Key statistics for the four-day campaign
Speed infringements: 572, NSW Police say3
Breath Tests: 247046
PCA charges: 250
Major crashes: 278
Fatalities: 4
Police have seen a significant rise in speeding offences during the four-day Queens Birthday long weekend.
Operation Stay Alert, the NSW Police Force’s traffic operation for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, began at 12.01am on Friday (10 June 2016) and concluded at 11.59pm yesterday.
During the campaign, 5723 people were issued infringement notices for speeding, an increase of more than 1000 from the same period last year.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said it’s disappointing some motorists ignored warnings and continued to speed.
"This year we saw 1084 more people caught speeding on NSW roads during Operation Stay Alert. This result shows that the message of responsible driving remains elusive to some motorists, which is extremely disappointing," said Assistant Commissioner Hartley.
"Your driver’s licence is a privilege, not a right, and all licence holders are obliged to drive lawfully at all times. Speeding puts not only your only life at risk, but the lives of all other road users.
"The faster you are travelling means your reaction time is significantly reduced, so again, I am pleading with motorists to slow down," Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
Significant speeding incidents from the four-day operation Stay Alert include:
Just after 4.30pm yesterday, police attached to The Hills Local Area Command were conducting stationary speed enforcement duties on Castle Hill Road at West Pennant Hills. It’s alleged a vehicle was detected travelling 110km/h in a sign-posted 60km/h zone. Police stopped the car and spoke to the driver, a 20-year-old woman, before conducting a search of the vehicle. During the search police located a red and blue LED dash light, and the vehicle also had blue LED lights in its parking lights. The woman was issued an infringement notice for the offence of speed over 45km/h and blue lights in parking lights. Her licence was also suspended.
A 17-year-old male has been charged with multiple offences following a crash at Baulkham Hills. Just after 8.30pm yesterday, police attempted to stop a car on Merindah Road after it was observed driving through a red light. A pursuit was initiated; however, was terminated a short time later. It’s alleged the vehicle travelled at more than 120km/h in a 50km/h zone. A short time later, the car lost control and hit a kerb on Dalman Place. The driver was arrested and taken to Castle Hill Police Station where he was charged with exceed speed by more than 45km/h and driving in a manner dangerous to the public. He was also charged with police pursuit – speed dangerous (Skye’s Law). He was given bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on 6 July 2016.
About 9.22pm on Monday, a 37-year-old man from Potts Point, was stopped on a Piaggio Scooter on Sydney Enfield Drive, Bondi junction after his speed was detected on lidar at 129km/h in an 80km/h zone. The man’s licence was suspended and an infringement notice was issued. His registration plates were seized.
About 11.40am on yesterday police from Kuring Gai Highway patrol were conducting speed enforcement duties on River Road, Northwood, where police detected a white Lexus coupe travelling 103 km/ in a 50km/h speed zone. The man was issued infringement notices for exceed speed limit over 45km/h and unlicensed driver.