Major Police Operation Targets Road Safety Over Australia Day Weekend
A comprehensive police blitz across the Newcastle, Hunter, and Lake Macquarie regions during the Australia Day long weekend has resulted in more than 1300 traffic infringements, with drunk drivers and an illegal trail bike rider among those apprehended. The operation, which coincided with a double demerits period, saw officers conduct extensive enforcement activities from Friday, January 23, through to Monday, January 26.
Drink Driving and Drug Offences Detected
Police performed over 11,600 breath tests, leading to the detection of 30 drink driving offences. One particularly alarming case involved a driver allegedly caught with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.175 during stationary testing at Aberdeen around 8am on Saturday. This reading is more than three times the legal limit, resulting in immediate licence suspension and a pending court date.
In addition to alcohol-related offences, officers carried out 614 random drug tests, identifying 83 drug driving offences. The operation also highlighted other dangerous behaviours, with 25 offences recorded for mobile phone use or driver distraction, and 12 for failures to wear seatbelts or helmets.
Illegal Trail Bike Seized and Speeding Fines Issued
On Australia Day itself, police stopped a 32-year-old man from Nelson Bay who was allegedly riding an unregistered and uninsured trail bike along Magnus Street while disqualified from holding a licence. The bike was seized, and authorities will apply to have it forfeited to the Crown. The rider is scheduled to appear at Raymond Terrace Court at a later date.
Speed enforcement was a significant focus, with 409 speeding offences detected. Overall, police issued 823 other traffic infringements during the blitz, underscoring the widespread nature of non-compliance with road rules.
Tragic Loss of Life on Regional Roads
The weekend operation was marred by two fatal motorcycle crashes in the Hunter region. A man in his 60s lost his life in a collision on Sandy Creek Road on Sunday, followed by the death of a 21-year-old man on Putty Road on Monday. These incidents brought a sombre note to the enforcement campaign.
NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, expressed his devastation at the loss of life. "This has been a tragic weekend on our roads and the loss of life is both devastating and unacceptable. Every fatal crash leaves a family shattered," he stated. "Our officers were out in force as a deterrent for poor driver behaviour, conducting random breath and drug tests and speed enforcement. We will continue to maintain a strong presence on the roads, but every driver has a responsibility to make safer choices."
Waterway Patrols and School Zone Reminders
Beyond road enforcement, police also patrolled the region's waterways to ensure safety during the holiday period. Meanwhile, with the new school year approaching, authorities reminded drivers that school zones were reactivated from January 27, despite most students not returning until later in the week or the following Monday.
Lake Macquarie City Council's environmental regulation and compliance manager, Wes Hain, noted that while many students were not yet on campus, the official school calendar had commenced. "We have 89 schools across our city, and most of those share the same school zone times: 8-9.30am and 2.30 to 4pm on weekdays," he explained. "Drivers are reminded to check signage for relevant school zone times around each school." A 40 km/h speed limit applies during these designated hours.
The Australia Day police blitz serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in road safety, with enforcement efforts aiming to curb risky behaviours that lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
