‘Four of six dead 18 and under’: Alarming road toll prompts major police traffic operation
The North Coast can expect to see a high-visibility police operation between now and the new year amid an alarming rise in the region’s road toll. Here’s what to expect:
Lismore
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NSW Police are urging motorists to make safe driving the priority with the launch of a high-visibility proactive Christmas / New Year road traffic campaign.
The statewide Christmas and New Year road safety operation will start at 12.01am on Friday, December 22 and concludes at 11.59pm on Monday, January 1, 2024.
Far North Sector Highway and Traffic Patrol Inspector Dearne Jeffree said double-demerit points are in force throughout the period for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
“Our officers will be conducting active enforcement specifically targeting drug, drink, distraction, and dangerous driving,” Insp Jeffree said.
Police will be out on highways, motorways, local and rural roads to monitor the increase in people on the roads.
“We are urging all motorists to take extra time to arrive safely. Be patient, show some tolerance – we want you all to arrive safely.”
Tweed Byron and Richmond police districts will be on evenly rostered shifts throughout the 24/7 ten day operation, as one of the biggest police operations each year.
With Byron Shire topping the list for the state in alcohol-related crashes and Richmond police district sitting in third place, Insp Jeffree said this is why police are actively out enforcing road rules.
“Speeding is our number one offence in our local areas and there will be zero tolerance for speeding during the operation.
NSW is currently sitting at 350 fatalities across the state – 80 more than this time last year.
“Locally we are above what we were last year,” she said, “Since November we have experienced six fatalities on local roads.
“Four of these six fatalities were aged 18 and under, which is alarming to us.”
“We noted these crashes were caused by excessive speed on local rural roads.”
Insp Jeffree said young drivers need to “slow down” because “they’re not invincible” and roads can and do change.
She said just one road death can impact our small communities.
“It affects the first responders attending to the scene, the families involved and at this time of the year when families are coming together to celebrate each other they are one less.
“It is absolutely devastating for families and the community and emergency services as a whole.”
Transport for NSW asset management branch executive director John Hardwick, said there are strong penalties for drivers and riders who break the rules and there are higher penalties in place for serious and repeated offences.
“No one should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one on the road,” Mr Hardwick said.
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