Nearly one killed every day on NSW roads during Operation Arrive Alive HD

Police have been disappointed with the results of Operation Arrive Alive, in which 39 people died on the roads during the 40-day statewide operation. “While the road toll this month is lower by 12 than the same time last year, we have seen some horrific crashes on our roads and an excessive number of speeding and drunk drivers,” Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said. “Some of those we tested returned results of more than three or four times the legal limit, and others were caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.” In the past two Januarys, 71 people were killed in crashes in NSW and so far this year, 22 people have died on our roads,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said. Operation Arrive Alive began on 18 December 2015 and concluded at midnight yesterday (Tuesday 26 January 2016). It was the first time that a six-week long holiday road safety campaign was conducted, after figures revealed that January had become the most deadly time to be on the roads in NSW. “Still, some road users continue to choose to do the wrong thing, putting themselves and other innocent people at risk,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said. “While the operation has concluded, this does not mean that we will rest. Our officers will continue to patrol to ensure that road users arrive at their destination safely.” During the operation, police breath tested 1.2 million drivers, charged over 2,075 with drink-driving, caught 23,685 speeding drivers and booked 2,898 drivers using mobile phones. Police are also reminding road users to slow down and take extra care on the roads as students return to school from today. School zones are active from 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm; so be sure to take extra care and be aware of your surroundings with high pedestrian traffic, when travelling through these areas. Higher penalties for mobile phone use in school zones also apply ($425) in addition to four demerit points. Parking offences also carry higher penalties in school zones and also incur demerit points.