A Facebook page that helps drivers evade police patrols could lead to more motor vehicle crashes across the region, police warn.
The page, Police In The Area (NSW-Orange-Bathurst area), tips off drivers on the whereabouts of random breath test stations and mobile speed cameras in Bathurst, Orange and the surrounding areas.
The page was created earlier this month and has since attracted more than 1800 members.
But Chifley Highway Patrol commander Sergeant Peter Foran said the page could be making roads more dangerous.
“The administrators need to bear in mind that they could be putting people’s lives at risk,” Sergeant Foran said.
“If they freely assist alcohol-affected drivers [avoid RBT] then there certainly would be a moral dilemma.”
The Facebook page receives its information from members of the public who either send a tip-off to the page’s administrator or write on the page’s wall directly, pointing out any recent police activity.
Sergeant Foran commended other sites designed to help drivers avoid traffic jams and road accidents but fears any RBT tip-off pages could lead to more crashes.
“We deal with enough accidents in the area and we certainly don’t want to see it any worse,” he said.
According to Facebook guidelines, a page is only considered illegal if it specifically incites unlawful activity.
A message posted by the Orange-Bathurst administrator on September 18 seeks to explain his reasons for starting the page.
“I’m a P-plater who drives a nice street ute, yet I don’t speed, I don’t drink-drive and I’m not a stereotypical hoon,” the administrator wrote.
“I drive to the road rules and drive safely yet I am sick and tired of the police hassling me when they see the P-plates and nice ute with stickers on it. Straight away I’m a criminal and I get hassled.”