The Labour Day long weekend traffic operation has now concluded, with three lives lost on NSW roads.
Operation Labour Day 2024 commenced at 12.01am on Friday (4 October 2024) and concluded at 11.59pm yesterday (Monday 7 October 2024).
The high-visibility operation saw police across the state targeting drink and drug driving, fatigue, mobile phone use, speeding and seat belt and helmet offences, with double demerits in place for the duration of the four-day operation.
Across the state, police issued 10,479 Traffic Infringement Notices, including 4124 for speed related offences, 312 for mobile phone usage, and 232 seatbelt/helmet related offences.
Police attended 280 major crashes, conducted more than 138,000 breath tests, with 210 drink driving offences and conducted 12,000 drug tests with 633 drug driving offences detected.
So far this year, 258 people have died in crashes on NSW roads – 188 of those in regional areas. For the same period last year, 255 people died in crashes in NSW – 181 of those in regional areas.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said too many road users continue to put lives in danger by taking unnecessary risks.
“There are still far too many people breaking the rules on our roads. It needs to stop,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Chapman said.
“We saw several incidents of drivers travelling with unrestrained passengers, including young children.”
“Those drivers were lucky their interaction with police was not at a crash site. The rules around seatbelts and restraints exist for a reason and I would remind all drivers to ensure their passengers are properly restrained.
“The traffic operation is over but police will always target dangerous driving in an effort to save lives.”
Incidents of note include:
- About 1.30am Monday (7 October 2024), police detected a vehicle allegedly travelling at 188km/h in a signposted 80km/h area on the Old Pacific Highway, Cowan. The 17-year-old male driver was issued with an infringement for P1 driver exceed speed limit – over 45km/h. His licence was also suspended.
- About 12.30am on Sunday (6 October 2024), police were called to Reynolds Road, Londonderry, following reports of vehicles performing burnouts. Police attended and allegedly observed a Chrysler performing burnouts at the location. The driver, a 24-year-old man, was charged with operate vehicle so driving wheel/s undergo loss of traction. His driver’s licence was also suspended. He is due to appear before Windsor Local Court on Wednesday 27 November 2024.
- About 10.15pm on Saturday (5 October 2024), a vehicle was directed into a stationary random testing site on Dane Drive, Gosford. Police found three passengers – two children and an adult – in the vehicle were allegedly not wearing seatbelts. The 34-year-old male driver was issued an infringement for drive with three passengers seatbelt/restraint not properly adjusted/ fastened, with a penalty of $1318 and 12 demerit points.
- About 11.50pm on Saturday (5 October 2024), police stopped a 47-year-old woman at Toormina for random testing. The woman allegedly returned a positive breath test. She was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station, where a breath analysis was conducted and returned an alleged reading of 0.261. The 47-year-old was charged with drive with high range PCA and will face Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday 19 November 2024. Her licence was suspended.
- About 5.30pm on Saturday (5 October 2024), police observed a vehicle allegedly speeding at 133km/h in a signposted 110km/h on the Newell Highway, at Gilgandra. Police stopped the vehicle and conducted a random breath test that allegedly returned a positive result. The 40-year-old female driver was arrested and taken to Gilgandra Police Station, where a breath analysis was conducted and returned an alleged reading of 0.129. She was charged with drive with middle range PCA and will appear before Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday 23 October 2024.
- About 2.15pm on Friday (4 October 2024), police stopped a vehicle on Bennett Road, St Marys, for random testing. The driver, an 18-year-old man, produced a learner’s licence. He was issued with two infringements for learner driver not display L plates as prescribed and learner not accompanied by licensed driver. His licence was also suspended. A short time later, the same vehicle was stopped on Lonsdale Street, St Marys. The 18-year-old man was charged with drive motor vehicle while licence suspended and will face Penrith Local Court on Thursday 7 November 2024.
- Just after 6am on Saturday (5 October 2024), police allegedly detected a vehicle travelling at a speed of 174km/h in a signposted 90km/h on the M4 Motorway, at Greystanes. The vehicle was stopped, and the 23-year-old driver was issued an infringement for P2 driver exceed speed limit – over 45km/h. His licence was also suspended.
- About 8.30am on Saturday (5 October 2024) officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command observed a vehicle allegedly speeding on the Olympic Highway, at Table Top. Police stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver, a 21-year-old man, who was issued three infringements for P1 driver exceed speed limit – over 45km/h – radar, not comply P1 licence condition not display P plates and use light vehicle not comply with standard. He was also issued a defect notice and his licence was suspended.
Total Traffic Infringement Notices: 10,479
Speed infringements: 4124
Breath tests: 138,650
PCA charges: 210
Positive drug-driving tests: 633
Major crashes: 280
Fatalities: 4
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Northern Region
Total infringements: 2726
Speed infringements: 1184
Breath tests: 26,763
PCA charges: 70
Positive drug-driving tests: 154
Major crashes: 64
Fatalities: 1
Southern Region
Total infringements: 2,090
Speed infringements: 1112
Breath tests: 26,581
PCA charges: 25
Positive drug-driving tests: 141
Major crashes: 29
Fatalities: 1
Western Region
Total infringements: 927
Speed infringements: 481
Breath tests: 14,469
PCA charges: 17
Positive drug-driving tests: 82
Major crashes: 22
Fatalities: 0
