Operation Crossroads: Three people charged, almost 100 speeding infringements during road safety blitz

A 28-year-old woman allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test with an infant in the car, while nearly 100 drivers were caught speeding, during a road safety blitz in the central west. Here’s the latest.

Mitchell Highway. Picture: Google Street View

Police in the state’s central west are reminding drivers about their responsibility to drive safety after almost 100 infringements were recorded for speeding.

Operation Crossroads was conducted from May 23 to May 27 by the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, with local police from the western region.

During the operation, 722 breath tests were conducted resulting in three drivers charged with drink driving, 108 drug tests with seven drivers returning a positive result and 98 infringements issued for speeding.

Traffic and Highway Patrol’s Western Plains inspector Jason Bush commended road users for their behaviour.

“Police will continue to conduct similar operations throughout the region to ensure road users are safe,” he said.

“Nevertheless, it is still disturbing to see motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol and illicit drugs.”

Inspector Jason Bush at Dubbo Police Station. Photo: Aymon Bertah.

On May 25, a 28-year-old driver – with an infant passenger – was subjected to a roadside drug test in Wellington, which allegedly returned a positive result.

Inquiries revealed the woman did not hold a driver’s license.

She was taken to Wellington Hospital for further testing.

The following day, a 19-year-old man was stopped riding his motorcycle on the Mitchell Hwy, Dubbo, for a breath test which returned a negative reading.

Following inquiries, the driver was the holder of a disqualified learner’s license until June 2024.

He was issued a court attendance notice for driving disqualified – second offence – and is due to appear at Dubbo Local Court on June 19.