycle on Fairfield Road, Guildford West, for the offence of speeding. The driver allegedly accelerated away from police and a pursuit was initiated, where speeds of up 120km/h were reached in a 60km/h zone. The rider stopped the motorcycle in The Crescent at Fairfield. After a short foot pursuit, he was arrested. The 34-year-old man was charged with a number of offences including police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, exceed speed limit and possess prohibited drug. He will appear in Fairfield Local Court on Monday 17 October 2016.
GOULBURN:
About 11.39am yesterday, police allegedly detected a 24-year-old man driving along the Hume Highway, Goulburn, at 168km/h in an 110km/h zone. He was issued with an infringement notice for speed over 45km/h, his licence was suspended for six months and his vehicle was confiscated.
MITTAGONG:
A woman is expected to be charged with licence offences after she was stopped by police on Berrima Road for the purpose of a breath test. The 47-year-old returned a negative result; however, further checks on her licence revealed she was suspended from driving.
COOTAMUNDRA:
A 33-year-old woman was allegedly detected travelling at 130km/h in an 110km/h zone on the Hume Highway, Mundarlo. The woman was issued with a traffic infringement notice.
BATEMANS BAY:
A 44-year-old man was arrested by police after he allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test at Malua Bay about 2.15am today. The man was taken to Batemans Bay Police Station where he was submitted to a breath analysis and recorded a reading of 0.235. The man was charged with high-range PCA and will appear in Batemans Bay Local Court on Friday 14 October 2016.
