Seven people have died on NSW roads over the Easter long weekend including three male motorcyclists and three male passengers.
All incidents were single-vehicle crashes which took place in both metropolitan and regional areas.
Easter Operation 2022 began at 12.01am on Thursday last week (14 April 2022) and ended at 11:59pm yesterday (Monday 18 April 2022).
Throughout the five-day operation, more than 186,000 random breath tests were conducted across the state, with 320 people charged with drink driving.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Glinn, said despite the implementation of double demerits across the Easter long weekend, a significant number of drivers failed to do the right thing.
“Drink driving and speeding were some of the most common offences detected on NSW roads this past weekend,” Acting AC Glinn said.
“The blatant disregard for road rules shown by many was astounding. I want to applaud our police officers across the state for their efforts in detecting this illegal behaviour and preventing what could have been more road trauma from occurring.”
“Our message to road users is simple – police can be anywhere, anytime and we’ll be targeting high-risk behaviour, including drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving.”
In total, there were:
* Speed infringements: 4,273
* Breath tests conducted: 186,482
* Positive breath tests returned: 320
* Major crashes: 361
* Fatalities: 7
“With another long weekend approaching, police are again preparing to run another high-visibility traffic operation across the state,” Acting AC Glinn said.
“We don’t want to see any more deaths or serious injuries on our roads in crashes that can be easily prevented.
“Double demerits will again be in place this weekend so if you’re travelling long distances or simply to the local shops, prepare to see police out and about keeping you safe.”
The Anzac Day traffic operation will run from 12.01am Friday 22 April 2022 – 11.59pm Monday 25 April 2022.
Incidents of note include:
Southern
* A 38-year-old man was detected allegedly travelling at 199km/h on the Hume Highway at Mittagong on Monday morning. The driver from The Oaks held a provisional driver’s licence and was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for the offences of drive speed dangerous and exceed speed by more 45km/h. His licence was immediately suspended, and registration plates confiscated. He is due to appear in Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 31 May 2022. P1 provisional licence holders are restricted to 90km/h.
Northern
* At around 8pm on Sunday evening, police were conducting random testing duties on Lord Street, Port Macquarie. Police stopped a 47-year-old male driver with an alcohol interlock condition on his driver’s licence. Upon inspection of the vehicle, no approved interlock device or instrument was found. The driver returned a positive roadside breath test, and later returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.200. His licence was confiscated and suspended. He was charged with drive with high range PCA and drive vehicle without alcohol interlock device fitted. He was released on conditional bail to attend Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 18 May 2022.
Western
* A 61-year-old female driver who was observed by police in Broken Hill allegedly driving erratically – weaving and narrowly avoiding a collision with the centre traffic island. The driver then mounted a traffic island while trying to negotiate a roundabout, narrowly avoiding a collision with a give way sign and vehicles travelling in the opposite direction. She was stopped and returned a positive roadside breath test, and then later provided a breath analysis reading of 0.327. She was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with high range PCA and her licence was suspended on the spot. The driver’s car keys were confiscated for a 24-hour period.
Metro
* At around 9.30pm on Monday evening, a 19-year-old man from Dulwich Hill was detected driving on General Holmes Drive, Mascot travelling at 104km/h (in a 70 km/h zone). Police stopped the vehicle shortly after and spoke with the driver who produced a NSW P2 provisional licence. His licence was suspended for three months.
Regional statistics
Western Region Figures as follows
Restraint Infringements – 44
Mobile phone infringements – 9
Speed infringements – 598
Breath Tests – 17,997
PCA charges – 40
Fatal Crashes – 3
Lives Lost – 4
Reported major crashes – 37
People injured – 21
Southern Region Figures as follows
Restraint Infringements – 47
Mobile phone infringements – 17
Speed infringements – 1,029
Breath Tests – 29,929
PCA charges – 48
Fatal Crashes – 0
Lives Lost – 0
Reported major crashes – 47
People injured – 19
Northern Region Figures as follows
Restraint Infringements – 59
Mobile phone infringements – 27
Speed infringements – 1,216
Breath Tests – 36,333
PCA charges – 96
Fatal Crashes – 0
Lives Lost – 0
Reported major crashes – 86
People injured – 30
