Four killed, thousands fined in Sydney long weekend rush
Thousands of commuters were slapped with fines and four killed in car crashes after a horror weekend on the roads.
NSW
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The death toll on the state’s roads hit four on Monday while a police clampdown was in full swing with more than 3,500 fined as the long weekend came to a close.
A 76-year-old man died on Monday morning after his car hit a tree in the Snowy Mountains, taking the total road toll to four over the October long weekend.
The news follows the death of a woman in a four-car smash near Grafton on Sunday morning and the death of a 32-year-old near Glenugie on Friday.
Early on Friday morning a 59-year-old died also died after his utility vehicle collided with a Toyota Landcruiser near Griffith.
In total, there have been 242 major crashes since the long weekend started on Friday.
Meanwhile a major police crackdown targeting speeding and drink driving over the Labour Day long weekend saw more than 3,500 slapped with fines.
Police were out in force with speed guns, hitting 3,466 drivers with fines for speeding.
Almost 140,000 drivers were breath tested but just 159 were caught-out driving above the limit.
One 43-year-old woman was caught-out drink driving almost four times the legal limit in Sydney’s south.
Police also caught-out a number of unlicensed drivers behind the wheel, including a motorbike rider disqualified until 2030.
Another sly driver had his license suspended after getting caught doing 160km/h in a 100km zone.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, Traffic & Highway Patrol Commander, said the toll was one too many.
“Unfortunately, four people have died on the roads in three days. While most people are doing the right thing, it is frustrating to see people continue to drink and drive or speed, despite our continued appeals,” he said.
Labour Day commute gridlocks state
Bumper-to-bumper traffic on Monday gridlocked the state as the Labour Day long weekend comes to a close.
The packed traffic conditions spell trouble for road accidents, according to NSW Ambulance, with the first and last day of the long weekend historically the worst for fatalities.
It may be the final stretch of the long weekend but paramedics say it is often the worst.
Inspector Giles Buchanan from NSW Ambulance urged drivers to heed warnings ahead of heavy traffic on Monday.
“Anecdotally, there appears to be a bit of spike at the start and end [of long weekends] with people doing longer trips.”
Raiders diehards should be particularly careful, he says, as they head back to Canberra following their team’s NRL Grand Final loss.
The message is simple — drive safely, watch for warning signs and take breaks if you’re tired.
“If you start feeling tired take a break, it’s much better to arrive later than spend months in hospitals or potentially even having a tragedy that can change someone’s life,” he said.
Commuters are being told to avoid arterial roads and to start their journey outside of peak hours to avoid the squeeze, with popular roads like the M1 Pacific Motorway in Wyong and Warnervale, Beresfield and Tugun, the New England Highway in Tarro.
The Pacific Highway in Hexham, Raymond Terrace, Coffs Harbour, Ulmarra and Woodburn is also set to be a traffic hotspot and the Great Western Highway, especially around Blackheath and Bells Line Road.
The worst traffic is expected between 10am and 5pm, with some heavy traffic set for Sydney Airport. A Transport for NSW spokesman urged commuters to be particularly weary on the drive home today.
“Our key message for motorists before heading out on the roads this October long weekend is to make sure they are well rested, plan their trip with stops along the way, give themselves plenty of time to get to where they need to be without rushing or speeding and have a plan b in place if they are going to be drinking,” the spokesman said.