Seven people lost their lives on NSW roads during Operation Safe Arrival, 21 fewer than the same time last year.
Safe Arrival, the annual Christmas/New Year road safety operation, began at 12.01am on Friday 21 December 2018, and ended at 11.59pm yesterday (Tuesday 1 January 2019). Twenty-eight lives were lost during Operation Safe Arrival 2017/2018.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said a highly-visible police presence in country areas was key to fewer lives being lost on NSW roads. He said highway patrol officers worked closely with local general duties police to maintain a presence on feeder roads to major rural routes such as the Hume, Sturt, Newell, Princes and Pacific highways. “At the start of Operation Safe Arrival, we heard from a courageous woman who lost four members of her family in a horrific crash on the South Coast on Boxing Day 2017. “For her and her family, no holiday or family event will ever be the same. This is horrific reality which changes a family. “Every time we take control of a vehicle we should remember how our actions could impact others,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said. Police were disturbed about the number of young male provisional licence holders who were detected travelling more than 45km/h above the speed limit during Safe Arrival. Assistant Commissioner Corboy said the closing days of the operation were highlighted by some extraordinarily bad choices made by drivers. “Some of the decisions made by drivers in NSW have left even the most seasoned highway patrol officers flabbergasted. “We had situations where inexperienced drivers were detected at almost double the speed limit, others where infants were not properly restrained – what does it take to get the message through? “Travelling at the signposted speeds and ensuring everyone in the vehicle wears a seatbelt reduces the risk of being seriously hurt if you are involved in a crash. “We have invested heavily in the priority areas of the State's Road Safety Plan 2021 beginning with the priority area of saving lives on country roads,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said. Key statistics (Cumulative total – started on 21 December 2018): Total infringements issued (not speeding): 20,238 Restraint infringements: 1636 Speed infringements: 11,812 Breath tests: 541,059 Drink-driving charges: 759 Lives lost: 7
