Police are astounded by the results of Operation Go Slow, as drivers continue to take lives into their hands, despite numerous warnings and a high number of deaths on NSW roads, NSW Police say.
Operation ‘Go Slow,’ the ANZAC Day long weekend traffic operation, started at 12:01am on Friday 22 April 2016 and concluded at 11:59pm last night yesterday.
The operation was a high-visibility campaign involving the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and general duties police patrolling major traffic routes across the state.
Double demerits were in force during this period for all speeding, seatbelt, helmet, and mobile phone offences.
During the operation eight people died on NSW’s roads, which is double the number of people killed during a similar operation in 2014. (NB: Anzac Day in 2015 was not a long-weekend).
Police conducted 217,339 breath tests (up 44,301 compared to 2014) resulting in 244 people being charged with drink-driving (down 142 from 2014).
A further 4,304 people were issued infringement notices for speeding (up 1,218 from 2014) while police also issued 6,440 infringements for other offences including mobile phone, helmet and registration offences (up 999 from 2014).
NSW Police Force’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said he was dismayed by the increase in deaths on the roads, and the number of people, especially young people, speeding.
“The fact that we had twice the number of people die on our roads during this operation compared to the last operation should be enough of a warning itself.
“To see an increase in the number of people speeding is baffling.
“When you speed, you not only risk your own life, you risk the life of your passengers, pedestrians and other people on the road.
“We also saw a number of young people and p-platers of all ages speeding and driving dangerously. Their inexperience at driving heightens the risk of serious injury and death to all road users.
“Parents of inexperienced drivers should take this weekend as a warning. While all drivers need to take personal responsibility for their actions, parents should monitor their son’s and daughter’s driving habits and continue to educate them on how to drive responsibly.”
“No one wants to see another weekend with eight people dead on our roads,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
Examples of significant arrests and irresponsible driver behaviour on the last day of the operation include:
Pursuit, disqualified driver, drive manner dangerous
About 5pm Monday 25 April 2016, officers from Parramatta Highway Patrol attempted to stop a driver on Church Street Parramatta. The driver allegedly failed to stop and a pursuit was commenced, which was terminated due to safety concerns. The Mazda 323 was pursued a second time when it allegedly drove at 100km/h in a 50km/h zone. The driver ran from the car and was pursued on foot before being arrested. Police allegedly located a number of house-breaking implements in the car. Checks revealed the driver, a 36-year-old man, was disqualified until 2027. He was conveyed to Westmead for blood and urine tests and later charged with not stop police pursuit (Skye’s Law), drive whilst disqualified, drive manner dangerous, enter rail corridor, and resist arrest. He was refused bail and is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court today.
Suspended learner – Mid Range PCA
About 11pm on Sunday 24th April 2016, police stopped a 19 year-old man in Thomas Street Tamworth, for an RBT. He refused to submit to a breath test, and was subsequently conveyed back to Tamworth Police Station for a breath analysis which returned a reading of 0.103. Further checks revealed that the driver is currently the holder of a learner licence, with a suspended status. The driver was subsequently charged with mid range PCA and drive whilst suspended.
Exceed Speed – Over 30kph (P1 Licence)
About 12.50am on Tuesday the 26th of April 2016, police stopped a 17 year old female P1 Provisional driver after she was detected allegedly travelling at 94km/h in the 50km/h zone on Ettalong Road, Greystanes. She was issued with an infringement notice for Exceed Speed Limit over 30km/h and her licence was confiscated and suspended for three months.
Mid Range PCA and Exceed Speed – Over 45kph
At 6:40am on Monday 25 April 2016, a 28 year old male travelling west upon the Great Western Highway at Blaxland was detected travelling at 120km/h in a 60/km/h zone. Upon being stopped the male failed a breath test and was arrested for a breath analysis which returned a mid range reading of 0.149. His licence was suspended and he was issued with a court attendance notice.
High Range PCA, Disqualified Driver and State False Name
At 12:30am on Tuesday the 26 April 2016 a 23yo male was stopped for MRBT. He initially provided false details and returned positive breath test. He provided his correct details and checks revealed it is disqualified until December 2021. A breath analysis returned a reading of 0.171. He was charged with Drive High Range PCA (Second offence), drive while disqualified (second offence).
Mid Range PCA, Exceed Speed – Over 30km/h
At 11:30pm on Monday 25 April 2016, Highway Patrol officers checked the speed of a black Holden Commodore sedan travelling South on Wharf Street Tweed Heads at 95km/hr in sign posted 60km/hr, built up area. Police stopped the vehicle a short time later. The driver, a 27 year old man, returned a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and conveyed to Tweed Heads Police Station where he returned a reading of 0.129. He was issued a FCAN for Mid Range PCA. He had his visiting driving authority suspended. Radar Penalty Notice issued for over 30km/hr offence. At the time, the driver also had three passengers in the vehicle and the road surface was wet.
Key Statistics (Operation Go Slow 2016):
Speed infringements: 4,304
Breath tests: 217,339
PCA charges: 244
Major crashes: 320
Persons injured: 124
Fatalities: 8
