The four-day Queens Birthday long weekend traffic operation has now concluded, with one life lost on NSW roads.
A state-wide road policing operation ran throughout the Queen’s Birthday long weekend beginning at 12.01am on Friday (10 June 2022) and ending at 11.59pm yesterday (Monday 13 June 2022).
With double demerits in force for the period, the high-visibility operation saw officers targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, driving while fatigued, mobile phone, helmet and other traffic offences.
During the campaign, 3,197 people were issued infringement notices for speeding, and 273 people were charged with drink-driving.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, said the type of behaviour shown by a small number of motorists is unacceptable.
“While the rest of the state abides by the road rules, they are extremely lucky they did not harm themselves or other road users,” Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said.
“Over the weekend, one person lost their life in a crash at Sutton Forest. While this is four less than the same period last year, it is still one person too many.
“While the operation has now concluded, rest assured – we will continue to have our officers proactively patrolling the streets to take the appropriate action against those who drive dangerously.”
Significant incidents from the four-day operation include:
About 3.10pm on Friday (10 June 2022), Traffic and Highway Patrol officers deployed to the Coffs Harbour area detected an unregistered car driving on the Pacific Highway. Police attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the driver failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated before being terminated shortly after due to safety concerns. The Holden was found abandoned in Duke Street and following a search with the assistance of the Dog Unit, the driver was found hiding in bushland. The 24-year-old man was arrested and charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period. He appeared at Port Macquarie Local Court on Saturday and was formally refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court today (Tuesday 14 June 2022).
Fire and Rescue NSW personnel reported seeing a Mazda CX-9 stopped in the M8 Tunnel about 4.40pm on Friday, which sped off and collided with a concrete barrier. Botany Bay Traffic and Highway Patrol officers attended and stopped the Mazda on Canal Road, St Peters. The driver, a 53-year-old man, returned a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.198. He was charged with drive with high range PCA and fail to comply with request or signal to stop vehicle. He is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 1 July 2022. His licence was also suspended.
Just after midnight on Saturday (11 June 2022), officers from Singleton Traffic and Highway Patrol were performing speed enforcement duties on the Hunter Expressway, when they detected a Holden Commodore travelling at 160km/h. The driver, a 20-year-old man from Muswellbrook, produced a P1 provisional licence. He was issued an infringement for P1 driver exceed speed – over 45km/h. His licence was suspended and confiscated for six months.
About 12.45pm on Saturday, officers from Broken Hill Traffic and Highway Patrol detected a Honda motorcycle speeding on Silver Street, Broken Hill. The rider failed to stop, increasing his speed and a pursuit was initiated. The motorcycle left the roadway, travelling along a dirt track and the pursuit was terminated. The motorcycle was monitored before returning to the road, travelling at an estimated speed of 105 km/h in a 50 km/h zone before losing control, and ejecting the rider who fled. Police gave chase on foot and the 32-year-old man was arrested. He was subjected to a roadside drug test, returning a positive sample and checks revealed he was unlicenced and the motorcycle unregistered. The local man was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, unlicensed rider, exceed speed more than 45 km/h, use unregistered and uninsured vehicle. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Broken Hill Local Court on Tuesday 28 June 2022.
Officers from Sutherland Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a Kia Cerato on the Princes Highway near Waterfall, about 1.20pm on Saturday. The driver, a 45-year-old man, was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. During a search of the vehicle, officers located cannabis, a knife, and identified the number plates on the vehicle had been stolen from Victoria. Further checks revealed the vehicle was stolen from South Australia. The man was arrested and taken to Sutherland Police Station, where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.242. The man – who was also wanted on six NSW warrants and six interstate warrants – allegedly threatened officers while in custody. He was subsequently charged with drive with high range PCA, unlicensed driver, driver or rider state false name or home address, two counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (m/v), possess prohibited drug, custody of knife in public place, possess implements to enter/drive conveyance, and intimidate police officer in execution of duty. The outstanding NSW warrants were also executed. He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday (13 June 2022).
About 11.40pm on Sunday (13 June 2022), Mount Druitt Traffic and Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop a MG – reportedly stolen from Glenmore Park last week – travelling north on Copeland Road, Emerton. The driver failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated, traveling through local suburbs before it stopped at Willmot, where the five occupants fled. With the assistance of PolAir, they were located a short time later and arrested before being taken to Mount Druitt Police Station. Three teens – including two boys aged 15 and 19 and a 16-year-old girl – were charged with numerous offences ranging from police pursuit, unlicenced driver, malicious damage, goods in custody and breach of bail. They were all bail refused and faced court yesterday (Sunday 13 June 2022). The two others were released without charge.
Just before 7.30am yesterday (Monday 13 June 2022), Lake Illawarra Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were patrolling Windang Road, Windang, when they detected a Hyundai i30 travelling at 103km/h in a signposted 80 km/h zone. Police attempted to stop the Hyundai; however, the driver failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit was terminated at Pur Pur Avenue due to safety concerns and the vehicle was later found abandoned at Barrack Heights. With the assistance of the Dog Unit, the driver was tracked to a nearby home and found hiding under a bed. The 22-year-old Warrawong man was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where he was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, and drive with expire licence. He was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court today (Tuesday 14 June 2022).
Cooma Traffic and Highway Patrol officers stopped a Honda CR-V on Kosciusko Rod, Jindabyne, about 11pm yesterday, as it is travelling without headlights. Police spoke to the driver, a 35-year-old Sydney man, who produced an expired international driver’s licence. Officers noticed a female passenger holding an infant, neither of whom were properly restrained. The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Jindabyne Police Station, where a breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.063. He was issued infringement notices for drive with Low Range PCA, unlicenced driver, drive with one unrestrained passenger (16yrs or older), drive with passenger 6mths or older but less than 4yrs not restrained as prescribed and drive in dark no lights.
Key State-wide Statistics (Progressive totals);
Speed infringements: 3,197
Breath tests: 166,416
PCA charges: 273
Major crashes: 286
Fatalities: 1
Key Northern region Statistics;
Speed infringements: 909
Breath tests: 36,436
PCA charges: 80
Major crashes: 57
Fatalities: 0
Key Southern region Statistics;
Speed infringements: 693
Breath tests: 31,780
PCA charges: 36
Major crashes: 29
Fatalities: 1
Key Western region Statistics;
Speed infringements: 373
Breath tests: 16,543
PCA charges: 37
Major crashes: 25
Fatalities: 0
