The longest-running highway patrol campaign targeting road deaths in the Shoalhaven is under way.
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Operation Consequence will saturate the region’s roads for the next six weeks with police hoping to change the mindset of drivers and save lives in the process.
With two fatal collisions in the Shoalhaven on Monday, and a near miss north of Berry on Tuesday police have called for motorists to put more thought into their driving.
Highway Patrol Sergeant Mick Tebbutt said the Shoalhaven was among the highest areas in the state for driver fatalities last year.
“We had 19 fatalities in the Shoalhaven last year and our three year average is nine,” Mr Tebbutt said.
While the finger is often pointed at young drivers the numbers of older people dying on local roads matched those of drivers under the age of 25.
During Operation Consequence attention will be focused on drivers under 25 and over 65 years of age.
Leading Senior Constable and field operations commander for the operation Kelly Thomas said those age groups are pretty much running on par in regard to traffic law compliance.
“Some older people let their driving skills drop, they become a bit too familiar. Also their hand eye co-ordination and reflexes are not as good as they once were,” Mr Thomas said.
“And the younger people don’t have the level of responsibility to add weight to their decision making process. The result is they take risks.
“That responsibility tends to come as they get older and maybe have a family of their own.”
Operation Consequence will target roads around coastal villages and some of the roads less travelled as well as all major roads and feeder-roads to the region. The operation will target compliance, speed, alcohol and heavy vehicles.
The operation will run for six weeks.
Meanwhile police will be out in force throughout the rest of the state from this weekend in a wider effort to combat the rising road toll.
Operation Saturation will include the entire Traffic and Highway Patrol fleet, assisted by local police, in high-visibility patrols on NSW roads.
Police will ‘saturate the state,’ as well as focus on the top 10 areas that have recorded the highest number of fatal crashes in 2014 and 2015 to date, which includes the Shoalhaven and Goulburn. This will see a concentration of police targetting drivers in the Shoalhaven over the next few weeks.
Since the beginning of 2015, 27 drivers and their passengers, 13 motorcyclists, three pedestrians and one cyclist have lost their lives on NSW roads.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said police would be out in force.
“Road users across NSW can expect to see more officers on our roads in high-visibility vehicles and on motorcycles for extended periods, aiming to prevent serious injury and fatal crashes.
“Speeding, drink or drug driving, failing to wear seat belts or correct helmets, mobile phone use and fatigue are all key risk factors in fatal crashes which Traffic & Highway Patrol officers will focus on.
“Last year there were 309 fatalities in NSW, the lowest figure since 1923. While this was a positive trend, it still included more than 300 families and their friends that had to suffer the loss of a loved one.
“This operation aims to tackle the road toll head on, and through highly-visible officers, bring to the forefront of motorists minds the dangers associated with risk-taking when driving or riding,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
Operation Saturation starts on Saturday 7 February and runs until Wednesday 18 February.
