Senior police are amazed about the number of NSW road users failing to use their seatbelts or wear helmets this Easter, and are reminding people to ‘buckle up’.
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The Easter long-weekend traffic operation commenced at 12.01am on Thursday 29 March 2018 and concludes at 11.59pm on Monday 2 April 2017. Double-demerits will be in force throughout the operation.
By Day Three of the campaign, 619 people had been issued infringements for not using seatbelts, restraints or helmets properly. This is 70 more than for the same point in last year’s operation.
There will be more police on roads targeting drivers for dangerous behaviours that have led to loss of life on our roads, including; speeding, drink and drug-driving, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts.
NSW Police have already begun Operation Merret, an unorthodox and proactive approach to road policing, aimed at educating and empowering the public to make the right decisions on our roads.
During Operation Merret and throughout the Easter period, you will see more police on the roads, not only targeting motorists for dangerous behaviours, but educating drivers on safe behaviour and encouraging those who are doing the right thing through positive reinforcement.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said he was astounded at the number of people who had chosen not to take a basic safety precaution before getting in a vehicle.
“Wearing seatbelts has been compulsory in NSW since 1971 and the benefits of being properly restrained or wearing helmets in the event of a crash have been well documented.
Some examples of inappropriate driver behaviour detected during Day Three of the operation include;
About 7.42am on 31 March 2018, a 33-year-old Bardwell Park man was stopped by police from Northern Beaches Highway Patrol. He had just overtaken a a group of cyclists on Barrenjoey Road, Newport. His speed was detected at 110km/h in a 50km/h sign posted area. He was issued an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h, his licence was suspended for a period of six months and the number plates to the vehicle were confiscated for a period of three months.
About 9am on Saturday 31 March 2018, police were contacted via a member of the public about a car doing burnouts on Braidwood Road in Goulburn. As a result of this information, a number of form of demands were performed and a 17-year-old Goulburn male was interviewed. He was subsequently issued a Future Court Attendance Notice to attend Goulburn Local Court for Aggravated Burn Out. His P1 drivers license was suspended and confiscated by police.
Key statistics (Cumulative total – started on 29 March 2018):
Total infringements issued (not speeding): 7421
Speed infringements: 4944
Breath tests: 172,425
Drink-driving charges: 113
Lives lost: 1
