Four people have lost their lives on NSW during the June long weekend – three of them in southern NSW.
Operation Stay Alert commenced at 12.01am on Friday 7 June 2019 and concludes . Double demerits are in force throughout the period.
Officers will be a highly-visible presence on the roads during the operation, targeting speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelt and motorcycle/helmet offences, alcohol, drug-affected drivers, and fatigue.
Four people have lost their lives in crashes on NSW roads during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
The latest is the death of a man believed to be in his early 50s after a single vehicle crash on the Barooga Road at Tocumwal, in southern NSW.
The crash occurred after the Nissan Patrol the man was travelling in hit a tree. The wreckage was discovered around 6.30am today (Monday 10 June 2019) by a passing motorist who alerted emergency services. Inquiries into the events leading up to the crash are still continuing.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, said today would be a master class in patience when travelling home after a three-day break.
“We are expecting more cars on the road today as people return from their holiday and would encourage everyone to plan their trip home by listening to the radio and having your passengers check social media applications such as Live Traffic,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
“If you are caught in traffic, be patient. You should not let your current circumstances tempt you into taking risks that place you or your family in more danger of being involved in a crash.
“Three of the four crashes that have claimed the lives of others have occurred on country roads.
“I would like to remind regional drivers that no matter how well you think you might know a stretch of road that crashes can occur at anytime and anywhere.
“You need to be prepared for the unexpected and drive to conditions.”
Some examples of inappropriate driver behaviour detected during Day Three of Operation Stay Alert were:
PYMBLE: Just before 10am yesterday (Sunday 9 June 2019), police travelling on Ryde Road at West Pymble, detected a black Ford Mustang travelling in excess of the sign posted 70km/h speed limit. The driver, a 29-year-old Greenacre man, was issued with infringement notices for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h and defective tyres. His licence was suspended for six months. No vehicle sanctions were undertaken as the driver was not the owner of the vehicle.
OURIMBAH: About 3.45pm yesterday (Sunday 9 June, 2019), a 62-year-old Berkeley Vale woman was stopped for a random breath test while driving north on the on the Pacific Highway at Ourimbah. When the woman was unable to produce her driver’s licence, inquiries revealed that it had expired in 2003. She was issued an infringement notice for driving with an expired licence (two years or more – first offence). This carries a penalty of $673
BATHURST: About 12.40am today (Monday 10 June, 2019), highway patrol officers stopped a vehicle for a random breath test on George Street at Bathurst. The driver was unable to produce a driver’s licence. Further inquiries revealed the driver was a 15-year-old boy. His passenger, a 29-year-old male relative, was issued with an infringement notice for ‘Employ unlicensed driver’ and the 15-year-old boy will be dealt with under the Young Offender’s Act.
Key statistics (Progressive Total since Friday 7 June 2019):
Speed infringements: 3381
Seatbelt offences: 370
Breath tests: 162,938
PCA charges: 204
Major crashes: 201
People injured: 63
Fatalities: 4
SOUTHERN REGION
Speed infringements: 758
Breath tests: 34,920
PCA charges: 34
Major crashes: 17
People injured: 9
Fatalities: 3
NORTHERN REGION
Speed infringements: 738
Seatbelt offences: 28
Breath tests: 23,643
PCA charges: 65
Major crashes: 37
People injured: 13
Fatalities: 0
WESTERN REGION
Speed infringements: 401
Seatbelt offences: 28
Breath tests: 10,755
PCA charges: 28
Major crashes: 12
People injured 5
Fatalities: 0
