Riverina motorists have been well behaved so far during the Labour Day weekend.
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As part of Operation Slow Down, a statewide crackdown in traffic and highway offences, the Riverina Police District has conducted more than 4000 breath tests without any major incidents.
In addition, no serious accidents have been reported.
The traffic operation was in addition to Operation Pariac that targeting anti-social behaviours and alcohol-related violence during the weekend’s major events, including the annual Picnic Races and Gears and Beers Festival.
In the southern NSW region, there have been more than 33,000 breath tests that have resulted in 709 speeding infringements and 29 drink-driving offences.
Statewide, however, NSW Police are continuing to see examples of poor driving behaviour as the long weekend traffic operation continues.
Day two (Sunday) of the operation had police issuing 1267 speeding tickets and 1926 tickets for other traffic offences.
Officers also charged 48 people with drink driving.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Julie Middlemiss of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said police continue to see examples of poor driver behaviour.
“We’ve already seen the devastating consequences of irresponsible driving this weekend, with four people killed so far, and many other lives shattered,” Assistant Commissioner Middlemiss said.
“Yet, we continue to see people speeding, drink driving and trying to outrun police.”
The operation, which began at 12.01am on Friday and finishes at 11.59pm on Monday, has double demerits in place for all speeding, mobile phone, seat-belt and motorcycle-helmet offences.
Some examples of poor driver behaviour detected during Day Two of Operation SlowDown include,
Meangle: At 9.57pm on Saturday, police were conducting speed enforcement duties on the Hume Highway, Menangle, when they detected a Ford Falcon XR6 turbo to be travelling at 150kph.
The vehicle at the time was displaying green P plates.
Police stopped the vehicle and spoke with the 22-year-old male driver.
Police noted a four-month old child in the rear of the vehicle.
The driver produced a P2 licence with a prohibited vehicle condition.
The driver was issued with a number of infringement notices, including speeding more than 45km/h over his speed limit and not complying with his licence.
He had his licence suspended on the spot.
Walcha: At 11pm on Saturday, a Ford Falcon utility was stopped on Fitzroy Street, Walcha.
The 47-year-old female driver was arrested and charged for mid-range drink driving after returning a reading of 0.096.
Her licence was suspended and she was then released.
About 12.53am on Sunday, the same vehicle was stopped after being detected travelling at 111km/h in a 100km/h zone on the New England Highway, Nemingha.
The same 47-year-old woman was breath tested, returning a result of 0.052.
She was arrested and charged with low range drink driving, driving while suspended and exceeding speed.
The driver was granted bail and is set to appear at Walcha Local Court on October 19.
Sancrox: About 2pm on Saturday, police were speaking to a motorist on the side of the Winery Road, Sancrox, when a Harley Davidson motorcycle drove past them and the rider was heard to yell abuse at police.
Officers attempted to pull the motorcycle over, but it failed to stop and led police on a pursuit with the motorcycle allegedly reaching speeds up to 150km/h in a 80km/h zone.
The motorcycle stopped a short time later and the rider allegedly resisted arrest.
He was taken to Port Macquarie Police Station and charged with driving in a dangerous manner, resisting arrest and offensive language.
He was granted bail and is set to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court on October 24.
Yass: At 12pm on Saturday, a 19-year-old man from Pakenham, Victoria, was detected travelling at 171km/h in a 110kmh zone on the Hume Highway, Bowning.
He was issued an infringement for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.
His licence was suspended.
Key statistics statewide (progressive total)
- Speed infringements: 3923
- Breath tests: 160,565
- PCA charges: 183
- Major crashes: 192
- Fatalities: 4
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