“You’ll see us coming” is the message from police this January long weekend as they continue their high-visibility road police in country NSW.
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Operation Safe Return, the long weekend road safety-enforcement operation, starts at midnight on Friday until midnight on Monday.
Double demerits will be in force throughout the period for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
During the 2018 Operation Safe Return period, two drivers and one pedestrian lost their lives in crashes on NSW roads. Two of the crashes occurred on rural roads between 4-9pm.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s Assistant Commissioner, Michael Corboy, said that while police will be concentrating on the major routes, he didn’t apologise for keeping police on back roads throughout rural areas.
“We know many people will be heading for a little time away across the weekend, so we will be right there with you wherever you will be driving throughout NSW including on those back roads,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
“Just as we told you at Christmas, we will continue targeting those feeder roads that lead to our major arterial roads such as the Pacific, Newell, Hume and Princes highways.”
Speak up and tell your driver to take a break if you notice the person behind the wheel is looking tired
- Asst Police Commissioner Corboy
Police in all parts of NSW will be looking for speeding drivers but also be ramping up testing for alcohol and drugs through increased Random Alcohol and Drug testing.
Assistant Commissioner Corboy called on passengers to speak up and tell their driver to take a break if they noticed the person behind the wheel was looking tired.
“This summer has been hotter than normal, so people may not have been sleeping as well so I would encourage people to get a good night’s sleep before setting out on a long trip
“Take a break every couple of hours and have enough water in the car for everyone.
“Eight passengers, 21 drivers, three motorcyclists and a pillion passenger have lost their lives so far this year on NSW roads.
“I also want people to speak up if their driver is about to drive off after consuming alcohol or drugs or is talking on the phone. It’s your life too.”
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