A man will face court next month after returning a high range PCA reading three times the legal limit during a four-day strike force road safety enforcement campaign in the Central West.
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The joint operation involving Central West Highway Patrol, and Traffic and Traffic/Highway Patrol Command's Strike Force Puma, targeted high-risk drivers and driving behaviour on roads surrounding Parkes and Forbes.
The man will front court on Monday, August 5 after returning a reading of 0.159, while the blitz also picked up a suspended driver behind the wheel in Orange.
The joint operation follows a fatal collision in May on Bedgerebong Road, Forbes, where excessive speed - alleged to be in excess of 200km/h - is being investigated as a key contributing factor to the crash.
Western Region Traffic Tactician Inspector Ben Macfarlane said this style of operation will be ongoing across the region.
"There are a number of future strike force deployments planned," Inspector Macfarlane said.
"These operations have been ongoing in Western Region and we need to reinforce in motorists' minds that drink driving and speeding in smaller towns and remote areas is not okay.
"I've also been disappointed in the number of people detected not wearing their seatbelts. Seatbelts save lives - particularly if someone chooses to not wear one after drinking, and crashes."
When you take control of a vehicle, you need to accept responsibility for your actions on the road and the potential outcomes.
- Western Region Traffic Tactician Inspector Ben Macfarlane
During 2019 in Western Region, 168 people have been found not wearing their seatbelts or using child restraints properly, and 41 people have lost their lives in crashes on roads across Western NSW.
"This is 41 families whose lives have been changed forever," Inspector Macfarlane added.
"When you take control of a vehicle, you need to accept responsibility for your actions on the road and the potential outcomes."
Police conducted 113 random breath tests, and 19 random drug tests throughout the operation.
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