2LT Local News

SPRINGWOOD, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia – New South Wales Police have wrapped up their long weekend Operation Slow Down.

The safety awareness campaign began at midnight on Thursday and continued until midnight Tuesday.

Double demerits were in place over the ong-weekend for all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle-helmet offences.

There were more more police on roads targeting drivers for dangerous driving, speeding, drink and drug-driving, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts.

A number of offences were caught in the campaign across the region:

– A 28-year-old man was detected travelling at an alleged speed of 128km/h in a 60km/h work zone on The Northern Road, South Penrith. The driver was stopped and returned a positive roadside drug test. Investigations revealed he was the holder of a licence that was previously suspended until 2029. He was charged with the speeding offence and driving whilst disqualified. A sample of the drug test will be sent for further analysis

– A 43-year-old man was allegedly caught speeding at 102km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Great Western Highway, at Wentworth Falls. After returning a positive breath test, he was arrested and taken to Katoomba Police Station where he returned a breath analysis reading of 0.087.

– A 38-year-old woman from Mudgee was stopped on Meares Street, Mudgee where she returned a positive breath test. The woman was arrested and taken to Mudgee Police Station where she allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.216. She had her eight-year-old daughter as a passenger in the car.

– An 18-year-old man was allegedly caught speeding at 89km/h in a 70km/h zone on the Great Western Highway, Lawson. He was issued an infringement for speeding, no ‘P’ plates and negligent driving. About 5.20pm on Saturday, the same 18-year-old man was allegedly caught speeding at 110km/h in an 80km/h on the Great Western Highway, Faulconbridge. He was issued another infringement for speeding and no ‘P’ plates.

More than 14,000 people were issued infringements and five people died on NSW roads during Operation Slow Down, the Labour Day long-weekend traffic operation.

Tragically, five people died on NSW roads during the operation, in comparison to one person during the same operation last year. The total number of deaths on NSW roads so far this year is 290, which is seven less than at the same time last year.

Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, said that despite the extra police presence, it was disheartening to see people continue to speed or drive dangerously over the weekend.

“It seems that despite our warnings and extra police on the roads over the weekend, too many people still made the decision to speed or drive dangerously on our roads.

“Tragically, five people died on our roads during the operation, and another two died on a private property.”

“These deaths bring the number of lives lost on our roads this year to 290. That is 290 people who set out on a journey and didn’t make it home, changing the lives of their family and friends forever.”

“Many of the 290 lives lost were avoidable tragedies. People just needed make a different decision and to slow down, put their phone away, not drive whilst they were tired or take an alternate ride home.”

“Although this operation has concluded, you will continue to see police on our roads enforcing speeds, mobile phones, drink and drug-driving, and seat belts, in order to prevent more loss of life,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Driver said.