More than 500 speeding infringements have been issued during a major border-focused school holiday traffic operation aimed at reducing road trauma.
Operation Border to Border ran from Saturday 12 October 2024 to Sunday 13 October 2024, targeting the key transport routes of the Princes Highway and Pacific Highway and Motorway between the Queensland border and Victorian border.
The two-day high-visibility operation involved more than 60 officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command from Northern, Central Metropolitan and Southern regions, targeting speeding, dangerous driving, impaired driving, distracted driving and driver fatigue.
The operation was bolstered in the border regions by highway patrol officers from Queensland Police and Victoria Police.
The operation utilised mobile and stationary random breath testing and random drug testing.
In total, 2214 random breath tests and more than 330 random drug tests were conducted.
NSW Police detected seven positive breath tests and 36 positive drug tests.
More than 520 drivers were detected speeding, with eight drivers charged with exceed speed limit by more than 45 km/h.
There were a further 30 disqualified, suspended or unlicensed drivers detected and 375 other traffic infringement notices including 26 drivers issued with mobile phone offences.
An additional 12 traffic-related charges and three criminal charges were laid, with two heavy-vehicle infringements and one defect notice issued.
Incidents of note:
- Shortly before 7am on Saturday 12 October 2024, Illawarra Highway Patrol were conducting speed enforcement duties on the M1 at Berkeley when they stopped a Ford Territory driven by a 32-year-old woman. Police allege she was speeding and had two children not correctly restrained in the car. A check of her driver’s licence also allegedly indicated it was disqualified. She was issued with a field court attendance notice for drive whilst disqualified to appear at Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday 4 December 2024. The woman was given two penalty notices for exceed speed limit and drive with two passengers seatbelt/restraint not property adjusted/fastened.
- About 11am on Saturday 12 October 2024, Sutherland Highway Patrol allegedly detected a learner driver on the Princes Motorway, Cataract exceeding the speed limit. The 16-year-old boy was issued with traffic infringement notices for learner driver exceed speed limit – over 45km/h and learner not display L plates as prescribed. The supervisor was issued a traffic infringement notice for failing to prevent breach of legislation.
- About 10.30am on Sunday 13 October 2024, Lake Illawarra Highway patrol were conducting speed enforcement duties on the Princes Highway, Yallah when a 27-year-old driver was stopped for allegedly speeding. He was issued a penalty notice for driver exceed speed limit – over 45km/h and his licence was suspended for six months.
- About 2.30pm on Sunday 13 October 2024, Richmond Highway Patrol alleged detected a provisional two driver speeding on the Pacific Highway, Mororo. A 19-year-old man was issued with a traffic infringement notice for driver exceed speed limit – over 45km/h and his licence was suspended for six months.