2LT Local News

Double demerits in force from Friday to New Year’s Day

Dec 20, 2018

KATOOMBA, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia – Drivers using roads in the Blue Mountains and western NSW should be prepared for unexpected hazards created by the drought as they begin their summer holiday road trip.

They should also be aware police patrols will be stepped up and double demerit points will apply from Friday through to New Year’s Day. 

It will not be just the major cities where RBT’s will be set up, or other police activity heightened, smaller towns and villages will be targeted as well. And not just major routes such as the Great Western Highway, but local roads will also be subjected to RBTs.

Operation Safe Arrival, the Christmas/New Year road safety enforcement operation, starts at 12.01am on Friday and runs through until 11.59pm on Tuesday 1 January 2019.

Double demerits will apply for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.

The crackdown comes after four lives were lost in fatal crashes on roads in western New South Wales over the Christmas period last year.

Speeding, drink-driving and people driving while they were tired remain the biggest killers.

Western Region Traffic Tactician, Inspector Ben Macfarlane said too many local people were losing their lives in crashes on local roads.

“In country areas everyone really does know everyone and the emotional legacy of road trauma is magnified because of this closeness,” Inspector Macfarlane said Thursday.

“The on-going drought has resulted in a lethal new hazard in the State’s central and far west with increased reports of livestock or native animals wandering onto rural roads.”

“These animals, including cattle, sheep, horses, kangaroos, emus, pigs and goats, should be expected on the roadside during daylight hours and not just the traditional dusk, dawn and night periods.

“Highway Patrol officers across the Western Region will focus on putting RBT officers on country and regional “feeder” roads that link up with major arterial roads, like the Great Western Highway, Newell, and Mitchell highways.

“We will be targeting these small communities where you may not have seen a RBT done for sometime because we think complacency is the issue with drink driving,” the inspector said.

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said it wasn’t worth taking the risk this holiday season.

“With Christmas and New Year just days away, there are plenty of people out on the roads enjoying celebrations and travelling to see friends and family.”

“If you’re one of them, make sure you plan ahead, get a good night’s sleep , drive to the conditions, stick to the speed limit and never ever risk driving if there’s a chance you could be affected by drugs or alcohol,” Minister Pavey said Thursday.

Drivers are also being reminded that from 17 September 2018 an extra demerit point was added to the penalty for using a mobile phone while driving. This will add an additional two demerit points in double demerit periods resulting in a total of 10 demerit points for this offence.