COPS CRACKING DOWN
IN the same week that drink-driving laws in NSW have been tightened, one of the region’s top cops says police have set their sights on country roads this June long weekend and school holidays.
Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Geoff Mckechnie, said: “Police across the state’s west will show no tolerance to anyone breaking the road rules.” Meanwhile, the stricter drink-driving laws which came into effect on Monday should be extended to mobile phone usage will driving, according to some Dubbo residents.
POLICE will have their sights set on regional and rural roads this June long weekend and school holidays.
The pledge comes after 18 people were arrested and 35 charges were laid during Operation Chrome in the Western region last Friday and Saturday.
Operation Chrome was a two-day safety enforcement campaign with police targeting speeding, drink and drug-driving, not wearing seatbelts, using a mobile phone behind the wheel and fatigue.
Of the 950 random breath tests that were conducted, eight people were charged with drink driving and another seven were banned from driving for 24 hours after random drug testing returned a positive reading for a prohibited drug.
The outcome of Operation Chrome has encouraged police to continue targeting poor driving behaviour on country roads.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said: “The focus on rural roads will not end because Operation Chrome has.
“We are making statewide preparations to be on the road in numbers during the June long weekend and school holidays.”
Assistant Commissioner Geoff Mckechnie, Commander of the Western Region, said he was astounded at people’s blatant disregard for their own safety.
“We are amazed by the number of people who are struggling to get even the basics of road safety correct, such as not drinking and driving,” he said.
The crackdown announcement comes in the same week drink driving laws in NSW were tightened, meaning anyone caught drink driving in NSW will lose their license for three months and cop a $561 fine.
A post regarding the strict new laws on the Dubbo Photo News Facebook page received a positive response from locals and several suggested the same penalties should be applied for drivers caught using their mobile phones.
“Should introduce this for mobile phones in hands whilst driving as well,” commented one user.
“Good. Maybe the silly bastards will start learning. Do the same for phone users too,” wrote another.
The NSW Minister for Police was contacted regarding the suggestion.