‘Tragic’: Albion Park teen Bryan Scourse killed during Fatality Free Friday road safety operation
When Bryan Scourse crashed his motorbike on Friday night he became the 150th death on NSW roads this year – well above the 134 recorded for the same period last year.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As police patrolled the streets trying to stop the state’s road toll from growing, a 17-year-old boy from the state’s south coast became another addition to the growing death tally.
Bryan Scourse was the 150th death on NSW roads so far this year – well above the 134 recorded for the same period last year – after he crashed his motorbike on Terry Street, Albion Park on Friday night.
His death came on Fatality Free Friday – a nationally recognised day of road safety. Held on May 30 every year since 2007, it urges drivers to rethink their priorities and put a stop to preventable road deaths.
NSW Police were out in force on Friday as part of a statewide operation, aimed at catching drunk, dangerous and speeding drivers.
Assistant Commissioner David Driver, Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol, said the 17-year-old’s death coinciding with Fatality Free Friday was “tragic” and reminded drivers that every person who dies on the road impacts not just their families, but emergency services.
“We want everyone to get to their destinations safely, we don’t want any more vacant seats at dinner tables,” he said.
“Everyone has a concern for the welfare of children, the whole community, but every road user is someone’s child so don’t put someone’s child at risk.
“Everyone who uses our roads has got an obligation to drive safely,” he said.
During the 24-hour road safety operation, more than 1350 offences were detected, according to provisional NSW Police data.
That included roughly 460 speeding offences, 67 mobile phone infringements, 210 license offences, 29 drunk driving offences and 63 positive roadside drug tests.
“When you see these serious offences, it’s just a blatant disregard not only for the law, but for the safety of everyone else who’s using our roads,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
“It’s frustrating.”
An L-plater was one of the people charged during the blitz, after he was allegedly caught riding a motorcycle without his plates, travelling 173km in a signposted 100 zone – which also exceeded the 90km L-plate limit.
A 38-year-old woman was also busted travelling 160 in a 100 zone at Walcha, before allegedly returning a positive drug test.
Australian Road Safety Foundation founder and chair, Russell White, said the loss of 17-year-old Bryan was a tragic reminder of why road safety momentum must continue.
“Our deepest sympathies go to the families and communities affected. Every life lost is a tragedy – and most importantly, one that could have been prevented,” Mr White said.
“What gives us hope is knowing that change is possible. Our latest data shows almost nine in 10 Australians say road safety messaging prompts them to make safer choices.
“That tells us we can turn the tide and that we can call time on road trauma so long as we embrace our individual responsibility, shift priorities and stop normalising dangerous habits like speeding, distraction, and driving fatigued,” he said.
Mother and son charged over $150,000 smash-and-grab
A mother, her teenage son and his friend have been charged over an alleged three-week crime spree targeting dozens of businesses across Sydney’s west, with police claiming the woman was the ringleader behind the operation.
Read more
Man found with multiple stab wounds in Sydney’s west
A man has claimed he was attacked after being found with multiple stab wounds in Sydney’s west overnight, after emergency services were called to make a welfare check. Here’s what we know.
Read more