Police across the state have been kept busy on Day 2 of Operation Safe Return as drivers continue to put themselves and other road users at risk, NSW Police say.
Operation Safe Return, the annual road policing campaign for Australia Day, began at 12.01am yesterday (Thursday 25 January 2018), and ends at 11.59pm this Sunday (28 January 2018).
Police from Hunter Valley Highway Patrol were patrolling the New England Highway near Singleton, when a Holden Commodore was seen travelling in excess of the signposted 90km/h zone about 8am yesterday (Friday 26 January 2018).
The Commodore accelerated away from police and was seen crossing double unbroken lines to overtake other vehicles.
Other officers performing stationary random breath testing on the New England Highway at Singleton saw the Commodore travelling at an estimated speed of 120km/h to 140km/h in a 60/km/h zone.
The Commodore was seen undertaking other vehicles and allegedly proceeded through a red light at the intersection of Bridgman Road.
Police activated lights and sirens and initiated a pursuit after the Commodore failed to stop.
The pursuit continued through Singleton CBD before the Commodore stopped on William Street, and the driver and three passengers were arrested.
Police will allege the driver had been stopped earlier and issued an infringement for exceed speed. The passengers, two men aged 18 and 20 and an 18-year-old woman, were later released.
The 20-year-old man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with
• drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous,
• not keep left of dividing line,
• motor vehicle exceed speed > 45 km/h,
• overtake to left of vehicle,
• not stop at stop line at red light, and
• police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Singleton Local Court on Thursday 15 March 2018.
The man’s licence was suspended and the registration of his vehicle cancelled for three months.
Traffic & Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, commended officers for continuing to detect and arrest speeding drivers across all regions.
"The message that speeding kills is not getting through and the public should be particularly concerned, that speeding is often combined with alcohol," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said
"During this operation, police have issued conducted almost 100,00 breath tests, over 28,000 more than 2017," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
During Operation Safe Return to date, one person has lost their life in a single-vehicle crash in the Hunter Valley last night.
Relevant incidents on day 2 of Operation Safe Return included
• A 42-year-old man was stopped after being detected driving his Hyundai i30 at 105km/h in a 60 km/h zone on Victoria Road at Rozelle about 9.45am yesterday (Friday 26 January 2018). When the vehicle was stopped the driver returned a positive roadside breath test and he was arrested. The man, from Randwick, returned a breath analysis reading of 0.144. He has been charged with middle-range PCA and is due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court in February 2018. The man was also issued an infringement for exceed speed limit over 30km/h.
• An 18-year-old man was stopped after being seen driving his Audi TT on the rim, without a tyre on Pittwater Road at Collaroy about 9.30pm yesterday (Friday 26 January 2018). When the vehicle was stopped the provisional licence driver returned a positive roadside breath test and he was arrested. The Annandale man returned a breath analysis reading of 0.162. He has been charged with high-range PCA and is due to appear in Manly Local Court on Wednesday 7 March 2018. His licence was also suspended.
• A 17-year-old male was stopped for a random breath test at on Martini Parade at Lithgow about 7pm yesterday (Friday 26 January 2018). The provisional licence holder returned a positive roadside breath test and was arrested after a struggle with police. He was taken to Lithgow Police Station and returned a breath analysis reading of 0.058. A search allegedly located a clear resealable bag containing 94 tablets believed to be MDMA in his underwear. He was charged with low-range PCA, learner not accompanied, learner driver not display "L" plates, resist officer in execution of duty, supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, and deal with proceeds of crime. He is due to appear in a children’s court on Thursday 8 March 2018.
• A 20-year-old woman has been charged with high-range PCA after police were called to a crash on Post Office Road at Glenorie about 8.50pm yesterday (Friday 26 January 2018). The provisional licence holder was taken to Castle Hill Police Station after returning a positive roadside breath test. There her breath analysis reading was 0.195. The Annangrove woman was charged with middle-range PCA and is due to appear in Hornsby Local Court Thursday 22 February 2018. Her licence was also suspended.
Key statistics (Cumulative total – started on January 25, 2018):
Total infringements issued: 4,059
Speed infringements: 2,461
Breath tests: 98,442
Drink-driving charges: 94
Lives lost: 1
