“So far, so good.”
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That was the word from Traffic and Highway Patrol western region tactician Inspector Ben Macfarlane as road statistics for the annual Christmas and New Year road safety operation are trending down in 2018.
In the first five days of Operation Safe Arrival, Orana Mid Western Police issued 60 speeding infringement notices, seven seat belt infringements and 60 other infringements, and conducted 3107 breath tests.
One man has died in the region’s north, after his vehicle left the road before crashing into a tree on Coolatai Road north-east of Moree. His was the first of three fatalities on NSW roads this holiday period.
But Inspector Macfarlane said figures were down across NSW, as well as in the western region.
“We’re down in all the key areas; injury crashes, major crashes and fatalities,” he said.
“I haven’t seen those silly speeds and above-average drink-driving offences, so that’s good.
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A slight change in strategy has seen police more visible on “secondary roads”, “short cuts” and in the villages than in the past. But Inspector Macfarlane said it was too early to say whether that change was having an impact.
“Overall I’d have to say people appear to be heeding the message about not driving fatigued,” he said.
“We certainly don’t take credit for curbing the road toll; there’s a lot of factors involved.
“We can only do our it. Part of it’s education but by the nature of our job, most of it is enforcement and visibility. But yes, it is pleasing that the message appears to be getting across and people are arriving safely.”
There have still been some examples of inappropriate behaviour on the state’s roads.
A Central West man was charged with high range PCA after allegedly returning a breath analysis reading of 0.300.
About 2pm on Friday, December 21, police attended a crash at the intersection of Hill Street and Margaret Street, Orange.
A 56-year-old driver returned a positive breath test and was arrested at the scene before being taken to Orange Police Station. A subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.300.
Police have charged a 56-year-old local man with high range PCA, driving while unlicensed (never held) and negligent driving. He will appear in Orange Local Court on February 11.
Across NSW, police have conducted 217,835 breath tests, issued 4763 speeding infringements and 7515 other infringements, and laid 251 drink-driving charges.
Double demerits remain in place for all speeding, mobile phone, seat belt and motorcycle helmet offences until 11.59pm on Tuesday, January 1.
