NSW Police are reminding drivers about their responsibility to drive safely after four people lost their lives on the roads across the ANZAC Day long weekend.
The ANZAC Day traffic operation commenced at 12.01am last Friday (22 April 2022) and concluded at 11.59pm yesterday (Monday 25 January 2022).
Double demerit points were in force for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.
The Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, together with local police, patrolled roads across the state, targeting double demerit offences and the Fours Ds – drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving – with the aim of preventing injury and death.
During the period, police saw a number of dangerous driving incidents, including excessive speed, drink-driving, and reckless driving.
Across the state, police issued 7,217 speed infringements, laid 236 drink-driving charges, attended 267 major crashes, and conducted 114,477 breath tests.
Four people died in crashes over the weekend.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, said police will continue to run these operations in order to keep the community safe and target dangerous and irresponsible driving behaviour.
“During what has been a busy period on our roads with school holidays, Easter and the ANZAC long weekend, unfortunately police are still seeing risky driving behaviour,”
“Those individuals who thought they could drink and drive without being caught have learnt the hard way this weekend. This is a timely reminder to have a plan B to make sure you return home safely.”
“Whilst the ANZAC Day operation may have concluded, police will continue proactive taskings to keep the community safe.”
Some items of interest during the operation include:
- About 8am on Friday (22 April 2022), a sedan was seen driving along Marsden Street, Parramatta, with extensive damage. Officers from Parramatta Highway Patrol attempted to stop the vehicle and where it failed to do so, a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit was terminated soon after due to safety concerns. A short time later the vehicle was seen by police to crash into a building on Villiers Street narrowly missing a number of pedestrians. Officers approached the vehicle where the 20-year-old driver – a woman from Wagga Wagga – refused to exit and was removed from the vehicle by police. The woman allegedly refused to supply her licence and particulars when requested to do so. Inquiries by police established she was the holder of a learner licence which is disqualified until January 2023. A search of the vehicle located methylamphetamine. She was arrested and taken to Merrylands Police Station and charged with proceed through red traffic light, not stop before lights at red light, possess prohibited drug, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, destroy or damage property, resist officer in execution of duty and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period. The woman is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 1 June 2022.
- About 12.10am on Sunday (24 April 2022), a vehicle was detected by officers from Hawkesbury Highway Patrol allegedly travelling at over 180kph in an 80kph zone on Blacktown Road, Richmond. The vehicle was stopped and the driver – a 33-year-old man – returned a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Windsor Police Station, where he allegedly returned a breath analysis of 0.108 and a positive drug test. The Glossodia man had his licence suspended and was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, class A motor vehicle exceed speed > 45kph, drive with middle range PCA and drive with mid-range PCA and illicit drug. The man is due to appear before Windsor Local Court on Wednesday 29 June 2022.
- About 8am on Sunday, officers attached to Coffs Harbour Highway Patrol were conducting speed enforcement on the Pacific Highway at Dirty Creek when they allegedly detected a Ford Fiesta travelling at 154km/h in a signposted 110 km/h zone. Police stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver, a 37-year-old man. He was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Woolgoolga Police Station, where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.185. He was charged with drive with high range PCA and issued an infringement for exceed speed over 30km/h which carries a $944 fine & 10 Demerit Points. His licence was also suspended. The man is due to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday 23 May 2022.
- Just after 2pm yesterday (Monday 25 April 2022), officers from Bathurst Highway Patrol were performing mobile speed enforcement duties along Conrod Straight at Mount Panorama, Bathurst. At this time police have observed a vehicle being driven by a 37-year-old woman with a four-year-old child standing on the seat between her and the steering wheel. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver issued infringements for drive with passengers four years or older, but less than seven years not restrained as prescribed ($352, demerit 6 points) and drive without proper control of vehicle ($469, 3 demerit points). Officers also submitted a child at risk report.
- About 10am yesterday, Lake Illawarra Highway Patrol stopped a Toyota Hiace Van travelling in a southerly direction on Fern Street, Gerringong. Checks revealed the vehicle’s registration had expired in December last year. The 43-year-old male driver produced a Western Australian driver’s licence, with further checks revealing he was disqualified from driving in 2018. The driver returned a positive roadside breath test and was arrested and taken to Kiama Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.162. He was subsequently charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, and drive with high range PCA. He was released on conditional bail. Later that afternoon, about 4.10pm, the same man was allegedly detected driving the van on Blackwood Street, Gerringong. He was placed under arrest and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with another count of driver motor vehicle during disqualification period and refuse breath test. The man was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court today (Tuesday 26 April 2022).
Key statistics state-wide (progressive total):
Total Traffic Infringement Notices: 7,217
Speed infringements: 2,381
Breath tests: 114,477
PCA charges: 236
Major crashes: 267
Fatalities: 4
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Western Region
Total infringements – 804
Restraint Infringements – 29
Mobile phone infringements – 8
Speed infringements – 304
Breath Tests – 12,823
PCA charges – 24
Fatal Crashes – 0
Lives Lost – 0
Reported major crashes – 29
People injured – 15
Southern Region
Total infringements – 1544
Restraint Infringements – 25
Mobile phone infringements – 22
Speed infringements – 761
Breath Tests – 19,560
PCA charges – 33
Fatal Crashes – 1
Lives Lost – 1
Reported major crashes – 25
People injured – 8
Northern Region
Total infringements – 1356
Restraint Infringements – 24
Mobile phone infringements – 12
Speed infringements – 495
Breath Tests – 20,586
PCA charges – 74
Fatal Crashes – 2
Lives Lost – 2
Reported major crashes – 65
People injured – 25
