NEWCASTLE police are pleading with drivers to slow down and travel safely, just days out from the start of the NSW school holidays.
More than 100 people had died on NSW roads this year, police said. In the Newcastle region, one person on average is injured in a motor vehicle accident every day, Newcastle City police’s Chief Inspector Gerard Lawson said.
“Think about the consequences that a serious injury would have on your quality of life, or the life of a family member,” he said.
“Police are conducting traffic enforcement in greater numbers than ever before. Every police vehicle is focused on road safety and detecting traffic offences.”
NSW Police have already begun Operation Merret, an unorthodox approach to road policing aimed at educating the public, police said.
Extra traffic is expected in the Newcastle and Hunter Region in the coming days as many families head off on holidays at the start of the two-week break.
The school holidays begin on Friday and conclude on Monday April 30.
In four weeks since the start of Operation Merret, more than 30,000 infringements have been issued across the state for a variety of offences including speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, and using a mobile phone while driving.
NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said all road users need to take personal responsibility and stay alert on NSW roads over the busy school holiday period.
“We began Operation Merret, an unorthodox approach to road safety in March this year, to help stem the number of lives lost on our roads,” she said.
“While we have seen a lot of positive feedback from the community, it is sad to see that the 30,000-plus infringements represent 30,000 people who made a decision to put themselves and others at risk over the past four weeks.”
