OVERALL, western region drivers were well behaved over the long weekend.
Over the course of four days from Friday, September 28, the time Operation Slowdown was in force, over 2000 random breath tests were conducted with just 19 positive prescribed concentration of alcohol (PCA) readings recorded.
“The pleasing thing is RBTs were up to 2286 and PCA detection was down by six. That’s still 19 too many but at least it shows the message is getting out there,” western region acting inspector Dave Bramble said.
There were no fatalities recorded, although, 45 major accidents were reported to police throughout the region with 21 people injured.
A total of 466 people were charged with speeding offences.
Twenty-nine drivers were caught not wearing a seatbelt while 419 motorists were charged with other offences, which ranged from not displaying P-plates to bald tyres.
On the final day of the operation on Monday, police stopped a 26-year-old Orange man travelling at 100 kilometres per hour in a 70km/h zone on the Great Western Highway, Mount Lambie.
A search of the car led to the discovery of a small quantity of drugs and the man was charged with a number of offences and appeared in Katoomba Local Court yesterday afternoon.
State wide, though, speeding proved a big issue for police.
Acting assistant commissioner Stuart Smith, operations commander of the traffic and highway patrol command, said police were disappointed with the shameful irresponsibility demonstrated by some drivers.
“Even though we made it clear that extra police would be on the roads and double demerit points would be in place, some drivers ignored all of the warnings and put lives at risk,” acting assistant commissioner Smith said.
“Over the course of the long weekend, we booked 10 drivers for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h and caught three motorists with prescribed concentrations of alcohol over 0.2.”
nick.mcgrath@ruralpress.com