Blue Mountains: Man charged with Skye’s Law
A man who allegedly took police on a short but dangerous car chase through the Blue Mountains was among dozens of drivers stopped during Operation Safe Arrival.
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A man accused of leading police on a pursuit through the Blue Mountains overnight has been charged.
The 23-year-old Woodford man was allegedly clocked driving a Nissan Pulsar 30km/h above the 60km/h speed limit on The Great Western Highway in Faulconbridge about 11.50pm yesterday, a NSW Police spokeswoman said.
As part of Operation Safe Arrival operations, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, however the driver ignored the direction and the Nissan Pulsar was involved in a short pursuit with police.
The driver was stopped in Springwood, police said.
He was taken to Springwood Police Station where he was charged with exceed speed limit over 20km/h, drive with expired licence, and police pursuit (Skye’s Law).
The man was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Penrith Local Court on February 13.
“Speeding is one of the major killers on NSW roads and this irresponsible attitude puts so many people at risk,” Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, said on Monday.
“Our officers will continue to target and stop drivers who put themselves and others at risk, but ultimately, it is up to the individuals themselves to heed the warning and slow down.”
The man was one of dozens of drivers stopped on local roads during Operation Safe Arrival operations, among them a woman who lost 34 points in one go after she was caught using a mobile while driving four unrestrained passengers.
Officers attached to the Motorcycle Response Group (MRG) allegedly saw the woman —a 40-year-old overseas visitor — using her mobile phone while negotiating a roundabout in the main street of Katoomba about 2pm last Friday.
Police further allege none of her passengers – three children and a man – were wearing seat belts.
The woman was issued with five penalty notices, one for mobile phone and four for the unrestrained passengers, for a total of $1793 in fines and 34 demerits points.
Operation Safe Arrival started on December 20 and ended 11.59pm on New Year’s Day.
Double demerit points were in force throughout the period for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences.
NSW Centre for Road Safety executive director, Bernard Carlon said most people do the right thing when they are travelling over the Christmas and New Year period but mistakes and poor choices on the road can have tragic results for many people.
Key statistics (progressive total)
- Speed infringements: 10,923
- Breath tests: 485,727
- PCA: 618
- Major crashes: 824
- Fatalities: 11