With the ongoing bushfire emergency, and New Year’s Eve activities now underway, drivers are being urged to be extra careful when travelling on the state’s roads.
Operation Safe Arrival began Operation Safe Arrival started at midnight Friday (20 December 2019) and ends 11.59pm on New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January 2020).
Bushfires are impacting many parts of NSW today with a total fire ban in place in 11 areas: Greater Sydney Region, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Far South Coast, Monaro Alpine, Southern Ranges, Central Ranges, Northern Slopes, North Western, Southern Slopes and Eastern Riverina.
Road closures are changing constantly – some with little notice – and drivers are urged to avoid unnecessary travel. Drivers should check www.livetraffic.com for updates on major roads, and are reminded to give way to emergency vehicles, especially in areas impacted by bushfires.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s Assistant Commissioner, Michael Corboy, also reminded drivers celebrating the New Year to avoid driving if they have been drinking.
“We know many people will be enjoying New Year’s Eve celebrations with alcohol, so do not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking.
“Alcohol leaves the body slowly, which means you could very well still be over the limit the next day – have a Plan B and arrange to have a designated driver,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
Double demerit points are in force throughout the period for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
To date, 10,112 drivers have been issued with speeding fines.
One of the most recent examples include a woman who has been issued with speeding fines twice within a 10-minute period this morning by officers from Mt Druitt Highway Patrol.
Officers saw a 36-year-old woman driving a VW Golf through Arndell Park about 1.45am (Tuesday 31 December 2019), allegedly at 127km/h in the 80km/h zone.
She was stopped and issued with a penalty notice for exceed speed limit over 30km/h.
Less than 10 minutes later, the same driver was again stopped when she was detected allegedly travelling at 80km/h past police vehicles conducting random breath tests. On roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or less, motorists are required to slow to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights.
In an unrelated incident, officers from Newcastle Highway Patrol stopped a 35-year-old Maitland man for a random breath test about 9.20am yesterday (Monday 30 December 2019), and discovered his three children – aged four, three and one – were not restrained in approved child seats, the youngest in a bassinet. The man was issued with infringement notices, incurring $1032 in fines and 18 demerit points.
Key statistics (progressive total) Day 11:
• Speed infringements: 10,112
• Breath tests: 446,192
• PCA: 585
• Major crashes: 767
• Fatalities: 9
