‘Operation Merret’ catching an alarming amount of road users without seatbelts or helmets

SENIOR police are amazed at the number of road users failing to wear seatbelts and helmets this Easter long weekend.

OPERATION Merret commenced at 12.01am on Thursday 29 March and runs until 11.59pm on Monday 2 April.

Double-demerits are in force during this time and there are extra officers patrolling the roads.

Only in day three, the operation has resulted in a total of 619 infringements given to people for not using seatbelts, restraints or helmets properly.

According to NSW police, this is 70 more than the same point during last year’s operation.

There has already been more than 100 collisions on the roads this weekend and for the remainder of the campaign, officers will continue to target seatbelt and helmet offences while also concentrating on speeding, mobile phone use and drink and drug-driving.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy is astounded about the amount of people not wearing seatbelts this easter long weekend.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said he was astounded at the number of people who had chosen not to take a basic safety precaution before getting in a vehicle.

“Wearing seatbelts has been compulsory in NSW since 1971 and the benefits of being properly restrained or wearing helmets in the event of a crash have been well documented.”

At the time of this article being published, infringements issued for non-speeding offences total at 7421. Speeding fines total at 4944. Of the 172,425 breath tests conducted by officers, there have been 113 drink driving charges laid. These figures will no doubt increase, before people return to work on Tuesday.

So far one person has died on NSW roads this Easter long weekend.

Double demerits will be in force until 11.59pm on Monday 2 April.