A driver travelling at almost double the speed limit and with an alleged blood alcohol reading of 0.218, was stopped by police last night: only 5km from the scene of a fatal crash on the first day of Operation Go Slow.
About 11.50pm yesterday (Thursday 25 April 2019 (ANZAC Day), Liverpool Highway Patrol detected a Subaru WRX travelling at 118km/h along Heathcote Road at Moorebank. That area of Heathcote Road has a signposted 60km/h limit.
Police stopped the driver and conducted a roadside breath test which returned a positive reading.
The 30-year-old male driver was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station. A subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.218.
He was charged with driving with a high range PCA and exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.
The Wattle Grove man's licence was suspended, and he has been prohibited from using his vehicle for three months.
He is due to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 22 May 2019.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, said the school holidays have been devastating, with 16 people losing their lives on NSW roads.
"While our results across the holiday period so far show many people are getting the message about keeping themselves and their family safe while travelling, the results of our operations suggest some have not," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
"The biggest thing to come out of the ANZAC Day weekend to date is there is a certain group on our roads who think they are immortal and driving whilst tired and/or drunk won't change their life or that of someone around them.
"People who think this sort of idiotic and dangerous behaviour is acceptable are not welcome on NSW roads.
"If you talk to people who have had loved ones die suddenly as the result of a crash, they will tell you about gaping holes in the family fabric and normal family events like Sunday lunches, mornings at kids sport and school events never being the same again.
"There are two days left in the school holidays and there are 16 families trying to make sense of why they have lost a loved one. Let's not add to that total."
Some examples of inappropriate behaviour on NSW roads during Day Two of Operation Go Slow include:
Turramurra: About 6.56am yesterday, a 42-year-old man was detected riding a pushbike on Comenarra Parkway. He was detected travelling at an alleged speed of 80km/h in a 60km/h area. He was issued a penalty notice for a pushbike rider exceeding the speed limit ($112 and no demerits).
Young: About 2.15pm yesterday, a Toyota Camry was detected travelling at 163km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Lachlan Valley Way at Boorowa. It will be alleged the car was overtaking another vehicle on double centre lines at the time. A roadside breath test returned a positive reading.
The driver, a 39-year-old man from Young, was arrested and taken to Boorowa Police Station. A subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.223. The driver was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for driving with a high range PCA, drive manner dangerous, and exceeding the speed limit. He will appear in Young Local Court on Wednesday 15 May 2019.
Operation Go Slow, the state's Anzac long-weekend road safety operation, started at 12.01am on Wednesday 24 April 2019 and will run until 11.59pm on Sunday 28 April 2019.
Police across NSW are continuing to target all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle/helmet offences, which will attract double demerit points.
Operation Go Slow Key statistics (Cumulative total – started on Wednesday 24 April 2019):
Total infringements issued (not speeding): 2944
Speed infringements: 1516
Breath tests: 90,214
Drink-driving charges: 60
