Byron’s police chief has issued a reminder that extra police are on the roads these school holidays, with NSW students due to go back to school Monday 14 October.
Tweed Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell, says police won’t hesitate to take action against anyone endangering lives through illegal driving behaviour.
He says police are targeting dangerous and distracted drivers both on main roads and rural back roads for some of the leading causes of road trauma and deaths.
These include driving when fatigued or while using a mobile phone, speeding, drink and drug driving and failing to wear a seatbelt.
Operation Slow Down has been in effect for the October long weekend and finishes 11.59pm tonight.
Double demerits are applicable for anyone caught speeding; using a mobile phone while driving; not wearing a seatbelt; and if riding a motorbike, failing to wear a helmet.
Superintendent Roptell says police have witnessed ‘very concerning’ driver behaviour so far these holidays, with ‘numerous’ drivers found to have alcohol in their systems, examples of dangerous driving on the Pacific Motorway and speeding offences.
‘Your actions on the road not only impact you and your passengers, but they can affect dozens of people indirectly,’ Superintendent Roptell said in a media release Sunday, ‘think about what you are doing behind the wheel.’
‘Drive to the weather and traffic conditions, remember to take regular breaks and slow down – it’s not a race to get to your destination’.
This article has been updated to reflect a correction: NSW students are due back at school Monday 14 October, not November as initially written by mistake.
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