Police are targeting speeding drivers and those under the influence of drugs and alcohol as Australia Day approaches.
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Operation Safe Return begins Wednesday morning, aimed at preventing needless loss of life on the state’s roads.
Wollongong Local Area Command chief inspector Mark Walker said police would be out in force to monitor activity on area roads.
“We’re going to be focusing on speeding drivers, drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, seat belt restraints, driver fatigue and – one of the most prevalent ones – the use of devices in cars, such as phones and electronic items which cause distraction.”
The NSW road toll climbed to 384 in 2016 and nineteen people have died on state roads so far in 2017.
Of the 19 that have lost their lives 13 were drivers, two were pedestrians, three were motorcyclists and one was a passenger.
Centre for Road Safety Executive Director, Bernard Carlon called on road-users to “watch out for each other so that no-one has to go through the heartbreak and devastation of losing someone they care about”.
“Last Australia Day long weekend we lost six people on our roads; that’s six too many,” he said.
“The only acceptable road toll this long weekend is zero, because every death on our roads represents a mother, father, son, daughter or mate lost far too soon.”
Double demerits will be apply for speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences throughout Operation Safe Return, which starts at 12.01am Wednesday and concludes at 11.59pm on 29 January 2017.
Meantime, police will maintain a strong presence on the Wollongong foreshore on Australia Day, one of the busiest days of the year for area law enforcement.
“We’d like to remind people that the event down at the harbour is a family-friendly event, and the whole foreshore down at Wollongong is an alchohol-free zone,” chief inspector Walker said.
“We won’t be tolerating any hoodlum behaviour.
“Just because it’s Australia Day doesn’t give anyone a license to clown around.”
“We’re out there in high numbers to ensure public safety and enforce the law when needed”