Police are pleased with the results of this year's Operation Stay Alert, with numbers down across all the major categories; including major crashes, fatalities, speeding offences and drink-drivers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Operation Stay Alert - the annual Queen's Birthday long weekend traffic enforcement campaign - started at 12.01am on Friday and ran until 11.59pm Monday.
During the four-day operation, 4208 NSW drivers were caught speeding, 272 were charged with drink-driving, 600 major crashes were reported, with a total of two deaths.
Over the same period last year 4410 people were caught speeding, 439 charged with drink-driving, 681 major crashes occurred, with six fatalities.
While the number of people breaking the road rules is down from last year police are still concerned about some of the irresponsible behaviour witnessed during the operation.
"The majority of road users heeded our warnings and drove responsibly over the long weekend, however unfortunately a small section of the community did not," Acting NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith, said.
"While we saw a decrease in the number of fatalities this year, unfortunately two lives were still lost.
"Unfortunately in a number of these serious crashes it is believed seatbelts were not being worn. We need people to listen to the message - seatbelts save lives.
"Road fatalities have a tragic effect on everyone involved, from the families who must grieve a loved one, to the police who attended the crash, and the communities who have lost one of their own.
"We will continue to put every available resource into these operations to ensure that families go to and from their destinations safely," he concluded.
