Police blitz to target truckies for fatigue and road compliance, while all motorists face increased enforcement measures
March 25, 2010
New South Wales Police has announced officers will “saturate” south-west Sydney through to Goulburn in a 48-hour pre-Easter operation to target law breakers.
Called ‘Operation Ming’, dozens of highway patrol cars, motorcycles, covert units, random breath tests, drug tests and even a plane will be unleashed from noon tomorrow.
A traffic services commander, John Hartley, says trucks will be targeted for fatigue and road rule compliance, while all motorists have been warned against drink-driving, speeding, anti-social behaviour and hooning.
“Drivers should be aware that if they knowingly do the ‘wrong thing’ there’s a very good chance they’ll be caught,” Hartley warns.
“Around the next bend might be an RBT station, the car next to you may be an unmarked police vehicle or our eyes in the sky might be clocking your speed.”
He says recent tragedies in the southern and south-western regions have prompted police to take additional action in the lead-up to the traditional ‘Operation Tortoise’ Easter-long weekend blitz.
“In the southern region alone this year, we’ve seen 18 crashes resulting in 24 deaths which represent 25 percent of the state’s total road toll to date,” Hartley says.
There have been 112 crashes in Goulburn, 48 in Yass, 39 in Mittagong, 37 in Bowral, 29 in Marulan and 26 in Moss Vale.
“Don’t risk your life or the lives of others by breaking the law…slow down, buckle up, rest if necessary and don’t drink drive,” Hartley says.