NSW Police released new infringement figures following Operation TRANCE's initial phase, reiterating the message they'll not make any apologies for continuing to target drivers who speed on roads around Orange.
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Operation TRANCE was conducted in response to the disproportionate amount of road deaths in NSW occurring in regional areas, honing in on unsafe driving behaviour in and around Orange, Dubbo and Moree.
The first phase finished on February 7 with 12 charges laid and another 172 infringements issued for a range of offences, and NSW Police released recent speeding statistics specific to Central West districts last Friday.
NSW Police confirmed more than 6,000 speeding infringements were issued by cops in the region between July 1 and December 31 last year, with school-zone offences identified as an area of particular concern.
Speeding is particularly an issue in country areas where speed zones are much higher - if people make a mistake the consequences can be fatal.
- Chief Inspector Simon Maund
Of those offences 1,420 were issued by Central West Police District - which takes in Orange and its surrounds - while there was 2,882 speeding infringements issued by Chifley Police District and another 1,957 by Orana Mid-Western Police District.
Collectively, it appears almost five per cent of those were handed out in school zones.
"It's timely to remind motorists that the 40km/h speed zone is in place for a reason," Macquarie Sector Traffic Inspector, Chief Inspector Simon Maund, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said.
"Police will be conducting high visibility patrols of school zones ... kids can be unpredictable near roadways. We urge people to be mindful of school zone times and speed zones."
The numbers differ from those available from the State Revenue Office.
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That difference could be down to several factors but NSW Police confirmed their figures to give a straight-from-the-source indication of how big a concern speeding is in the area, especially considering 70 per cent of all road deaths still occur in regional areas.
The difference between districts also comes down to several factors, which NSW Police also explained to provide some detail into the logistics of its diverse, targeted operations.
Tasking and deployment of resources, geographical areas and prioritising areas with the greatest need all play a role in improving public safety.
Along with TRANCE, annual operations like Operation Bathurst 1000 must be considered too as it involves a significant traffic enforcement element which requires extra resources in the area.
Combined, that flexibility leads to speed detection variances across the region but also provides a deployment model with significantly enhanced capabilities.
"Speeding is a big problem in regional areas ... it's particularly an issue in country areas where speed zones are much higher; if people make a mistake the consequences can be fatal," he said.
"Two thirds of all fatalities occur on country roads (and) police will continue to target drivers who speed but will also be looking to target drink driving, people not wearing a seatbelt, fatigue, people who are drug impaired - any other risk taking behaviours that will contribute to road trauma."
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