While two fewer people lost their lives on NSW roads over the Australia Day Long Weekend, police have been dismayed by one driver who blew more than eight times the legal limit when stopped on the NSW-Victorian border.
Two men died in separate crashes at the weekend, two fewer than the same period last year.
In the first incident, a 50-year-old motorcyclist died when his bike crashed off Canola Way at Old Junee about 6pm Saturday (28 January 2023). The second fatality occurred when a man was found deceased in his vehicle after it was spotted in a gully beside Yass Valley Way, Yass, about 9.10am yesterday (Sunday 29 January 2023). Officers attached to The Hume Police District believe him to be aged 18, from the ACT.
More than 12,000 drivers were charged or fined during the high-visibility Operation Australia Day 2023, that started at 12.01am on Wednesday (25 January 2023) and concluded yesterday (Sunday 29 January 2023) at 11.59pm.
Double demerit points were applied for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.
A 38-year-old woman has been charged with high-range PCA and had her licence confiscated on the spot after returning an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.405 – more than eight times the legal alcohol limit. She had been stopped about 4.15pm last Friday (27 January 2023), by officers attached to Murray River Police District's Albury Highway Patrol Command, who'd been alerted to a maroon Mitsubishi Lancer allegedly being driven dangerously.
The woman was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear in Albury Local Court on Monday 27 March 2023.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, said while it was positive that two fewer people had lost their lives, he was appalled by the choices made by some people who still chose to drink and drive.
"Cases where people return alleged readings of up to eight times the legal limit is chilling, when I know the risk it poses to other road users," Assistant Commissioner McFadden said.
"The overwhelming majority of people on NSW roads chose to take personal responsibility and chose to make the right decision, and they trust others to also make the correct choices.
"When a driver chooses to drink and drive they put at risk the lives of every other person in their environment," Assistant Commissioner McFadden said.
Other examples of notable driver behaviour include,
A 37-year-old learner-driver from Queensland has had his driving privileges suspended pending the outcome of a roadside drug test after he was stopped about 6:32am last Wednesday (25 January 2023), while travelling north on the M1 at Mt Colah. The man has been issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for the offences of possess prohibited drug, being an unaccompanied learner, use mobile phone, and not display 'L' plates, to appear in Hornsby Local Court on Thursday 23 February 2023. Further charges are pending the outcome of a drug test.
A 21-year-old woman has been charged after being detected driving at the alleged speed of 138km/h in a 100km/h zone with an unrestrained child about 12.30pm last Friday (27 January 2023), Guyra Road, Gilgai.
Checks revealed the driver only held a learner's permit which limited her to 90km/h and there was no licenced supervising driver. A check of the child capsule in the rear of the vehicle revealed this wasn't anchored. The driver was taken to Inverell Police Station and charged.
A 51-year-old Victorian man has been banned for 24 hours for returning a positive roadside drug test after he was seen riding a 450cc motorcycle through the pedestrian tunnel to Narwee Railway Station about 5pm last Thursday (26 January 2023). Officers followed the rider to a Roselands home where the rider was arrested. Checks revealed he was unlicenced before returning a positive roadside drug test. He was issued traffic infringement notices for the offences of speeding, riding an unregistered, uninsured motorbike, and ride
on path. Further charges are pending the outcome of the drug test.
A 46-year-old man has been charged after being stopped by police when detected driving at alleged speed of 150km/h in an 80km/h zone at 11pm last Thursday (26 January 2023), on Alfords Point Road, Padstow Heights. When the man returned positive tests for both alcohol and drugs, he was arrested. He's now been charged with mid-range PCA, disqualified driver, drive speed dangerous, and possess knife. Further charges are pending the outcome of the drug test.
A 30-year-old man has been issued Traffic Infringement Notices for multiple alleged offences after he was stopped while driving past Maroubra Police Station shortly before 6:15pm last Friday (27 January 2023), after he was seen not wearing his seatbelt with his mobile phone on his lap. A three-year-old child was also allegedly found unrestrained. The man was subjected to the roadside drug test which proved positive. Further charges are pending the results of the drug test. The man was banned from driving for 24 hours.
A 19-year-old man has been charged after he was seen driving on Wharf Road, Newcastle East, about 6.30am last Saturday (28 January 2023), allegedly at 60km/h in a 30km/h zone while drinking a beer.
Checks revealed his licence was suspended and the vehicle's registration had expired. A breath analysis was conducted and returned an alleged reading of 0.127. The man was fined for speeding, consume alcohol while driving, drive an unregistered/uninsured vehicle, and issued with a court attendance notice for mid-range PCA and drive while suspended. He's due to appear in Newcastle Local Court on 23 February 2023.
TOTAL STATISTICS
Total – 12,377
Restraint infringements – 242
Mobile phone infringements – 295
Other infringements – 8007
Speed infringements – 3833
PCA charges – 292
Positive drug drive detections – 394
Fatal crashes – 2
Major crashes – 348
Persons injured - 115
REGIONAL STATISTICS
Central Metropolitan Region
Total – 1801
Restraint infringements – 38
Mobile phone infringements – 51
Other infringements – 1411
Speed infringements – 301
PCA charges – 30
Positive drug drive detections – 94
Fatal crashes – 0
Major crashes – 74
Persons injured – 15
South West Metropolitan Region
Total – 1900
Restraint infringements – 37
Mobile phone infringements – 66
Other infringements – 1300
Speed infringements – 497
PCA charges – 35
Positive drug drive detections – 40
Fatal crashes – 0
Major crashes – 66
Persons injured – 18
North West Metropolitan Region
Total – 2,234
Restraint infringements – 62
Mobile phone infringements – 87
Other infringements – 1611
Speed infringements – 474
PCA charges – 30
Positive drug drive detections – 31
Fatal crashes – 0
Major crashes – 65
Persons injured – 21
Northern Region
Total – 2,973
Restraint infringements – 41
Mobile phone infringements – 55
Other infringements – 1714
Speed infringements – 1163
PCA charges – 100
Positive drug drive detections – 93
Fatal crashes – 0
Major crashes – 76
Persons injured – 24
Southern Region
Total – 2,219
Restraint infringements – 30
Mobile phone infringements – 27
Other infringements – 1227
Speed infringements – 935
PCA charges – 62
Positive drug drive detections – 88
Fatal crashes – 2
Major crashes – 47
Persons injured – 24
Western Region
Total – 1250
Restraint infringements – 34
Mobile phone infringements – 9
Other infringements – 744
Speed infringements – 463
PCA charges – 35
Positive drug drive detections – 48
Fatal crashes – 0
Major crashes – 20
Persons injured – 13
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