Senior police are pleading with drivers to slow down and be patient as heavy traffic is expected with many holiday-goers returning home today, NSW Police say.
People continue to put their lives at risk with dangerous behaviour, including two learner drivers that were caught driving faster than 140km/h in separate incidents.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said that people need to slow down on their return home, to ensure the safety of all road users.
"Police continue to be out in force today – spending their day away from their own family and friends – in order to keep people safe on the roads.
"As people return from their long-weekend holidays; the last thing we want is to see is a tragic scene where someone has lost their life or killed another, simply because they are rushing.
"Three people have already died during this long-weekend. With a combination of heavy traffic and people not obeying the law, I fear that we could see more people die on our roads.
"Please slow down, it is more important to get you and your family home safe, than to not get home at all," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
Operation Tortoise – the Easter long-weekend traffic operation – began at 12.01am Thursday 13 April 2017 and ends at 11.59pm tonight today. Double-demerits will be in force throughout the operation.
Significant detections over the past 24 hours include:
North Coast:
A 21-year-old man with a Learner licence was detected allegedly driving at 142km/h and not displaying L-plates on the Pacific Highway, Valla, about 9.45am on Sunday yesterday. He had his licence suspended on the spot and was issued an infringement for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.
Newcastle:
A 19-year-old woman with a suspended Learners licence was detected allegedly driving at 143km/h in a 90km/h zone on Newcastle Link Road, Wallsend, about 11.55pm on Sunday yesterday. The number plates of the vehicle were removed and the driver was charged with a number of driving offences. She is due to face Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 27 April 2017.
Strathfield:
A 32-year-old man was stopped after he allegedly drove through a red light on The Boulevard, Strathfield, about 3am Sunday yesterday. He was arrested after returning a positive breath test and returned an alleged reading of 0.160. He had his licence suspended on the spot and was charged with high-range drink-driving. He is due to face Burwood Local Court on 5 June 2017.
Nambucca Heads
A 20-year-old woman with a P2 provisional licence was detected allegedly speeding at 135km/h in a 100km/h zone, about 9am on Sunday yesterday. She was stopped and arrested after returning a positive breath test. She was later charged with low-range drink-driving and issued an infringement for speeding by more than 30km/h. She had her licence suspended on the spot and is due to face Macksville Local Court on 10 May 2017.
Mittagong:
A 43-year-old woman was allegedly detected speeding at 183km/h in a 110km/h zone on the Hume Highway, Mittagong, about 8.15am on Sunday yesterday. She had her licence suspended on the spot and was issued an infringement for speeding by more than 45km/h.
Central West:
A 20-year-old man with a P2 licence was allegedly detected travelling at 160km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Castlereagh Highway, Round Swamp, about 4.15pm on Sunday yesterday. He had his licence suspended on the spot and was issued an infringement for speeding by more than 45km/h.
Key statistics (progressive total):
Speed infringements: 6077
Breath tests: 191,224
PCA charges: 199
Major crashes: 274
Fatalities: 3.
