HIGHWAY Patrol officers from Sydney will bolster the local police presence this weekend to try to keep the roads safe across the Australia Day holiday period.
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Police will be out in force on western region roads as part of Operation Safe return, the long weekend road safety campaign that began at midnight this morning (Friday) and ends on Monday night.
Western Region Highway Patrol Acting Inspector Peter McMenamin said double demerit points would apply for speeding, seatbelt and helmet offences.
The launch of the long weekend campaign follows a disastrous week on NSW roads that saw 12 people killed in crashes since Wednesday last week, including a Dubbo couple who died when their vehicle collided with a truck on the Newell Highway on Saturday afternoon.
While long weekends were traditionally a busy time on the roads, Acting Inspector McMenamin said, it need not be a foregone conclusion that lives would be lost on the roads this long weekend.
He said a heavy police presence on local roads was aimed at helping save lives by making motorists think twice about doing the wrong thing.
"And it's not only fatalities that have an impact but serious injuries caused as a result of crashes," he said.
"A serious injury from a motor vehicle crash can have a huge, ongoing impact on not only the person themselves but their work lives and their families.
"So expect to see lots of police on the roads. Also, it's about drivers being as alert as possible in case other drivers are doing the wrong thing."
NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said it was expected highway patrol and general duties officers would carry out more than 200,000 breath tests in NSW over the four-day period.
"Police will be doing our part and what we need is the travelling public to work with us and make a safe return this weekend," he said.
Last Australia Day long weekend, three people were killed in separate crashes in rural NSW, he said.
"This operation will target the 'fatal five' of speeding, drink/drug driving, not wearing seat belts, distracted driving, and fatigue," Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
"It's the high-visibility formula that we have used for several years and it has assisted in two years of record low annual road tolls in 2013 and 2014.
"We know there will be heavy traffic on the roads with holiday makers heading home and people attending Australia Day events around Sydney and regional centres.
"Motorists will need to be patient and plan their trips. That means being well rested and taking food and water in case you strike a delay."
