While NSW Police are praising the actions of drivers this long weekend, police say the number of drivers caught speeding is a concern.
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Operation Slowdown – a high-visibility state-wide traffic operation – ran from midnight Friday October 2 until 11.59pm Monday October 5.
There was one recorded fatality during the four day operation, one fewer than the same period in 2014.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, praised the actions of the majority of drivers.
“With such large numbers of people out and about over the weekend and people travelling from interstate, the actions of most drivers should be commended”, Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
“This is reflected in the reduction of people injured in crashes during the period, 116 this year compared to 174 in 2014”, Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
Throughout the long-weekend, officers conducted 219,152 breath tests resulting in 262 drivers charged with drink-driving (provisional data). The number of drivers breath-tested was up from 203,645 tested in 2014, with 431 charged.
“While we were pleased to see reductions in injury crashes and drink-driving, many of those detected had readings two, three and four times the legal limit, putting themselves and other road users at great risk.
Of concern to officers were the 5358 drivers detected speeding, up from 4696 in 2014.
“The increase in speeding detections in light of the current road toll is a concern for us heading into the busy Christmas period”, Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
Incidents of note during days three and four of Operation Slow Down 2015 include:
- About 10.20pm on Sunday October 4, Police were conducting stationary speed enforcement on the Pacific Highway near Glenugie, south of Grafton. Officers allegedly detected a black Kia 4WD travelling south at 170km/h in a 100km/h zone and stopped the vehicle. The driver, a 33-year-old man, was issued with a traffic infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit over 45km/h and his licence was suspended.
- About 1.15am on Sunday October 4, police detected a Queensland-registered black Volkswagen sedan allegedly travelling south at 165km/h in a sign posted 100km/h zone, along the Pacific Motorway at Tweed Heads. Officers stopped the vehicle and breath tested the 32-year-old female driver who provided a positive sample. The woman was arrested and conveyed to Tweed Heads Police Station where she returned an alleged reading of 0.176. She was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for high-range drink-driving and exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h. Her driving privileges in NSW were also suspended as she was the holder of a Queensland probationary licence.
- Just after 7am on Monday October 5, a white Nissan Skyline was detected allegedly travelling 173km/h in a 110km/h zone south along the Hume Highway near Goulburn. The 23-year old male driver produced an international drivers licence and was issued with an infringement notice for exceed speed over 45km/h. His visiting driver privileges were suspended for six months and being the registered owner of the Nissan, his registration plates were seized for three months.
- About 6.50am on Monday October 5, a 33-year-old man from Cootamundra was stopped driving south along the Olympic Highway near Wallendbeen after allegedly swerving from side to side within the southbound lane. A short time later, officers stopped the grey Toyota Corolla for a breath test. The driver provided a positive sample and was taken to Cootamundra Police Station where he returned an alleged reading of 0.204. He was charged with high-range drink-driving to appear before Cootamundra Local Court on Monday 2 November 2015. His licence was also suspended.
